Gatekeeper @ Supply and Demand in Long Beach, CA 4-28-23
Articles by "Gatekeeper"
Gatekeeper Reunite to Bring the Surf to the Bar Scene of Long Beach, CA!
What a better way than to do a show than not far from the beach! Long Beach, California that is, and that is where local band from Torrance, California, death metal act known as GATEKEEPER! Now there are a number of other bands, whose name is the same, but this act is strictly from the LA County, and got their start way back in 2001! Releasing early demo’s, to an EP “It Begins to Unfold” (2003) with a debut self-titled album in 2005, with later demo’s later in 2005 and 2006. The band eventually splitting up sometime later in 2006. But in the summer of 2010, they would reunite for a one off show, only to do another one off show, a cancer benefit for Jake St. Dennis. Taking place out in Long Beach, California at a tiny bar known as Supply and Demand.
Having gotten to the venue a little later than expected, catching second to last band Serve The Blade, whose presents as hardcore meets death metal, brought the crowd joy, banging their heads, while others moshed, and some even hardcore danced around, taking it all in. The crowd was hyped for their brief but thrilling set-list, as they wrapped things up, making the band quite pleased with what they provided, mentioning that an EP was expected sometime soon.
SERVE THE BLADE:
Next up would be the headliners of the night, Gattekeeper, having not played a show since January 2017, me having seen them lastly way back in 2010! Before that would be way back in 2003 I believe. But back to tonight’s performance, after the band had set up, they were ready to party the night away! Really bringing the beach, minus the sand to this bar setting. All there were set and ready for it!
GATEKEEPER:
So once the band got things flowing, numerous beach toys were thrown into the crowd, pool noodles, beach balls, candy, and ice, as well as a boogie board! Which indeed had the crowd actually surfing upon it! The band played for a solid 45 minutes, keeping the energy every lasting really. Every which way you looked, the whole bar was in a wave of excitement, and total momentum. Moshing was shoved and pushed, whereas others crowd surfed atop one another, to using the boogie board to surf along the tops of the crowd as well. It was utter chaos but fun times throughout.
Overall it was a great time in a small sitting, that had a crowd, pleading for more, with the band knowing not more, but giving it their all from start to finish. Hopefully this next time they come back for another show, it will not take as long, because they are what they call “legendary surf death metal rock”.
Gatekeeper Releases New Song "Warrior Without Fear", Announces Tour and Festival Appearance
Epic Canadian metal force GATEKEEPER has partnered with Beatroute for the premiere of "Warrior Without Fear," a song from forthcoming Cruz Del Sur Music album "East of Sun". Check out the song and an interview with rhythm/lead guitarist Geoff Blackwell at: beatroute.ca/2018/04/05/premiere-vancouver-metallers-unleash-warrior-without-fear-east-sun/.
GATEKEEPER will embark on the East of Sun Tour later this month, including the band's first ever appearance at Germany's renowned Keep it True Festival on April 27th. Comments guitarist/founding member Geoff Blackwell: "Two of our members have played Keep It True in the past, but for me, this will be new territory and I'm extremely excited, needless to say. The Keep It True crowd is legendary in our niche so it's hard not to have big expectations for the weekend. We want to get people moving, get them talking and we want to meet as many cool people as possible and make a bunch of new friends and fond memories. It's gonna be great!"
"We are going to bring our A-game to that stage, just like we do every night," he continues. "GATEKEEPER puts on a high-energy performance and the past two years of regular gigging have turned the band into a tightly wound, well-oiled heavy metal machine."
TOUR DATES:
April 20 - Char's Landing - Port Alberni, British Columbia
April 21 - Logan's Pub - Victoria, British Columbia
April 27 - Keep It True Festival - Germany
May 12 - Pat's Pub - Vancouver, British Columbia
June 9 - Decimate Metalfest - Calgary, Alberta
June 10 - The Wolf - Maple Ridge, British Columbia
June 30 - Munnin's Post - Kelowna, British Columbia
July 14 - Armstrong Metal Fest - Armstrong, British Columbia
August 4 - Shred The Loops Festival - Kamloops, British Columbia
Gatekeeper Releases Video of "Blade of Cimmeria"
Epic Canadian metal force GATEKEEPER will release its debut full-length album "East of Sun", on April 27th 2018 via Cruz Del Sur Music. Deaf-Forever has premiered the official video for the opening track "Blade of Cimmeria," which can be viewed HERE.
