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The Return of Gor Gor Tour
Live at House of Blues Anaheim
November 1st, 2025 Review by James Keith
I am dating myself a little here, but the first time I ever ran into GWAR was completely by accident. It was back when the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on their first tour with Thelonious Monster, playing a small show in Richmond, Virginia. This was before they blew up; when they were still that scrappy, chaotic funk-punk band with something to prove.
I was standing in front of the little club — one of those converted warehouse-type venues that looked like it might collapse if the bass hit too hard — waiting to get in. The night air was warm and sticky, that pre-show buzz already hanging in the air. And then, out of nowhere, I heard commotion above me.
October 27th, 2025
A bunch of lunatics were yelling and screaming from a third-story window. I looked up, and what I saw was something straight out of a fever dream — people in bizarre costumes, face paint, armor, and who knows what else. One looked like a mutant gladiator, another like a space monster that had raided a thrift store. They were waving, laughing, shouting things at the line below, and clearly having the time of their lives.
I turned to the guy next to me and, half-laughing, asked, “Who the hell is that?” He grinned and said, “That’s a local band — GWAR.”
GWAR. Just the name sounded wild. From that moment on, GWAR was on my radar, and I had no idea just how much of a force they were going to become.
On to the show.
The night kicked off with Blood Vulture, a New York metal band that came out swinging. They didn’t waste a second warming up; they were loud, fast, and locked in, setting the perfect tone for what was to come.
The early crowd packed the front of the stage tight, and it was easy to tell the real reason they were there — they knew what was coming later in the night, and they wanted the best view in the house for it.
Next up were The Dwarves, and honestly, I can’t even say that name without finishing the line: “The second greatest band in the world after The Meatmen!”
The Dwarves came out like a punch to the face — fast, funny, offensive, and totally unhinged in the best possible way. Their set was short and ferocious, and they fed off the crowd’s growing anticipation. Fan favorites included “We Are the Scene,” “Pimp,” and “Devil’s Level.” The energy in the room started to tighten like a coiled spring.
Then came Helmet, and man, they tore the place down. Precision riffs, pounding drums, and that perfect blend of groove and aggression.
They ripped through their best tracks – “Unsung,” “Life or Death,” and “Tic” among them – and had the crowd in a frenzy.
Every song felt like it hit harder than the last, and by the time they finished, the place was ready to explode.
And then it happened.
The lights dropped. The stage went dark. The floor began vibrating as hundreds of fans started chanting in unison: “GWAR! GWAR! GWAR!” The sound was deafening, echoing through the whole venue like a war cry. And then… BOOM! It began.
The Evil Ringmaster stormed the stage, and the madness was instantly unleashed. The opening song, “Circus Train Disaster,” kicked things off like a sonic blast. Within seconds, fake limbs were being hacked off, blood was spraying across the pit, and the crowd was going wild. If you’ve never been to a GWAR show, you really can’t imagine it – it’s not just music; it’s theater, comedy, horror, and heavy metal chaos rolled into one.
The floor was packed tighter than a UPS truck at Christmas. People were jumping, screaming, slipping, and grinning ear to ear. It was pure joyful bedlam. And GWAR didn’t slow down for a second.
They tore through “Filthy Flow,” “Metal Metal Land,” “Saddam a Go-Go,” “Crack the Egg,” and more, each song more ridiculous and entertaining than the last. And yes, with every track came another explosion of blood or some other questionable body fluid (don’t worry, it’s all just water and food coloring).
By the time they hit “Bring Back the Bomb” and “Fuck This Place,” everyone in the crowd was screaming along, absolutely soaked, and loving every second of it.
The thing about GWAR is that you don’t just watch the show; you become part of it. You wear it. The blood, the slime, the sweat; it’s all part of the baptism into GWAR-dom.
Now, I could go into detail about the show’s storyline – the bizarre cast of characters, the outrageous set pieces, and the over-the-top theatrics – but honestly, you’ve got to see it for yourself. Reading about it doesn’t do it justice. It’s one of those “you had to be there” experiences that just can’t be replicated.
I’ve got to hand it to the House of Blues staff that night; they absolutely crushed it. They knew what kind of mayhem they were hosting, and they came prepared.
The bouncers had stacks of bottled water ready and were passing them out to the front rows to keep everyone hydrated and on their feet.
For a venue that just witnessed gallons of fake blood and who-knows-what sprayed across its floor, they handled it like total pros.
By the end of the night, the place looked like a war zone – a hilarious, blood-soaked, headbanging war zone – but everyone was smiling, laughing, and completely spent. My ears were ringing, my shirt was stained red, and my voice was shot. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
If you haven’t been to a GWAR show, you truly don’t know what you’re missing. It’s the most insane, over-the-top, theatrical experience in rock and roll. It’s chaos. It’s art. It’s heavy metal absurdity at its finest.
Here’s to GWAR — for eternity!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Todd Markel Rock Images
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SID 251101 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
