Bloodywood with A Killer's Confession @ Turf Club | 10-4-22
Review by Gary Prince & Scott Cornell | Photos by Scott Cornell
Before the band could even take the stage for the Saint Paul stop of their first US tour, the crowd was chanting “Bloodywood” in anticipation. It was announced just prior to taking the stage that Raoul Kerr was sick and unable to perform, however instead of canceling or finding a replacement they just asked that the crowd sing Kerr's parts. Opening with “Gaddaar” and the level of the crowd’s participation made it feel as if each member was on the tiny stage.
Shortly into the set, front man Jayant Bhadula asked to bring up the house lights so he and the band could see the fans' participation and enjoyment. Bloodywood embraces the use of a flute, dhol, backing sitar melodies and other traditional Indian instruments to add the Indian Folk style to the unique heaviness of their music. The setlist consisted of songs that spoke about many aspects of life often overlooked by society. Prior to “Aaj '' front man Bhadula spoke to the struggles of personal aspirations or dreams reminding everyone that we can all achieve our dreams and to never give up. Recent single “Dana Dan” exposes the inner thought process we all experience when hearing about sexual assault. “Jee Veerey” is reminiscent of fumbling around in the dark looking for a glimmer of light, trying to just feel better. The venue was literally sweating inside and the floorboards bowed as everyone blissfully bounced or moshed along as each song got heavy.
During “Zanjeero Se” the band made their way into the crowd and played the last half of the song in the pit. As the set came to a close “Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot)” a track for an unreleased Ubisoft video game was a pleasant surprise for fans.. “Ari Ari” prompted a sing along while delivering a message of embracing diversity. An encore of “ Gaddaar (v2)” closed out the night and as the 400 fans filed out, one couldn’t help but feel a sense of collective catharsis and relief. Bloodywood provided a sanctuary for fans from the everyday stress and anxiety of the world around them. Bloodywood gave concertgoers a sense of euphoria and amazement. Bloodywood's first US tour has been wildly successful and will not soon be forgotten.
After a short video intro on large displays that flanked drummer Morgan Bauer, front man Waylon Reavis, guitarist Shawn Iannazzo and bassist JP Cross took the stage. Cradle of Filth, Mushroomhead and Kiss came to mind once the visual aesthetics of A Killer’s Confession were on full display. Reavis wore a black waistcoat, black contacts and his bald head was covered in white grease paint. A black design resembling the very last phase of the moon cycle intersected his right eye. Reavis took time after the first song to address the elephant in the room. There was a strong vibe of familiarity in the sold out Turf Club. Yes, this Waylon Reavis is the former Mushroomhead vocalist.
Reavis utilized a bullhorn periodically, and switched seamlessly between clean and dirty vocals with little effort. The low, heavy hit of the kick drum and heavy melodic rhythm was driven straight into the chests of the crowd and enveloped the hearts of the fans as it pounded away. Throughout the set Reavis and bandmates moved in and out of the smoke columns situated at the front of the stage to great effect. Reavis’ signature smile and wave was intentionally unsettling. Reavis made it abundantly clear through their messaging and branding that A Killer’s Confession takes a strong stance against the predators of the world.
Different visuals were displayed on the backstage screens for every song. Some more abstract than others, some custom made depicting the AKC logo, others were just a literal depiction of the lyrics. After “Numb” and a bit of prompting a small pit opened up and required rekindling from time to time. Near the end of the set Reavis informed everyone that there was a free gift at the merch booth after their set to anyone who follows A Killer’s Confession on one of their many socials. Then broke into a cover of Sepultura’s “Roots Bloody Roots”, much to the crowd's delight.
After polling the crowd, Reavis realized that very few in the sold out crowd had heard of A Killer’s Confession before. By the end of the short opening set, the concertgoers were warmly embracing A Killer's Confession with open arms. A Killer’s Confession embraces a sound mix that allows the vocals to cut through the instrumentation without detracting from the overall sound. All in all a great opener and an ideal touring bill.
