With all of the really weak, cookie-cutter 'metal' (or whatever you want to call it) floating around these days, its a breath of fresh air to see a band like Big Business make a room come alive. It's gritty, angry, raw music, and if they come to your town, I would highly recommend checking them out in a club setting before you are paying 50 bucks a ticket to see them at some arena. Don't make me say I told ya so!

First of all, if you are going to name your band Big Business, you better know how to bring it. Last night at the Empty Bottle, I had my first chance to see them live, and in this writer's humble opinion, they lived up to my expectations... and then some. While the sound in the room wasn't up to snuff (it did get mildly better as the set went on), I'm not going to fault the band for that. Bass player Jared Warren, drummer Coady Willis, and a dude referred to as Toshi (I've searched for references to who this guy was and I can't find anything... sorry) crashed through almost every song on their latest release Here Come The Waterworks. Warren's bass lines were a sludgy, brutally intense mixture of melodic chords and driving rhythms that resonated at a menacing level. Willis was an absolute animal behind the kit, providing some truly anthemic beats at the drop of a hat. The guitarist/noisemaker was pretty much inaudible for most of the set except for the quieter moments, but since I expected only two dudes on stage, anything extra was an added bonus. It is no surprise that Willis and and Warren are now the rhythm section for Montesano, Washington's favorite sons, Melvins.

Check out the video I took of 'Grounds for Divorce' on their newest record.