It’s certainly the first—and definitely not the worst—in fact, it could be the most unusual heavy metal show ever to hit Long Island. Never before have these three extraordinary bands from west of the Rockies appeared at the Revolution Bar and Music Hall, and Amityville may never be the same after they leave.
What brings Mac Sabbath, Metalachi and Okilly Dokilly to LI on the last Sunday night in March is the 2017 Mockstrosity Tour, covering 26 cities in 26 days, leaving tattered cultural expectations in their wake.
As the tour promoters say, their misguided mission was simple: They would amass “the most motley collection of costumed musical miscreants ever assembled. Our shortsighted ambition would prove to be our demise as one by one a hapless triad of lawless vagabonds have now come together to form a blasphemous axis of musical mockery far more powerful than we could have ever imagined…or hope to contain.”
It looks like they succeeded beyond their sickest imagination—purists, be warned.
Founders of what they call “Drive-Thru Metal,” Mac Sabbath mixes reimagined Black Sabbath classics with raucous comedy and borderline-horrific theatrics, complete with a smoking grill, laser-eyed clowns, bouncing burgers and many more surprises. Buzzfeed dubbed Mac Sabbath as one of the “13 Metal Bands You Didn’t Know How to React To,” while LA Weekly put them on their “Best Tribute Band” list in 2015. One look at the band in full regalia is frightening and funny at the same time.
“Heavy music, like heavy food, is best consumed voraciously and without much thought,” writes LA Weekly’s music critic Lina Lecaro. “But the McGenius behind Mac Sabbath is that they obviously put a lot of thought and skill into their quirky musical cooker, which roasts greasy fast-food corporations as much as it pays tribute to the pummeling rock of Ozzy and Sabbath. Like many gimmick-driven grinders, the members shroud themselves in secret sauce.”
The band includes Grimalice, the Catburglar and Slayer McCheeze backing up creepy clown Ronald Osbourne on vocals. With their “clever, freak-fried takes on Sabbath’s lyrics (‘Pair-A-Buns’ to the tune of ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Frying Pan’ to the tune of ‘Iron Man’),” Lecaro says, “these happy meal menaces sizzle life, and always serve up more than the empty calories of most cover bands.”
America’s Got Talent alumni Metalachi is the world’s only heavy metal mariachi band. Hailing from Hollywood via Juarez, Mexico, Metalachi is a musical/comedy stage show that somehow blends the world of Spinal Tap and Cheech & Chong into an over-the-top stage spectacle. The group is a 5-piece ensemble of classically trained mariachi musician brothers who have been fused together with the molten power of metal.
Their unique mix of raucous humor and innovative music has reportedly drawn praise from the likes of Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Vinnie Paul (Pantera, Hellyeah), Eric Wilson (Sublime), Billy Idol and Howard Stern. LA Weekly also put Metalachi on its list of LA’s “Top 5 Tribute Bands” of 2015.
“Metalachi roll metal and mariachi music together in to a big zesty burrito with just the right amount of heat,” writes LA Weekly’s Lina Lecaro. “Like the most garish ’80s glam bands, they don painted faces and wigs; they just top ’em off with sombreros and sometimes fancy polyester, too. The shtick works because the guys are skilled mariachis, especially their horn and violin players, who attack their solos like Speedy Gonzales meets Slash.”
They started building their following in North Hollywood, and struck it big, so to speak, on the Hollywood Strip. Their scorching rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” would be ideal with some flaming margaritas, Lecaro recommends.
Rounding out the line-up and all the way from Phoenix, Arizona, come Okilly Dokilly, a very unlikely looking band performing what they describe as “Nedal,” a subgenre of metal inspired by Ned Flanders, the overbearing goodie-two-shoes neighbor on The Simpsons. Although these guys are certainly animated, they’re definitely not cartoon figures. The band includes Head Ned, Red Ned, Thread Ned, Stead Ned and Bled Ned.
They say they draw most of their lyrics from Ned Flanders’ direct quotes. Last November they released their debut album, Howdilly Doodilly, and they’ve since reaped worldwide attention from the likes of Time, Maxim, US Magazine and other outlets. Their first video was for the song “White Wine Spritzer,” an ode to Flanders’ favorite stiff drink.
After hearing one verse, you’ll never be afraid again to order that drink in front of your friends when you’re at a bar; you just have to summon the emotional intensity that Okilly Dokilly bring. It’s not at all what you’d expect from a bunch of nerdy looking guys in pink sports shirts, dark green sweaters and nondescript slacks. Their high energy shows try to “weave together comedy and brutality,” the band boasts.
“Guttural screams and pounding drums provide a soundtrack for the pummeling of an inflatable donut as green sweaters and round glasses blur across the stage.” Now that’s a sight for sore eyes.
On March 26, the Mockstrosity Tour comes to the Revolution Music Hall, which is at 140 Merrick Road in Amityville. Doors open at 7 p.m. General admission is $20, for ages 18 and over.
Mac Sabbath photo credit: Paul Koudounaris
