MacSabbath in NOLA
Held on the first day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, MacSabbath's presence at the House of Blues drew an eclectic crowd to the French Quarter beyond the typical "Festie" crowd hanging around this weekend. Colorful characters, metalheads, nostalgic young adults, goths, and more had an air of pure joy around them as they waited for the music to begin.
A hum began to emanate from behind the red and yellow curtain strung across the stage betwixt the sharp-toothed clown heads. The droning throat singing chant of "hamburger" grew louder and louder, and the fans cheered in anticipation. Finally, the shroud dropped to reveal The Catburglar pounding the hamburger drums, Grimalice wielding a bass, and Slayer McCheeze thrashing around his guitar. The "Organic Funeral" was proceeding when Ronald Osbourne emerged from the shadows to great applause.
Being a slow, aching, heavy metal city, "Sweet Beef" was a sweet hit. Ronald poured the remnants of his beer into a bucket and taunted those in the front with a splash. Back and forth, he went until…a wave of confetti flew out above my head.
This wouldn't be the only trick Ronald Osbourne played. During a stirring rendition (pun intended) of "More Ribs," he pulled a 10-foot straw and waved it like a magic staff. "New Orleans, let's have a drink shall we," he playfully questioned, and the Employee of the Month assistant poured a beer down the straw like a bong. "That's what straws are for after all!"
The early rock 'n' roll lover in me was quite taken with the next sentimental piece, in which Ronald serenaded PBR Beer to a recording of Roy Orbison's "In Dreams." The romantic mood continued with The Catburglar's "Beth"-inspired piece "Bread." Mac Attack made a cameo to play the keys. "I'm sorry things got kind of strange tonight," professed Ronald. But they would get stranger yet.
"How many people went to the Jazz Fest?" asked Ronald. He wanted to know why the bands didn't sound very jazzy. But then again, he remembered that his band was performing at The House of Blues, and they're not very bluesy. The genre divide widened with the multiple "Cake" interludes complete with a bucket hat.
Among the remaining hijinks, guest appearances, and comedy, MacSabbath abandoned their usual songs for "The Grouper," inspired by one of Iron Maiden's biggest hits. We were encouraged to sing along to certain parts, but there was really no encouragement needed. It was definitely going to happen. Ronald took out a sword to have a valiant fight with The Grouper itself. They continued the fight offstage, and I said, "Is he going to come back with its head?" He did indeed.
Nearing the close of the evening, two giant inflatable burgers that flew into the crowd as Ronald fried up and bit into a bat as "Frying Pan" began. Eventually, Ronald sat atop a burger which the raging crowd held, and he blissfully floated atop them. MacSabbath will likely take leave from Birminghamburger to come back soon enough. Being a famous food city, they can't stay away for long.
