Tear Dungeon Stirs Up Bloody Mayhem in a Two Night Stand at Austin’s Hotel Vegas
Tear Dungeon, Austin’s gimp mask-wearing, blood-spitting noise punks, have been busy the past few weeks ramping up for the October release of their second album, Squirm.
First, they dropped the single “I’m Not Dead Yet” along with a video filmed at a wild demolition party at the now-closed DIY venue The Ghostcat Lounge. Shortly after, they played a secret show in the Austin Tunnels and used that footage for their second single, “Freak Flag.” Last Thursday and Friday, they brought their ear-splitting chaos to the indoor stage at Hotel Vegas.
The band features Austin music veterans: Andrew Cashen on vocals, Johnny Dowey and Will Grover on guitars, Chris Prorock on drums, and Jason Reece on bass. They are raw and loud, and have been described as proto-punk, thrash metal, and hardcore-punk. They are a blend of all of that, but that’s just part of what sells their Austin shows.
Their live shows are notorious for being chaotic and unpredictable — blood is spewed, structures are climbed, and the crowd leaves sweaty, sticky, and bruised.
As someone who has seen Tear Dungeon many times, I hesitate to give too much description about what happens at a show, as it is best enjoyed going in blind, but warned. I will share a few things, and let you experience the rest for yourself when their upcoming U.S. tour lands in your city soon.
Tear Dungeon shows are prepped by venue staff, who bring out plastic sheeting to cover stage equipment. Vocalist Andrew Cashen then hands band members White Claw cans filled with a thick red “blood” syrup. The band wears gimp masks and is dressed all in white.
Fans crowd the stage in masks and white, hoping to get hit with blood evidence. One or two will position themselves in the center to allow for a direct hit from Cashen, in which he fills his mouth with the blood, then spews it directly into the face of the willing front-row victim.
The plastic covering on stage only protects the equipment, and blood will get everywhere else: the stage, audience, and ceiling. Depending on the venue and what's available to climb on or hang from, he will then climb, surf, jump, or ride on the shoulders of a member of the crowd. And he will always eat a copy of the setlist.
Tear Dungeon shows can be an intense, collective cathartic experience, but they're also dotted with humorous anecdotes and stunts. But it’s not all spectacle. The band is tight, and the songs off the new album are already locked into my brain.
Tear Dungeon will release Squirm on October 2, via Todo Records, and will soon embark on a US Tour. In the meantime, you can check out their videos for “I’m Not Dead Yet” and “Freak Flag” to prepare yourself for a live show.