Review & photos by Rachel Jablonski
For me, it was a day for the history books. Congress of Corruption tour, featuring Godhead, Ill Nino, RA, and The Dreaming (fronted by Christopher Hall of Stabbing Westward fame), was monumental as it made a stop at 3rd Street Live in Cedar Rapids, IA. Why? Because in my long standing concert attending career there is now one band that I have seen more than any other. Now, with a grand total of eight live performances I’ve witnessed… drum roll please… GODHEAD.
You may think that after eight show experiences on various tours that have come through Nebraska and Iowa over the years there would be little left to note about the band. But Godhead manages to still impress me each time on stage.
Having a lapse of three years after their Evolver release, Godhead has maintained solid collaboration and has even strengthened further with the addition of new drummer Glendon Crain. Now on tour in promotion of The Shadow Line, the band continues to energize with their rock/electronic sound and an effective, correlating light show. Playing a combination of tunes from the new album as well as a handful from their popular 2000 Years of Human Error release, such as “Sinking” and “Eleanor Rigby,” the crowd responded positively to the band’s first performance ever in Cedar Rapids. In fact, quite humorous to me, a pit even formed at one point during the band’s set. One of the first bands to be signed to a brand new label called Cement Shoes Records; the evening proved Godhead is refreshed and looking ahead toward a positive future.
Following Godhead, label mates RA and headliners Ill Nino were also enthusiastically welcomed by the warmed up crowd. Having been to Cedar Rapids a good number of times in the past two years, RA was warmly received with audience participation vocally and physically. With a new studio album coming out in the spring and their first live album coming out later this month, RA is pushing forward and carrying on well with the support of their new label. Label support allowed for $10 ticket prices in order to earn as much exposure as possible for their newly signed bands. Perhaps not requiring quite as much exposure, having previously been on Roadrunner Records, Ill Nino shined on stage and highlighted their strengths with old favorites such as “God Save Us” and “I Am Loco” off their 2001 Revolution Revolucion release.
With the great support behind them from Cement Shoes Records, Ill Nino has a full length release set for spring 2007.