I have only been privileged enough to see the French metal band Gojira twice, and for both instances they were only in festival format, never as their own headlining tour. Earlier this year, just after the release of their latest album Fortitude, they announced a short headlining US tour with support from Kentucky’s Knocked Loose and New Zealand’s Alien Weaponry. I scanned the dates for any California appearances, which of course there was not, however, I did spot a weekend date in a city I have always wanted to experience: New Orleans.
The venue they were preforming in was The Civic Theater, just a 15 min walk from the infamous New Orleans Bourbon Street. With proper notification, all patrons were notified that a mandatory vaccination card or negative test would be implemented, which did not hinder Gojira’s first appearance in the city and the event was sold-out within one day of online sales.
First opening band starting exactly at 7 PM and that was the indigenous New Zealand metal band Alien Weaponry. They’ve been around awhile now and have toured with some large acts such as Zakk Wylde, but strangely they still are unknown to a lot of fans and breaking into the metal community. Regardless, they showed New Orleans patrons who they were and created a new fan base. Infusing their culture into the music, Alien Weaponry beautifully blends tribal Hakka from their country with head banging metal. Consisting of only three members, they bring the energy of an entire country to the stage and bless fans with a new kind of metal spirit through the power of Haka.
After fans were shocked with Alien Weaponry, Kentucky’s hardcore band Knocked Loose came to show The Civic Theater what the definition of a breakdown truly is. During set changes, I spoke with fellow metal heads about the bands, and a few have never seen or heard of Knocked Loose prior to this show being announced. I smirkingly divulged to them that they were about to experience breakdowns on a different degree. From the first ten seconds into their set to the last, fans did not stop moshing for one moment. With the bands influence as well, they encouraged fans to grab the shoulders of everyone around them enhance the most pits shape. When after their set ended, I asked those same fans how they felt about them afterwards, “ They are fucking insane and I love it!” as quoted by one. Knocked Loose can rightfully be label as the breakdown kings and bring a trembling wave of mosh pits whoever they go.
With fans still enraged with the breakdown fever from Knocked Loose, Gojira emerged on stage. To kick off their set, the band positioned themselves behind a giant veil, with a digital countdown timer. They opened with “Born For One Thing” ,their silhouettes flashing on the veil, and shredding the opening riff when then the veil dropped as the lyrics were about to be introduced. Their stage setup itself was somewhat pushed back with a giant platform with drummer Mario Duplantier positioned directly center and rails of lights to the left & right of him. Smoked creeped from under the platform and during pivotal points in the set, gushes of air blasted into the crowd. Bassist Jean Michel, was the most acrobatic member on stage, jumping off platforms, mid air scissor kicks and non stop head banging, he directly fed off the energy fans projected towards him. Lead guitarist, Christian Andreu, shredded in the most delicate way, while still keeping his heavy metal demeanor, and front man Joe Dupantier, was the monster behind Gojira. Thunderous vocals, commanded fans into a synchronized chant of headbanging & moshing.
Gojira are a band long deserving of a headlining tour, and with the return of shows, I hope we have the return of flying whales in the U.S.
Their setlist this night:
Born for One Thing
Backbone
Stranded
Flying Whales
The Cell
Love/Rememberance
Hold On
Grind
Silvera
Another World
Lenfant sauvage
Amazonia
The Chant
Toxic Garbage Island
Vacuity
