Down The Devil's Throat

Repent Hosts The Devilneck Metalfest

originally published August 22, 2007

Every scene needs a patron. Or at least a patron saint. This weekend, local promoter Joel Martin should prove to be both to the Southeastern metal scene. Approximately 40 bands will appear during the Devilneck Metalfest at local bar Repent over the course of three days. Expect the festival to leave nerves shattered, eardrums frizzled and Martin elated.

Inspired by similar events located in other small towns, and sick of Athens being bypassed for Atlanta by touring acts, Martin asked himself, "Why couldn't this be done in Athens?" He set out looking for bands and utilized the same method so many bands are now using to book entire tours. "I actually did all the booking via MySpace with the exception of [San Francisco, CA, band] Black Cobra," he says. "Their booking agent offered them up for the first night's headlining spot. I just started out seeking bands out and asking them to participate. Eventually, the word caught on and bands started contacting me."

Repent, which regularly hosts heavy shows of this type - albeit not of this scope - seems an appropriate place to hold the debut of the Devilneck Metalfest. Its long room, red walls and cheerfully gloomy atmosphere are more suited to this bill, which spans a good swath of the metal/hardcore spectrum, than any other local venue. Still, it's easy to imagine things being a tight fit, with the venue's capacity at only 200 and the amount of musicians in all the bands clocking in at well over 100. "With the amount of bands that are playing the fest, it's going to have to be run like smooth clockwork," says Martin. "We're going to split the bands between two stages, one inside and one outside. Bands will have 30-minute sets. The sets will be staggered, inside then outside. So, while the band inside is playing, the band outside will be setting up, and vice versa until night falls." Once the sun goes down, the remaining bands each day will play inside.

Any organizer has his share of frustration, but Martin is new to this so his enthusiasm easily overrides other concerns. "There haven't been any headaches yet, but I'm sure they will arise during the event," he says. "It's going to be tough keeping the bands on schedule… really, I don't know what to expect since I'm never done this before." He continues, "All the bands are super into it. I just got a message from [Cape Fear, NC band] Sourvein asking me for my phone number. They are really excited about it, which is cool because that's one of the bands I'll be a little star-struck by."

The only real downside to this inaugural event is that it will be restricted to fans 21 and over. Although a sizable portion of attendees will fall way beyond this age limit, there's a significant area population of younger metal fans that could've really sunk their teeth into this. Martin recognizes this, but, naturally, says he can't change the law. "If this year goes well, I'll start organizing next year's event soon after the new year. That way I can get more bands and involve more venues. I would like to have some kind of all-ages deal next year, but, unfortunately, this year it will be a 21-and-up event."

Gordon Lamb

Schedule

Thursday, Aug. 23

696 - 5:30 p.m.

Tacos! Tacos! Tacos! Tacos! - 6:00 p.m.

In The Lurch - 6:30 p.m.

Rat Babies - 7:00 p.m.

Stygian Apothegm - 7:30 p.m.

Banana Hammock - 8:00 p.m.

Gravebound - 9:00 p.m.

Whiskey Shit Vomit - 10:00 p.m.

Caltrop - 11:00 p.m.

Black Cobra - 12:00 a.m.

Hoth - 1:00 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 24

Cancerslug - 5:30 p.m.

Midnite Snake - 6:00 p.m.

Ear Mound Shrine - 6:30 p.m.

Polemic - 7:00 p.m.

The Stifling - 7:30 p.m.

Foxfire - 8:00 p.m.

Negative Earth - 8:30 p.m.

Armazilla - 9:00 p.m.

Telestrion - 10:00 p.m.

Tualatin - 10:30 p.m.

The Dumps - 12:00 a.m.

Black Tusk - 1:00 a.m.

Sourvein

Saturday, Aug. 25

Sybaritic - 2:30 p.m.

The Last Van Zant - 3:30 p.m.

Maximum Fucking Carnage - 4:00 p.m.

Bear Meat Cabin - 4:30 p.m.

Comanche - 5:00 p.m.

Colossus - 5:30 p.m.

Organ - 6:00 p.m.

Black Skies - 6:30 p.m.

Light Pupil Dialate - 7:00 p.m.

Subrig Destroyer - 7:30 p.m.

Waited - 8:00 p.m.

Christine - 8:30 p.m.

Weedeater - 9:00 p.m.

Music Hates You - 10:00 p.m.

Withered - 11:00 p.m.

Sourvein - 12:00 a.m.

Zoroaster - 1:00 a.m.

Devilneck By the Numbers

A numerical breakdown of Repent's multi-band festival.

• 6 Bands with animals in their name: Rat Babies, Black Cobra, Cancerslug, Midnite Snake, Foxfire, Bear Meat Cabin
• 3 Bands with the word "black" in their name: Black Cobra, Black Tusk, Black Skies
• 3 Bands with body parts in their name: Ear Mound Shrine, Organ, Light Pupil Dilate
• 2 Bands with profanity in their name: Whiskey Shit Vomit, Maximum Fucking Carnage

Tickets

Tickets for Devilneck Metalfest are available at Repent, or online at www.athensmusic.net with a service charge added.

• Thursday - $10 / $11
• Friday - $15 / $17
• Saturday - $15 / $17
• Three-day pass - $25 / $27

For more information visit www.myspace.com/devilneckmetalfest.