Nederland death metal band Behelit playing the Beaumont Underground Metal Movement’s Bummfest at Tequila Rok on April 13, 2013. Beth Rankin/cat5
It hasn’t always been easy to catch a metal show in Southeast Texas.
Why? The answer depends on whom you ask.
“Five years ago, metal bands were hard to find around here — good metal bands,” said Andrew Fison, manager of the Gig on Crockett Street.
Jarrod Talbot, vocalist for Groves metalcore band Ashes of a Martyr, has been booking his band locally for five years. Being good wasn’t the hard part — booking shows was.
“Most (venues) are very polite — if they respond,” Talbot said.
“The reasons locally have been, ‘We don’t really showcase that type of music here,’ or ‘Our calendar is full’ — which makes no sense at all. Earlier in our career, it was the worry that we wouldn’t pull a crowd.”
That’s not a problem anymore — at least not in certain venues. In the past three years, local metal and hard rock bands went from black-clad outcasts to the bands to book if you want to fill your venue on an otherwise off night.
“Heavy metal is a no-brainer,” Fison said. “I love my heavy metal bands. Their fans are fiercely loyal. They may be the most loyal fans out there. They turn up early, they’re polite. All the aggression is on the stage.”
The metal scene is Beaumont’s Cinderella story, having grown exponentially after the creation of the Beaumont Underground Metal Movement. This group puts on shows (like Bummfest, a 12-hour metal fest attended by more than 400 people), throws fundraisers and features local bands each month.
Beaumont Underground Metal Movement's Bummfest
Being BUMM’s band of the month is no small thing — you get a fat stack of band merch and free promotion for several weeks. It often means a headlining gig, too.
“When the band first became show-ready back in 2009, there was no one locally willing to book us,” said Jesse Brisendine, vocalist and founder of Port Neches death metal band Behelit. “After Bummfest came about our popularity was considerably boosted, and eventually I was able to establish a relationship with the Gig. They have been so far very receptive to allow us to book their venue, and through playing with other acts — as well as forging new friendships — we are receiving offers to play shows we aren’t putting on, such as the 2014 Boomtown Film and Music Festival.”
The local metal scene is a great example of what hard work, punctuality and politeness can do to turn a reputation around. In an area where bars and shows are still heavily segregated, Fison pointed out that metal is the most “friendly” genre he books — everyone is welcomed, he said. Race, background and gender be damned.
“Heavy metal is the great equalizer,” Fison said.
The biggest challenge so far, Talbot said, has been convincing venues that metalheads are the crowd they want.
Groves metalcore/deathcore band Ashes of A Martyr perform at the Gig on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. cat5 file photo
“We are professional, we do take pride in our work, our fans are respectful and we do bring drinking customers,” he said.
Drinking customers who show up for the first band, stay through the last encore and buy armfuls of merch, too. Few — if any — other local genres can say that. But like every other genre, not every show is a sell-out.
“Metal is a niche audience, for sure,” Brisendine said. “Even though we are striving hard to build up the scene, you can’t always draw in a big crowd. People have lives, and just because one person might enjoy the grooves of Etyma doesn’t mean they will like the heaviness of Behelit.
“Venues are open to make money,” he said. “If a band can’t get people through the doors, then it isn’t a sound business decision for a booker to just be a good guy and book any band. I don’t blame them.”
Fison said he does book according to what will sell — which has increasingly meant metal and hard rock shows, sometimes two or three a week — but he wishes he could bring in new-to-Southeast Texas genres. Southeast Texas crowds, however, are notorious for not supporting curious out-of-town acts.
I’ve never lived in a city where, even among the indie rockers, the crowd hangs around for the local bands they’ve seen a million times and thins out when a new-to-town band hits the stage.
“Getting people to come out and try something different is the hardest part,” Fison said. “I wanna expand people’s views. Would anyone turn up? No.”
Then again, that’s what they used to say about local metal bands.
Behelit
Featuring: Avaris, Irreconcilable Suffering, Prince Albert in a Can of Whoop-Ass, Skanky Dave & the Bumpin Uglies
When: Doors at 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Gig, 240 Crockett St., Beaumont
Cost: $7
Toys for Tots benefit
Featuring: 70times7, Uhnayus, Hollow Vessels, Higher Domain, Ax Grinder
When: Doors at 3 p.m., show at 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Gig, 249 Crockett St., Beaumont
Cost: One new toy (in package)
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