The concert started with a guy in a leather speedo tearing off another guy’s head, fake blood spurted high in the air and all over the crowd. No, not Belle and Sebastian. The offenders were the costumed monstrosities in GWAR, who brought their ridiculous stage show and very loud metal to the 9:30 Club on Sunday.

Most of the interior of the club was wrapped in plastic in preparation for what would occur – besides the first victim (part of an Aliens-esque skit), the Pope, George W. Bush, a Hitler/Jesus siamese twin, a porcine cop and others had their blood and other bodily fluids (guess which ones) sprayed into the thrilled audience. By the end of the show it was easy to tell which audience members were on the club’s floor, because they were soaked through with pink fake blood. But at least Wikipedia says it washes out easily.

Musically, the band is a fivesome in huge monster costumes, assisted by a handful of male slaves who hold giant axes and occasionally cut off people’s heads. Most of the songs are about nuclear bombs, destruction, and similar stuff. The metal is loud, fast, and largely unintelligible. One of the few snippets I could catch was something about how Hell is a pretty cool place. But that’s the idea – over-the-top spectacle, loud music, and (fake) bloody mayhem.