For some, August marks the beginning of Summer’s twilight days.
For some, August marks the beginning of Summer’s twilight days. Students of every kind are prepping for school, the days are starting to get a little shorter, and there is generally less running around than in June and July.
But Richmond’s metal-heads do not intend to go gentle into that dark night, and for them August marks not the beginning of the end of Summer, but the beginning of the end of the wait for the 6th annual GWAR-B-Q.
This year’s GWAR-B-Q promises to be bigger, badder, and better than ever, with the addition of a third stage, twenty bands, a new GWAR beer from Cigar City Brewing, Sunday brunch at the GWAR Bar, and all the PBR you can drink (no, seriously, watch the commercial). Previous GWAR-B-Q staples will be included as well, like Before-B-Q and GWAfter Party events, the Spew Olympics, meat sandwiches drenched in GWAR’s own line of sauces, and a criminal shortage of porta potties.
Though nothing could be more stunning than a vow to not run out of beer, bohabs might be slightly less stunned by the addition of mc chris to this year’s line up. But this is by no means an arbitrary move. As it turns out, mc chris has some very special connections to both GWAR and the City of Richmond.
mc chris’ first GWAR encounter was at their 2011 appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and the occasion was suitably surreal. “It was weird, there were, like, a bunch of puppies in a cage and then there was GWAR putting on their costumes, and I was just kind of like holding puppies and looking at how they fire fluid, and it was a weird event,” mc chris said.
Though he may be a recent convert, GWAR’s thirty year legacy of objectionable music is not wasted on mc chris. “It’s kind of like a timeless world you’re stepping into, and it’s always been happening, and it’s weird to be a visitor in that world,” mc chris said, “but it’s an amazing thing to witness, and it’s a lot of fun and it’s great music.” GWAR Slave Matt Maguire is a fan of mc chris.
Though mc chris’ affiliation with GWAR is relatively new, his history with Richmond is one ten years in the making.
“I love Richmond,” mc chris said. “I think Richmond was one of the first shows where it went really well, and it was sold out, and we were just like, ‘this is crazy,’” mc chris said. “We couldn’t believe what was happening to us, and I believe that was at the Nancy Raygun,” mc chris said. Though the Nancy Raygun is dead and gone, 929 W. Grace is still alive, thanks to the folks at Strange Matter. mc chris has since returned, having played a show in November of 2014 at The Camel with MC Lars and Spose. “It was nice to finally return,” mc chris said.
Though it won’t be the first time a rapper has performed at the GWAR-B-Q, it might be the first time a rapper exclusively raps at the GWAR-B-Q. mc chris does not consider himself much of a fish out of water, though. “A lot of my music is made by people that dabble in rock and metal and punk,” mc chris said, “I’m kind of a distant distant cousin to that world.” mc chris also said, “My music kind of works in a variety of different situations, thankfully.”
A veteran of many outdoor music festivals, including two Warped Tours and a Gathering of the Juggalos, mc chris is no stranger to big, outdoor performances, and looks forward to his GWAR-B-Q debut.
“I love trying to win people over, and I love seeing people get into the act that don’t know me or might think they don’t like me, but find out maybe they do,” mc chris said.
The 6th Annual GWAR-B-Q will take place on August 15th at Hadad’s Lake in Richmond, VA. Tickets and other information can be found online at the official GWAR-B-Q webpage.
