Overkill makes a stop in El Paso, Texas

Overkill makes a stop in El Paso, Texas

In my eleven years covering shows here in El Paso, I cannot remember this band ever playing here, so when it was announced that Overkill was bringing its Scorching the Earth 2024 Tour to the infamous Rockhouse Dive Bar Kitchen Venue, 5 December was promptly circled on my event calendar.  Overkill hails from New Jersey, founded in the early 80s by the only two original members left which is Carlo DD Verni and Bobby Blitz Ellsworth.  In the last 39 years the band has kicked out 20 releases, the first was Feel the Fire in 85 and the latest Scorched in 2023, it’s safe to say this tour is in support of this album. As most bands that have been around for decades, lineup changes are the norm, and Overkill has certainly had their fair share of this, but our current lineup is standing tall with Bobby Ellsworth on vocals, DD Verni on Bass, Dave Linsk on guitar and Derek Tailer on guitar as well. And last but least, our touring percussionist, Jeramie Kling.

The night before these guys were in support of King Diamond in Albuquerque, jumped off that tour and shot down to El Paso for a Thursday night show, seems to me the boys never take their foot off the gas.  Over the years they have stayed true to the form of music they play, some would say, they are the oldest Thrash Metal band to still be out touring, I would say, they love what they do and that was obvious on that cool West Texas night.  It’s noted that Overkill influenced bands such as Pantera and Slipknot, I see that too, its Fast and Heavy to the point you can feel it in your bones.  Bobby may not move around as he did back in the day, but that voice, oh my God, still as crisp as it has been over the years.  He and the boys ripped through a 15-song set list like a hot knife though butter, an insane circle pit never stopped, Bobby made sure of that.  The crowd screamed for more and was gifted with a three-song encore which ended with Fuck You, an absolute crowd favorite.   In closing, I must admit, I wasn’t too familiar with the band, of course I had heard of them, but after last Thursday night I can say I’m a fan, it was one high energy show, that’s for sure, I love it when you walk out of the venue and say to yourself, Man, that was one hell of a show, can’t wait till they come back though, oh yeah, I highly recommend this one, and of course, as always, we’ll see you at the next rock show.                                                                                                           Story and Photography by Tim Schumann.

Set list-

Scorched

Rotton to the Core

Bring Me the Night

Hello from the Gutter

Deny the Cross

Electric Rattlesnake

Mean Green, Killing Machine

Necroshine

Horror Scope

The Surgeon

Ironbound

Elimination

Encore-

In Union We Stand

E.vil N.ever D.ies

Fuck You