Bloodywood Takes Baltimore with Nine Inch Naans Tour

I was introduced to Bloodywood via a friend not long ago. They are an absolutely unique sound you will not find anywhere else. Being from India, I assumed I’d never get the chance to see them. Imagine my surprise when I found out they were rolling through one of my favorite venues, Baltimore Soundstage.

Iris Divine

Opening up for the evening was progressive metal band, Iris Divine.

A Killer’s Confession

This was the third time I’ve seen A Killer’s Confession and the second time photographing them. This time was very different from the rest. We covered their show this year at Lovedraft’s and it was an entirely different experience. Everything from the stage production to the physical style of the band had changed and I don’t hate it one bit! Frontman Waylon Reavis now has full make-up and blacked-out contacts. It gives an incredible new flair. This crowd went crazy for it. I went crazy for the lighting and fog projectors. I always enjoy their shows, Waylon loves interacting with the crowd and will sit down on the edge of the stage and come stand right up on the barricades with the fans.
I still didn’t get to hear “Angel On The Outside” again but I can forgive that for the kick-ass set they put on.

Bloodywood

The crowd was antsy. Chats of “Bloodywood” came on and off as we stood in front of the empty stage waiting. This was a special show for several reasons. One was just the crowd. This was not the “typical” heavy metal crowd. There were people of all ages and walks of life there. Kids to elderly and everyone in between. The absolute diversity of this crowd is a nod at the diversity of the sound that Bloodywood has.

The six-piece self-proclaimed “Indian folk metal” band came to Baltimore all the way from New Delhi, India. They have a sound quite literally no other meshing traditional Indian folk instruments, Hindi/Punjabi lyrics, rap, metal growls and screams, and guitar/bass/drums all in one. It’s something you have to actually hear to understand and it just mixes in the hardest, most beautiful way. I myself am a very lyrical person. You’ll find me looking up the lyrics to nearly everything I listen to and digging into the meaning. Bloodywood’s lyric writing holds as much meaning as the mix of their sound does. Subjects such as mental health, politics, and sexual assault.

Rap vocalist, Raoul Kerr, was ill and couldn’t perform. That did not change the energy or show. The other five gave every ounce they had and the crowd loved every second of it. They began their set with “Gaddaar” and immediately the crow lit up and began to sing and move. After photographing my three songs I headed into the middle of the crowd near the mosh pit. “Dana-Dan” had just begun, a personal favorite of mine. The lyrics talk about beating rapists and sexual assaulters. Now, I never go INTO most pits. I was moved by this song, and I went in. There’s just something about moshing to “I put my fist through the face of a rapist” that makes me move. Baltimore mosh pits are a special breed on their own and I felt very safe in it and had so much fun.

If I were able to go to any other stop on the Nine Inch Naans tour I’d be at as many as possible just to experience this again. They are truly a one-of-a-kind show and I hope to see them back for another US tour soon!