He Whose Ox Is Gored
Next up, after Smooth Sailing, was a band called “He Whose Ox Is Gored.” Great name, great band. If I had to compare them to another band, they sounded somewhat similar to Isis or maybe Pelican. However, they didn’t really sound like Isis or Pelican either. They are unique. I hope they come play in Ashland someday.
The venue, El Corazon, is a fun little spot. The stage is huge for a club, with a pole in the front and slightly off center. The space for the crowd is probably only two times the size of the stage. The guy in the crowd in the above picture whose ear you can see is actually the guitarist in Smooth Sailing. If I lived in Seattle I would be here at least 20 times a year. According to the posters on the wall, loads of great bands came through during the past year including Katatonia, Kreator, Nevermore, Death Angel, Finntroll, Overkill, Vader (twice), and many more.