Weedeater @ RIBCO -- July 26.

Thursday, July 26, 7 p.m.

Rock Island Brewing Company, 1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island IL

Composed of Dave “Dixie” Collins, Dave “Shep” Shepherd, and Travis Owen – the former two musicians having co-founded the group 20 years ago – the fired-up sludge-metal musicians of Weedeater perform a Rock Island Brewing Company concert on July 26, their most recent album Goliathan described by AngryMetalGuy.com as “an intoxicating examination of Southern culture and arguably the most tongue-in-cheek approximation of their sludgy, stoner sound thus far delivered.”

Weedeater was founded in 1998 in Wilmington, North Carolina, originally taking shape as a side project of vocalist/bassist Collins, who was otherwise engaged with sludge-metal cult favorites Buzzov*en. Upon that band's official demise at the decade's end, Collins was free to concentrate his efforts on Weedeater alongside guitarist Shepherd and drummer Keith “Keko” Kirkum, and the trio released two sludgecore albums to kick off the new millennium: 2001's … And Justice for Y'all and 2002's Sixteen Tons. Collins later decided to tour briefly as the bass player for Bongzilla and also found time to lend his four strings to his Wilmington neighbors of Sourvein. But he also continued to work with Shepherd and Kirkum, touring relentlessly with the likes of C.O.C. and Alabama Thunderpussy, and recording Weedeater's third full-length album God Luck & Good Speed in 2007.

The musicians suffered numerous personal injuries in 2010 – Collins lost a toe in a shotgun-cleaning accident, Shepherd broke a finger, Kirkum tore his meniscus – but rallied to record and release Jason … The Dragon in 2011, which SputnikMusic.com called “an album that you'll want to play time and time again” in which “we find the band branching out and experimenting with new sounds and ideas.” After Kirkum left the group, drummer Owen joined Collins and Shepherd for Bandeater's relentless touring schedule, and the rockers have been enjoying some of the best reviews of their careers for Goliathan.” As MetalInjection.net raved, “Their ability to weave humor and great turns of phrase aside, their music devastates you, sounding completely unhinged in moments, dark and brooding in others, and makes you giggle in others.”

Weedeater performs its July 26 concert with opening sets by Zeke and Sierra, admission is $20, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)793-1999 or visiting RIBCO.com.

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