Bass Drum of Death and Hanni El Khatib @ Rock and Roll Hotel October 13, 2013

I apologize for how overdue this post is, but midterms got the best of me last week! Last Sunday night I was in serious need of a study break and decided to see an amazing concert at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Bass Drum of Death and Hanni El Khatib made for the perfect blend of rock and roll grit, killer guitar solos, the blues and a lot of noise. My ears were ringing well into Monday.

Bass Drum of Death started the night off right and played two of my favorite songs, "Velvet Itch" and "Get Found." John Barrett sure can play the guitar and belt out the lyrics. The fast paced hooks and fuzzy distortion satisfy any garage rock fan. From the punk anthems like "Such a Bore," to choppy and psychedelic favorites like "Heart Attack Kid" Bass Drum knew how to get the crowd going. By the time the band was almost done with their opening set people were not only paying attention but they were dancing along having a great time. 

After a killer opener, Hanni El Khatib followed up and started his set on the right note with "Head in the Dirt," one of my favorite songs. Towards the end of the set fans went wild when he played the blues-infused song "You Rascal You;" which especially appeals to me because I hear a lot of pre-Brothers and El Camino The Black Keys (when they still stuck to their roots and did not just sound like every other pop-rock band on the radio) sound in this song. Hanni El Khatib's album was actually produced by Dan Auerbach himself which explains a lot of the great sound quality. The final song of the set was "Family," which was perfect to dance to. has great lyrics to sing along with and has some awesome distortion filled guitar riffs.

Overall, this tour was amazing and I highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to check out their remaining shows (http://hannielkhatib.com/shows/) for an incredible chance to see two bands that provide a gritty and raw musical experience.