Baroness Turns Mohawk Outside In

Closer quarters than inside at Mohawk seldom occur for a band the stature of Baroness. The Savannah foursome’s previous appearance at the Red River beacon, a 2013 Chaos in Tejas date, rightly filled the outside setup. Returned Sunday night indoors, the metal survivors began humbly enough, guitarist Pete Adams stating, “We’re gonna play a little music.”

Given the devastating bus crash the group endured less than a month after the release of its third disc, 2012’s Yellow & Green, a brand new release and tour cycle arrives as a welcome comeback. Because Purple isn't out until Dec. 18, Baroness stuck mostly to its previous repertoire. The soothing sounds of “Yellow Theme” upheld indications of mellow, but soon gave way to the crunching riff of “The Sweetest Curse,” signaling the maelstrom had begun.

“March to the Sea” thus laid out the plan: a warm keyboard intro clearing the palate for roaring riffs and a tune you can hum, punctuated by harmony guitar leads and leader John Baizley’s hoarse bawl. Sounds formulaic, but it’s amazing what variety Baroness gets out of its self-imposed limitations. The jangly arpeggio that introduces “Sea Lungs,” waltz time rhythms of new tune “Chlorine & Wine,” and the prog theatrics of “Cocainium” kept the 12-year-old juggernaut free of monotony.

Two other Purple previews occurred: galloping “Morningstar” and the anthemic “Shock Me,” already a fan favorite if audience reaction is any indication. The crowd saved its most passionate support for the end. Baizley dedicated “Eula” to Lindsay, an Austin survivor of the band’s UK crash, noting, “We’re all recovered and we’re all doing great,” before diving deep into its emotional minefield.

By way of contrast, set closer “A Horse Called Golgotha” provided an antidote via power chord explosions and a celebratory vibe. The crowd went berserk. The energy blazed brighter for a well-deserved encore of the sensually heavy “Isak” and sing-along “Take My Bones Away.”

Despite its historical turmoil, the band’s chemistry is at an all-time high. Adams and Baizley have honed their teamwork into a formidable wall of six-string cream, while the new guys, bassist/keyboardist Nick Jost and drummer Sebastian Thomson, feel like missing pieces finally found. With a new sense of unification, Baroness indulged its sense of melancholy melody and penchant for leaving no jam unkicked out.

By the end, both audience and band – which seemed genuinely moved by the raucous reception its very presence engendered – had given all, leaving a crowd of people, on and offstage, happily sated.

Setlist, 12.6.16

“Yellow Theme”
“The Sweetest Curse”
“March to the Sea”
“Board Up the House”
“Chlorine & Wine”
“Morningstar”
“Green Theme”
“Sea Lungs”
“Little Things”
“Shock Me”
“Cocainimum”
“Eula”
“A Horse Called Golgotha”

Encore:

“Isak”
“Take My Bones Away”