Bad Copy

I often tell tales of the first time I saw MacSabbath live. It was years ago, almost 10 now, at Reggies here in Chicago. I had been out at a barcade for hours beforehand and was running late to get down to the other side of the city. I showed up to the venue sauced, pushed my way up through the already amassed giant crowd, and secured a place right in front where I took some of the best photos of my career and saw one of the most enjoyable, hilarious, visually stimulating shows of my show-going life. So when I heard that America’s first and only purveyor of ‘drive-thru metal’ was coming back to the city to celebrate their ten year anniversary, I knew that I had to go.

The show opened with duo Spaceman Bob from Phoenix, AZ. I quickly recognized the frontperson as Robbie from punk band Playboy Manbaby. While the songs are completely different, they are just as entertaining and great. Songs about anxiety set to black lights with neon glow hair and nail polish, I’m in. It was a fun set and the ever-growing crowd seemed to all enjoy it as well.

Next up was the Tejon Street Corner Thieves who are self-described as a “trashgrass and blues band”  from Colorado Springs, CO. The lineup included a stand up bass (a personal favorite of mine), a banjo, and a guitar. From that alone – along with a box drum and a toe tapped tambourine – their sound was full and fierce. They also did this adult themed cover song of “Down By the Bay,” which you may be familiar with from childhood, possible from the musical master, Raffi. They were phenomenal and they were really, really into the idea of Malort and Chicago Handshakes (for those outside the city – it’s a special city-only deal where you get a shot of Malort and a tall can of usually Old Style for like, $4-$6).

Up next was the highlight of the night – the one, the only Mac Sabbath. If you have never seen the band live, do it. There are not enough words that I could pen that would accurately relay what a wild, energizing, and fun show this four-piece puts on. For those of you who may not be aware of the band, they are a McDonald-themed Black Sabbath cover band, except the covers have been altered to be parodies which warn, via singer Ronald Osbourne, about the dangers of fast food including about GMOs, factory farming, low nutrient dollar menu items, and just how fucking gross some of the things that we put into our body really are. This is all set to Black Sabbath riffs slayed by Slayer MacCheeze, drum solos from the Catburgler, and pounding bass from Grimalice.

Because it was that band’s 10 year anniversary, they played through all their hits. But also because… in those 10 years, that have only ever released one album. But hey, if it works, go with it. It was a solid set made even better by a few appearances by my dear friend and Mac Sabbath’s Employee of the Month and stage hand, Colin Dana. Ronald sung and danced over a smoking grill on which he cooked burgers, rubber chickens, and of course, a bat made into a burger which is devoured in true Ozzy fashion. Check out the photos below and make sure to catch this Mickey D themed side show when they tour through your town. You will not be disappointed!