It was nearing 100 degrees when I got to The Sanctuary in Hamtramck, MI last Friday night. There are some shows where a fanbase may be a bit too spoiled to endure such heat, but that was not at all the case for Haggus. It should be no surprise that mincecore fans, especially of these masked Californians, would show up and get wild.
Piss Leech were the first of three opening acts, a three-piece grind unit that wasted no time ripping through a barrage of short, chaotic blasts. No bass player, just vocals, guitar, and drums; raw and frantic. Reptile followed. A two-piece from Ohio, this was apparently their first show in Michigan. They both handled vocals using pitch shifters, trading off between the drummer and guitarist throughout their set. Tight, aggressive, and surprisingly dynamic for just two people. Then came Girth. These guys were a blast. Another duo masterfully utilizing pitch pedals and outright chaos, they made the place erupt. Mid-set they started launching massive rubber dildos into the pit, which turned into an actual dildo fight. Not kidding. People were whipping them at each other mid-mosh and flailing them in the air like deranged balloons. It was dumb in the best possible way, and a perfect transition to the headliner.
Haggus
Haggus closed the night, and this was definitely what the crowd had been eagerly awaiting. It was the first show since their new album Destination Extinction dropped the Friday before. The band hit the stage in their signature face coverings, masked up and ready to blast. The audience was ready too.
Hambone, Mister Brisket, The Slamburglar, and Chumbucket (their newest member) put on an impressively energetic performance, considering the heat that day. I will recognize that the venue did a great job keeping the temperature tolerable! At least for those of us NOT wearing ski masks. But even then, Haggus didn’t miss a beat. Hambone commanded the crowd from that stage and Mister Brisket maniacally (or “manically” works too) bounced all over that stage and would throw himself into that microphone for his screams. Multiple times they invited the crowd up onto that cozy Sanctuary stage to dance and dive. I love so much when bands encourage their fans to join in on the show like that.
They also brought out a local performance artist who immediately had the room’s attention. As he’s endearingly known, Dirti Kurt pierced a Haggus patch to his forehead, stuck metal spikes through his face, and dragged around a massive animal skull suspended from his mouth. Blood, bones, flesh hooks… It was the best way to spend a Friday night. And the crowd loved it too.
This was exactly the kind of memorable chaos I needed on a hot summer night.
Follow Haggus on Instagram to see if they’re playing an upcoming date near you. Also follow my Porous photo Instagram account to see more pics from the show!
Biography: Porous has been possessed by heavy music for the vast majority of his life. For a good chunk of it, that love was exorcised by playing metal, punk, and hardcore with other musicians. Nowadays Porous writes/records music mostly on his own, but engages with the community by supporting/encouraging other artists, and one of those ways is through writing! In early 2025 he joined MoshPitNation to contribute album/show reviews, concert photography, and hopefully an infectious love for sincere heavy music. For more photography, visit his digital portfolio.
