I think Arizona band Francis Harold and the Holograms came to Orlando on a Sunday night to melt people's faces. A tough job for most but not this band. The day before they played an Urban Outfitter in Atlanta. I wish I could have seen that spectacle. This isn't a mall friendly band, for sure.

Are The Holograms a scary punk band? Are they just metal? I think in this day in age every former genre of music has turned into punk. Metal has turned into punk. Twee has turned into weird punk. Indie rock has turned into country punk. I'm not sure what regular metal has turned into.

Francis Harold take heavy metallized guitar riffs and rake them over sludgy drums and heavy reverberated vocals. When I say reverberated I mean they use such an obscene amount it's downright frightening. I haven't heard a live band use such copious amounts. They guys all wore some sort of mask, the guitar was in full warlock dress. Francis Harold wore a trenchcoat and dog mask and he ran over the stage, stomping his legs in forceful anger. They reminded me of 90's K Records band KARP - just heavy heavy but with a scarier look.

Opening was Fluffy Lumbers, and indie rock band, from New Jersey. Samuel Franklin is the main guy behind this band and he put together a four piece band to back him up. So they had three guitarists total! He had two Orlando shows, one before the So Raw Festival in Miami and one after, which was tonight. I didn't go to the first show at Uncle Lou's but I heard it was one of their best shows. And I thought this show was pretty darn good. They reminded me of The Wedding Present. Very good stuff.

Closing was Slippery Slopes, still without guitarist Britches, who is still in jail. Shawn, the organist/guitarist, is replacing him on guitar for now. He doesn't play Britches-style so they don't quite sound the same band.

Pictures:

Fluffy Lumbers.

Full band - Fluffy Lumbers.

Francis Harold and the Holograms with Peavey bass.

Francis Harold tackled by audience.

Francis Harold knocked down and mounted. Go Patrick!
They are rolling around in broken glass.

Slippery Slopes - Shawn and Erik.

Slippery Slopes - Erik.

Slippery Slopes - Erik, Rich, Steve.

Videos:

Francis Harold and the Holograms play two songs. With masks!

Francis Harold and the Holograms. I made it look like a cartoon.

Links:
Francis Harold and the Holograms - Myspace.
Slippery Slopes - Myspace.
Fluffy Lumbers - Myspace.