A week on the scene
The Killith Fair Tour is an annual underground metal package conceived by M.O.D. frontman Billy Milano. A troublemaking loudmouth who looks like Rob Reiner and describes himself as "the rebel you love to hate," Milano has carved out a niche for M.O.D. (Methods of Destruction) as a cochlea-crushing, brain-bruising outfit that revels in political and cultural satire.
The politically-incorrect effect can occasionally suggest the possibilities of Howard Stern fronting early Metallica. With the song "Wigga," Milano pokes fun at Caucasian gangsta wannabes (an admittedly tired subject), while "Rage Against the Mac Machine" blasts Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello, for what Milano perceives as the hyprocrisy of spouting socialist ideals while playing ball with corporate record labels.
With his most controversial tirade, the pro-Bush "Ass-ghanistan," Milano transforms himself into the Ann Coulter of metal, offering this nugget of cruise-missile diplomacy: "Better kick your donkey into high gear/'cause you're gonna go meet Allah today."
Needless to say, Milano is an obnoxious blowhard, but there's no artifice to him, and his commitment to the advancement of metal can't be denied. For this year's Killith Fair, Milano teams M.O.D. with two other cult favorites from metal's dark edge. Crisis, a veteran LA-via-NY band, is dominated by the tortured shrieks of singer Karyn Crisis, better known to her fans as the "Exorsister." Jacknife, an emerging North Texas hardcore quintet with two EPs to its credit, rounds out the lineup.
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| Crisis |
The Killith Fair Tour comes to the Sanctuary (1818 N. Main) on Friday, June 10. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $10.
Compiled by Gilbert Garcia
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| Carmen's de la Calle hosts a tribute to jazz trumpeter Chet Baker on Saturday, June 11. |
