Advice to Olympic Torch Bearers - Listen to Torche

85,000 miles: the total distance of the daunting global trek currently being undertaken by the Olympic torch bearers. Thanks to China's egregious record of human rights violations - particularly with regards to Tibet - these bearers have faced far more pressing concerns than blisters or fatigue. As you're probably well aware, fierce resistance and demonstrations have met the torch along nearly every stop of its global route thus far.

And as the torch descends upon San Francisco today in its only stop in the U.S., these bearers probably should ask themselves if the fleeting glory of running with an iconic symbol is worth being associated with the horrors China has inflicted. Hell, even angry nudists are patiently waiting along the parade's route to protest a return to the way the ancient Greeks played the games (ie in the buff). Point is, if you're carrying the torch, you're unpopular, and probably rightfully so. If you're in the band Torche, you're popular, and rightfully so. Especially after listening to "Healer", the lead single from the band's new album Meanderthal out now on Hydra Head.

So, obviously, EF's advice to the torch bearers: you need Torche to get through what's ahead. It's going to be a loooong day, and only METAL can help you now.

Listen:
"Healer"
"Fire" (of course we had to post this one given the context)

See also:
Torche @ Red 7 - 14 March 2008 (SXSW Day 3, pics, video/mp3)

*above photo from HERE

Visit Torche on MySpace

Torche @ Red 7 - 14 March 2008 (SXSW Day 3, pics, video/mp3)

Perhaps you've figured out by now that Torche was one of the bands I was most looking forward to seeing during SXSW? Well, after missing them during CMJ there was simply no way I'd make the same mistake twice. I've been wanting to see this band in person for a while now and this past Friday night at Red 7 I finally got a perfect chance: a tiny venue (reminded me of seeing shows back in the day at The Brewery), a perfectly late start time of 1:15am, and an amped up crowd of people who all looked as though the only reason they even came to SXSW was for this Hydra Head showcase. Yes.

One of my favorite aspects of festivals such as SXSW and CMJ is that audiences often turnover completely from band to band. Directly after Harvey Milk finished everyone who was in the front many rows either left the venue or moved to the back or got more drinks or something; whatever the case, I was able to move right up front. Second row, middle, like a total fanboy. Perfect spot, except for picking up the audio of the vocals on the video I shot. Whatever. I could barely contain my excitementicipation as the band stacked Marshalls and Oranges and prepared to unleash fury the likes of which was not seen anywhere else in Austin last week.

Torche opened the show with a song from their recent EP In Return (a personal favorite, in terms of packaging, from last year - songs aren't half bad either) and split the rest of the set up with songs from this EP, favorites from their self titled LP, and new tracks from their upcoming record Meanderthal. Like Nirvana perfecting the formula of The Pixies and turning it into pop-grunge gold, it never ceases to amaze me how well Torche takes what Melvins did and makes it their own. If there was any justice, or sense of good taste, these guys would be dominating the airwaves with songs such as "Mentor" and "Fire" and the world would've never even heard of Linkin Park, or all the whatever you call it that people listen to and call loud/heavy pop-rock.

Point is, this show was amazing. One of the top shows I saw during SXSW. Torche blew the doors off of Red 7, melted all faces within a two block radius of the venue, and worked each of us in the audience into a metalhead frenzy. I wish every concert could be just like this one.

Check out more pics, video, and a live MP3, after the jump.




Listen:
"In Return" by Torche live (from this show)

Watch:
"In Return" into Unknown Song by Torche live (from this show) on YouTube | download QT

See more videos of Torche (from this show) HERE.

See more pictures of Torche (from this show) HERE.

Visit Torche on MySpace.