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It has literally been fifteen years since I went to a show of any kind, and that was Dream Theater back in like '92. Part of it is that I don't enjoy breathing smoke and being driven deaf by shitty arena sound, part of it is just that there are never good shows out here, but that seems to be changing, and when I found out Wolves In The Throne Room were going to be here, I couldn't pass it up.

The Marquee is a small venue, just down the street from Tulsa's famous Cain's Ballroom, you could maybe cram 300 people in there if you packed 'em in, but I think 200 would be the safe limit. There were maybe 50 people there when the show started, but that was up over 100 by the time things got really going.

First opener was a local band called Seasons Of War, who were a sort of groove/deathcore band with a terrible hardcore vocalist. They weren't that bad, but they didn't do much, and the crowd didn't seem interested in them. I hit the merch booths and grabbed real copies of Diadem Of Twelve Stars and Two Hunters, plus some shirts. I chatted with a guy who runs a local label called Desastrious and scored some free shit. Rating: 1/5.

Second band up was Rituals of a Blasphemer, who were a very orthodox Black Metal band. They didn't move around much on stage, but they were very tight, and they ripped through an energetic set. The crowd seemed to really get off on their show, and clamored for an encore, but they had used too much time setting up beforehand. Rating: 4/5.

It was about 10 pm when the Wolves finally got on stage. They plugged in, cranked up, and blew everyone away. I never expected the nuanced chords and intertwining harmonies that are this band's trademarks to come off well live, but I was completely wrong. Live, this band was...the word I'm reaching for is 'engulfing'. The guitars washed over you like a tsunami, the bass shaking the whole room and the kick drum kicking you right in the chest. They had tremendous energy, and it is hard to believe guys could flail around like that, headbanging almost down to the damned floor, and still play so well. They blazed through "Vastness And Sorrow", "I Will Lay Down My Bones Among The Rocks And Roots" and the entire 20+ minutes of "(A Shimmering Radiance) Diadem Of Twelve Stars".

The crowd was a real cross-section. You had big hairy guys (like me) in black t-shirts, you had rednecks, some hot chicks, and a swath of alt-rock hipster types with suede jackets and horn-rimmed glasses. All of them were totally into the band, crowded up against the stage, headbanging and throwing the horns. I have to say Wolves In The Throne Room were way better live than I ever expected, and I find their music on CD almost inadequate after experiencing it first hand. Rating: 5+/5.

I would have stayed for headliners Nachtmystium, but it was after 11 and I had to go to work the next day. Plus I had been standing on a concrete floor for 3 hours and my feet were killing me. (There's no place to sit down in the Marquee, not really). For a Sunday night show it was pretty well attended, I scored some loot, and the band I really came to see was every bit as awesome as I could have hoped. All in all, it was a good show.