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09/07/2023

Through the Eyes of a Preteen: GWAR / Photos and video

By SYDNEY AND MIKE LEWIS // I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as excited at a show than what I saw her at GWAR. She might not have known any of the songs, but she was still having a great time. She’d try and get the performers to spray blood over where we were standing, she got excited when she threw the horns to one of the GWAR slaves (or the “little guys” as she called them) and he threw them back, and she ended up getting a guitar pick.

Sydney has been asking me for a while to go to see and photograph GWAR. I’ve been in the photo pit several times and I’ve turned her down. For those who aren’t familiar with the band, GWAR is a very different experience than most bands. When I’ve been in the pit at the Roseland, it isn’t uncommon to find fans coming over the barricade before the band even hits the stage and often, they aren’t mindful of the fact there are photographers in the pit area. I’ve been hit hard a time or two and nearly knocked down and while I can handle it, I don’t think it’s something a young one is going to be able to deal with. Then there’s a stage show with gallon after gallon of fake blood which can damage a camera if you’re not careful.

GWAR however ended up on the Mudvayne tour out at Ridgefield and the stage there is slightly taller than the other venues that the band usually plays in. I thought perhaps this would be a more suitable possibility and sure enough, Sydney was approved for the tour but then things changed. Despite her asking repeatedly, once she found out she could get photos of GWAR, she got a little concerned. Her fear as getting blood on the camera. I talked things over with her. I let her know that the first thing she should do is simply stick close to me or any other photographer who was there that had been in a photo pit for GWAR in the past. I also let her know that if at any point she felt uncomfortable or worried, she could simply move to the side of the stage and take pictures there.

The day of the show she was still a little scared of what would happen when GWAR took the stage, but she still went and followed me into the photo pit area. As expected, it didn’t take long before the blood started to stream. It was within the first minute or so of their opening song, “Hail Genocide.” We quickly found cover to try and avoid getting hit but then I looked at Sydney. She was laughing and having the best time of her life. Clearly the fear she had felt dissipated, and she was fully embracing everything that GWAR brought to the stage. Out of the five photographers at the show, by the time the first song ended two had made their way to shoot in the general admission area while myself, Sydney, and another stayed for the three songs.

Prior to entering the pit, I had asked about going into the GA section afterwards but never really received a clear answer either way. As we made our way out after our three songs, Sydney seemed to be taking her time leaving. She waited until our liaison had gotten a little further ahead of us and then grabbed my hand to head directly in the general admission area. We made it to about the middle and I felt that was a good spot but for Sydney, that wasn’t even close to being the right spot. She wanted to be closer and finally we found ourselves at the front of the barricade.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as excited at a show than what I saw her at GWAR. She might not have known any of the songs, but she was still having a great time. She’d try and get the performers to spray blood over where we were standing, she got excited when she threw the horns to one of the GWAR slaves (or the “little guys” as she called them) and he threw them back, and she ended up getting a guitar pick from BälSäc the Jaws ‘o Death at the end of everything. Sydney also mentioned that out of all the different characters, she likes BälSäc and best and thinks that his costume has the best design. When it came down to merch later, she had initially said she wanted a shirt for Butcher Babies as she had met Carla and Heidi several years ago, but GWAR became the band of choice.

Now however, I have a problem. After seeing GWAR she is now asking me almost every day when they are coming back. She’s ready to get into the photo pit once again. While Sydney has seen plenty of bands where she told me that they were “okay” or she flat out hated them, GWAR is one that has won her over quickly. It looks like once the next tour is announced I won’t have any choice but to take her to see them again and something tells me that this is going to be something that will repeat over and over again.

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