This past spring founding member and former frontman of Gwar, Dave Brockie – aka “Oderus Urungus” – returned to the pestilent space from which he came, leaving behind a hole so huge it required not one but two scumdogs to fill it. Gwar is now co-fronted by Blóthar, former bassist Mike Bishop, and Vulvatron, played by Kim Dylla. The band has had female members before – notably backup singer, dancer, and fire breather Slymenstra Hymen (Danielle Stampe) – but this is the first time a monstrous bitch-demon like Vulvatron has taken centre stage. Vulvatron is in no way intimidated by the intergalactic boots she’s meant to fill, and recently told Natalie Zina Walschots at Exclaim! magazine: “of course I’m not overwhelmed, I find the year 2014 and these ancient scumdogs quite easy to deal with, as things in my time have progressed a long way. I chose to come back from my time and assist Gwar in precluding their imminent doom. I believe they are quite glad that I arrived when I did, however they might not know it just yet.” (3 Nov. 2014) Were Gwar fans glad? I was here to find out. 
Before the show I admired the dedication of devotees wearing handmade Gwar t-shirts – white of course, to show off the blood spatters. One fan even had ‘GWAR’ shaved into his head. Another mocked my male companion’s drink order. Gwar fans can be a pretty diverse crew, but there was a strong bromosocial vibe at the (entirely plastic-wrapped) Corona. Would these masses bow down to Gwar’s new high priestess of pain, or would there be rumblings of dissent from the mosh pit? 
After a short, classic metal set from Austin-based American Sharks and a somewhat longer set from Corrosion of Conformity, the entire crowd sang along to Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” as Gwar prepared to take the stage. The band was fantastically tight, playing songs spanning from the first album, Hell-O (1988), to the most recent, Battle Maximus (2013), and paying homage to Oderus throughout. The audience energy was high and reverent. 
Multi-talented Kim Dylla (who is also a computer scientist, visual artist, and fashion designer) has already fronted metal bands such as Thismeansyou, so her vocal talents were established. But crucially, she also has the powerful presence needed for a character as crass and corrupted as Vulvatron. The audience enthusiastically backed each of her disgusting plays: every lash, blow, anal invasion, deluge of bloody boob spew, and – my personal favourite – the game of tetherball she and Beefcake played with an errant brain. 
Near the end of the concert I saw a ripple move through the crowd and wondered what people were watching: a moment later two tiny girls, maybe six and eight, wandered out toward the exit. Happily their guardians followed shortly – still, I marvelled at the tiny tots and their apparent lust for metal. Looks like both Gwar and grrrls just wanna rage, eternally. 
Review – Kathryn Simpson Photos – Jason Hughes
