Let me start this by saying collectively the members of Kill Devil Hill come from bands that we as metal fans have been listening to since before we knew what head-banging and devil horns actually were. As bassist Rex Brown will explain in the Hangar this upcoming weekend don't call Kill Devil Hill a supergroup though. These guys truly are a full fledged band with big plans for the future.
Kill Devil started in the mind of Vinny Appice the legendary drummer from Black Sabbath and DIO fame. Vinny was working with guitarist Mark Zavon who knew lead singer Dewey Bragg. The three of them then sent some demos to bassist Rex Brown who had been the long time bassist for Pantera and the some time bassist for Down. Rex recorded some bass lines and sent it back to the other three. The rest as the say is history since Kill Devil Hill has just released their second album Revolution Rise.
(side note: about a three weeks before this show I tore a tendon in my foot that took a piece of bone with it, so I wasn't able to walk at this show.)
Being on crutches I knew it was going to be difficult but I was so jacked up for this show, and they didn't disappoint. After a couple opening bands the stage was set and from the very first note you knew that this band is not a one trick pony. The band sounded tight when playing songs like "Leave it All Behind" and "Strange." Rex and Vinny looked they had been playing together for years. (There must be something with drummers named Vinny for Rex.) Both Dewey and Mark are tall guys and not as experienced on the stage and it showed. Mark's playing was fantastic but at times he seemed out of place. Dewey's vocals were spot on but a couple of times he mixed up the songs on the set list and just generally seemed awkward on stage. Now granted I'm being nitpicky but because over all they were great. There wasn't a person in this little 400 person club that wasn't impressed.
The highlight of the show had to come about midway through when Vinny Appice did his drum solo. The sound guy even turned to me and said "he's doing this without double bass, that's how it's supposed to be done." Later in the set as maybe an ode to Vinny's work with Black Sabbath they broke into the first part of "War Pigs" were Dewey basically just held the mic in front of the crowd and let them sing it.
With two albums under their belt and some big time touring plans in 2014 Kill Devil Hill aren't going anywhere. In fact you might want to go see them live now before it's impossible to get tickets.
After the show I was able to hang with the band for a while and they were some of the nicest guys I've ever met. Rex Brown has been on this show a couple of times before but he is one the most down to earth and humble human beings I have ever met. Those are the kind of people you want to support.
(note: all live pics taken by Cutter on his phone)
