Berbati’s Pan is now in its final days as a concert venue. The longtime music spot, which has hosted everyone from Dead Prez to the Buzzcocks, is now getting ready to stop hosting live shows as of January 1st. In the last bit of time they have left, though, they’ve managed to score some amazing acts, including famed metal band Agalloch’s tour kick-off show.
Far and wide, Agalloch’s music is the stuff of legends. The band, who rarely tour, have built up a strong and steady following worldwide, making it all the more special that they would choose to play the first date of their tour in their hometown of Portland. The tour is in support of their most recent album Marrow of the Spirit, which has garnered rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Before the boys of Agalloch took the stage, however, there was quite a buzz around opener Allerseelen. The Austrian industrial group caused a stir with anti-fascist groups when they were added to the tour. Protesters have claimed online that the group has ties to fascist ideologies, and there were rumors of a protest at Berbati’s. As far as anyone could see, nothing came of these threats, and Allerseelen simply came off as a fine group of guys, making some interesting music. The show’s booker—Nathan Carson of Nanotear Booking—has repeatedly stated that he is unaware of any fascist tendencies that anyone in the band may have, saying that he is merely a supporter of the music.
Rumors aside, the band, which has been active since 1987, has indeed honed a very interesting and compelling style of industrial influenced metal. Their set-up is stark, with three members in the band playing along to electronic accompaniment. Lead singer Gerhard Petak was the epitome of stoicism as he sung out to the crowd in German, growling and chanting his way across the stage. The crowd stood in silent reverie as they played, politely clapping here and there.
The wonderful thing about metal shows that you just won’t see at a lot of other concerts is the wide age range of people in attendance. One minute you’re standing next to a weathered 50-year-old metal head, the next an eager teenager is elbowing his way past you to get a better view. One of the members in Agalloch even had his grandparents in attendance, a pair who looked like they couldn’t have been younger than 70. These two were probably the most metal of all, staying firmly planted at the front of stage right for the entire show.
When Agalloch took the stage, the energy in the crowd picked up. The stage had been decorated with banners depicting strange deer-goat hybrids, and the smell of incense hung heavy in the air. As the music started up, we were all reminded why this band has gained so much success. The music itself is extremely well crafted, and each musician’s talents are able to shine. It's a perfect balance between smooth orchestral arrangements and gritty metal energy.
There is something about Agalloch's stage presence that makes their live show feel like the kind of event you have to experience before you die. The band has an intense focus on their faces as they perform. Guitarist Don Anderson could frequently be seen silently mouthing along to his guitar parts while singer John Haughm whipped his long hair around like a pro. Their time on stage, which was actually a fairly long set, flew by at an amazing speed. As they finished off a show peppered with new songs from their most recent album and older stuff that spanned back to their very first demos, there was the feeling that we were part of something greater, a special time in history. Maybe it was the sheer epic-ness of the music or the feeling of impending doom on the doorstep of Berbati’s venue closing, but this show was a special one in ways that you rarely find with live music. Agalloch will continue to play on and no doubt achieve many more wonderful things, but never again will there be a show as shockingly beautiful as this.
