Gwar
The Electric Factory
Philadelphia, PA
November 12, 2015

I recently saw Gwar this past Thursday at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. If we’re being completely honest, I have only heard of Gwar by name, and seen photos of them online. I have also heard the “horror stories” about what they do on stage and what they do to the crowd. I thought I was prepared but nothing could really prepare a Gwar-show-virgin. Long story, short, I was able to experience Gwar through my camera.

The Electric Factory was soon filled to the brim as the night wore on and die-hard Gwar fans pushed their way towards the front of the stage so they could stain, or continue to stain, their white t-shirts as a free souvenir. The mixed excited chatter melted into roars of excitement as soon as the venue was enveloped in darkness. Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” took over the speakers and the fans including photographers sang along. Suddenly, the decorative LED screens upon the stage lit up, showing a very hypnotic display and surely enough the members appeared in their intriguing yet terrifying get-ups. Before I knew it, blood began spraying the fans in the front as they cheered with absolute pleasure, enjoying every drop of the blood. Of course, that wasn’t the only substance that was unleashed into the crowd, there was “vomit,” “piss” and God knows what else. I was thoroughly enjoying the fact that I narrowly dodged the unknown liquid substance and the theatrics displaying on the stage. The set consisted of: a dubstep mix of “Sick of You;” “Crush, Kill, Destroy;” “Madness at the Core of Time;” “Black and Huge;” “Saddam a Go-Go;” “Vlad the Impaler;” “Jack the World; “I’m in Love (With a Dead Dog);” “I, Bonesnapper;” “Babyraper;” “Meat Sandwich;” “Captain Crünch;” “Let Us Slay;” “You Can’t Kill Terror;” “A Gathering of Ghouls/Storm Is Coming/Hail, Genocide!” “Bloodbath;” “A Short History of the End of the World;” “Metal Metal World;” with the encore of “The Salaminizer” and “Sick of You.”

Overall, it was certainly a sight to see and something I will never, ever forget. Be sure to check out Gwar’s future tour dates, they really put on a show you will not want to miss out on!