Trying to keep up with the changes at a music festival is like trying to herd a pack of rabid cats. The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival is the biggest musical kitty corral of them all. That’s why you have me here to help you make heads or tails of all your SXSW metallic/hard rock/punk rock/experimental/etc. needs.

There have been plenty of line-up changes since my last SXSW music post over a week ago. First on the list is the welcome news that NOLA-sludgekings eyehategod will team up with doom metal pioneers Pentagram to close out the conference on Saturday, March 19 (both bands will be going on after midnight, so, technically, they are playing on March 20) at the Scoot Inn. They’ll be joined by a stellar group of bands including Cough and Naam.

Other notable additions include YOB, Slough Feg, and Zoroaster.

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Gwar/Mutiny Within @ White Rabbit

San Antonio, Texas – June 7, 2010

Due to an unfortunate pre-show fluidity accident involving my good friend, Brian, and my alleged miniature Dachshund, Tamale, I missed out on all but two songs of Mutiny Within’s set. I was actually looking forward to seeing the band and enjoyed what I did see. I will make sure to catch them on the rebound in the near future.

Of course, no one really cares about opening bands when it comes to Gwar. In the midst of celebrating their 25-year reign of destruction over you puny Earthlings, Gwar is tighter, heavier, and funnier than ever. Instead of being relegated to the bargain bin of heavy metal wash-ups, Gwar has miraculously leaped to the forefront of true heavy metal entertainment spectacle.

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May 8, 2010 – Ridglea Theater – Fort Worth, Texas

The fact that former Pantera frontman Philip H. Anselmo staged his first return to the Dallas/Fort Worth area since the early ’90s to support his latest Housecore signing Warbeast, speaks volumes about the band.

The Old Fart-approved Warbeast is comprised of three former Texas late, great ‘80s thrashers: singer Bruce Corbitt of Rigor Mortis and lead guitarists Scott Shelby and Rick Perry of Arlington-based Gammacide; joined by 2006 Gammacide reunion bassist Alan Bovee, and 19-year-old drumming wizard Joe “Blue” Gonzalez of Demonseed.

Anselmo signed the Dallas-based Warbeast to his own Housecore Records imprint and also produced the band’s debut album, Krush the Enemy, at his home studio in Louisiana. The occasion for Anselmo’s return to his former stomping grounds was the official CD release party for Warbeast.

It was an event for the metal ages.

*(Author’s note: I am currently working with Philip H. Anselmo on his autobiography. Beyond that, I have been a Rigor Mortis and Gammacide fan since the late ‘80s, long before I ever knew Anselmo, when I played both bands repeatedly on my University of Texas college radio metal program, and also booked Rigor Mortis at shows in the Ritz and the Backroom in Austin. So, considered this a completely biased article.)

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So while it was rumored for awhile that this year’s edition of Ozzfest would be a two day event – but it has now been announced that it’ll be just one single day, on Saturday, August 9, at at Pizza Hut Park* in Dallas, Texas. The line-up will be as follows:

Main Stage
OZZY OSBOURNE
METALLICA
SERJ TANKIAN
HELLYEAH
JONATHAN DAVIS
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
SHADOWS FALL
APOCALYPTICA
IN THIS MOMENT
All-Star Tribute To “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott

Second Stage
SEVENDUST
DEVILDRIVER
KINGDOM OF SORROW
SOILENT GREEN
WITCHCRAFT
GOATWHORE

Texas (Third) Stage
THE SWORD
DROWNING POOL
RIGOR MORTIS

Actually, that is, by no means, a terrible line-up; if the stages are staggered at all (and I imagine they will be), it would be plenty easy to keep oneself occupied during sets from In This Moment, Jonathan Davis, and HellNo. And I guess it’s honorable of Metallica to let Ozzy play last, even though, at this point, a) they’re much bigger than Ozzy and b) Ozzy has to be in bed by 8 pm. I mean, if I was Ozzy, and I’d spent recent Ozzfests getting blown off the stage by the likes of Maiden and Priest, I certainly wouldn’t wanna follow Metallica. But, y’know, nice of Ulrich and Hetfield to step aside for one night and let the Ozzman cometh.

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Blabbermouth is reporting that this year’s edition of Ozzfest “will consist of two separate two-day (Saturday/Sunday) events — one of which will be held in Dallas — in late July/early August.” Ozzy and Metallica will headline on separate days, and apparently Rigor Mortis will play the Dallas date, too.

Honestly? I’m all for some kind of Download/Wacken Open Air-style event here in the US, and maybe this could be it. Even if I’m in no particular rush to see Ozzy again (seriously, dude, unless you’re gonna break out some rarities or at least play “No More Tears,” I’ve had enough frog hopping for one lifetime, thank you) or, for that matter, Metallica, I know you need those kinds of household name bands to sell a big fest like this one – and the inclusion of Rigor Mortis makes me feel somewhat optimistic about the rest of the line-up. Not that I’m huge Rigot Mortis fan or anything – but if a semi-obscure band that most Hot Topic shoppers will have never heard of, maybe the rest of the line-up will be cool. Right?

Guys?

Anyone?

-AR