Rhyme of the modern metalhead

The air is still and warm as the venue comes together for the show. Five of the best metal bands from Houston performed Sept. 3 at Scout Bar. I have the opportunity to sit down with Green as Emerald, a band that came highly recommended from friends working and going to the show.

The first band to take the stage was DWI, well-known and liked in the Clear Lake area. I chatted with these guys earlier and they looked like they were having fun on stage. For a first act they knew exactly what they were doing, with every song pulling the crowd in closer. My favorite song they played was “Glassfoot” because “not every song needs meaning.”

Next up was Treason, with a markedly theatrical entrance. Their music reminded me of Warped Tour 2005. It’s good to see this genre of metal still hitting the stage, and their mosh pit was a sight for sore eyes. Anova Sky, a band recommended to me from a friend at House of Blues, played a great show. Their sound was pretty mainstream, and they even closed with a song dedicated to the troops.

I found myself outright laughing and enjoying GODS to the point that I knew I had to introduce myself and give them props after the show. A grindcore band by trade, these guys shredded the room to pieces. I think they scared the audience a bit. I asked them about it afterward and they laughed, saying it was all part of making sure everyone had fun. I had no idea what they were saying at any point during their show, but I didn’t really care.

When I sat down with Green as Emerald, they were not what I expected. As we sat down in the green room, I began to see what everyone had been saying. The guys meshed as though they’d been friends for years. I found out that they’d each come from previous projects but coming together made the most sense.

“The writing process started slowly but once we got everyone together the music started coming out the way we wanted it,” said Judson Duncan, guitarist.

When I brought up their reputation in Houston, I could see a change in their eyes.
“We like compliments. We’re proud that Houston is our home base. We don’t want to over saturate the area and we have goals that are bigger than being the biggest band in Houston. The work is nowhere near done,” said Shelby Schwem, vocalist. There wasn’t any ego behind his words. I could see a band with a unified goal.

Houston can feel like a whirlpool for a band inside the 610 Loop, and a lot of bands have a tendency of getting caught in its vortex. Green as Emerald were aware of this localization.

“There’s a lot of talent here, it’s just so spread out. Nobody here wants to drive to a show in the Woodlands, nobody from the Woodlands wants to drive down here. So there’s no competition because everyone in the Woodlands is going to the Woodlands’ show, and everyone here is going to this show. It’s such a vast music scene here, but without competition it can’t grow. We’re proud of where we’re at and where we’re from. But, we want to expose ourselves as big as we can and after some of the experiences we’ve had, like getting a stage at Knotfest last year, we’ve gotten that little taste,” Schwem said.

When asked about touring plans, and they were straightforward.
“Get a truck, get a van, get a trailer and keep going until it breaks down!” said Marc Aya, drummer. “We’re gonna tour our asses off, not just playing because the venue has electricity but playing to the right crowds with the right bands,” Schwem said.
When asked about their upcoming EP, Powered by Human, they state a desire to keep their original style.
“Everything is self-funded. We’re doing it slowly but surely. It’s tough, but we like it that way, because we’re able to retain control over what we’re doing and the direction we take it. We’re not going to cheapen what we’re doing to fit any one kind of mold. The songs are done, the work is done and from now going into next year you’ll be hearing a lot about Green as Emerald. We’re gonna get the actual CD out first, we’ll have download codes, and vinyl is definitely in the cards for the future,” Schwem said.

“But there’s no rawer sound than going and listening to a live band. With MP3 format versus CD format versus vinyl format, you’re hearing more bits of the music. But when you go see a live band you hear all of it. Nothing sounds better than a live band,” said Judson.

I could place every band I’d heard into a distinct genre. My ears perked up when Green as Emerald started playing because this was something else. I saw a band that flowed and communicated with each other in a way that takes years to establish. Green as Emerald rocked. They played the stage like it was a sold out stadium but treated each other and the audience like everyone were childhood friends.
The band played for Houston that night and Houston was family. I could see in their eyes something I hadn’t seen anywhere else that night. I could see them looking ahead, looking beyond to their goals. Their onstage chemistry had flow, respect and a love for what they were doing. Schwem brought friends onstage and joined the audience on the floor.
After the show, everyone agreed, “If we could all be down there we would, enjoying the show with everyone here,” Aya said.

See these bands before you catch yourself saying, “Man, they’re from Houston?”