Very few bands have the musical history and involvement like The Melvins, and even fewer bands grab hold of that title and utilize it. Watching The Melvins perform was like seeing a living piece of musical history, which might sound a little cliched, but not many groups can claim to have helped invent grunge music. Although The Melvins might not be the first band that comes to mind when you think of “grunge”, Buzz Osborne, Dale Crover (original drummer for Nirvana), and Steven McDonald have had their hands in the music world for decades (almost thirty years!). Despite their long and slightly strange history, these Washington rockers still know how to put on a helluva good show.
 

One of the most important aspects of a live performance is the venue, and The Spanish Moon proved to be a fantastic setting for an evening of sludge jams and Kiss cover songs. The low stage, ample lighting, and powerful PA system shoved the band right in my face and made me feel like I was on stage with them (it helps being front row, too). Helms Alee christened the stage with a devastating opening performance that set a definitive tone for the entire show. Helms Alee, also from Washington, was the perfect counterpart to The Melvins, and did not disappoint at all.
In terms of music, The Melvins were all over the map. They opened their set with Eye Flys, a classic track off their debut album “Gluey Porch Treatments”. Immediately after that was a crust covered cover of Kiss’ classic Deuce. The entire show jumped around from their early sludge classics to their newer, more contemporary songs. Old or new, The Melvins brought down the house with a tremendous set. Following an acapella rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game (a tribute to their new album “Basses Loaded”), the members of Helms Alee joined The Melvins for one last song, or at least what we thought was the last song. Immediately after their collaborative song, drummer Dale Crover brought out a cake for Helms Alee bassist Dana James’ birthday. It was a heartwarming end to a fantastic performance by both bands. If you have the opportunity to see The Melvins play, I highly suggest seeing them. No other band I’ve seen has delivered a punishing set while maintaining an almost haphazard and casual attitude.