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GWAR in Hartford

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GWAR
The Paramount in concert with Northwell — Huntington, NY
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About GWAR

GWAR is a shock rock band that formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984, though the project's roots trace back further to the late 1970s. The group is built around Dave Brockie's larger-than-life stage persona and the band's commitment to elaborate, grotesque costumes and theatrical brutality. Their shows are essentially performance art projects where the line between music and spectacle dissolves completely. Songs like "Rag Time" and "Sick of You" established them as serious musicians underneath the carnage, with actual songwriting chops that proved this wasn't just novelty act stuff. The band has maintained a cult following for decades by refusing to soften their approach or explain the point. They tour relentlessly, treat every show like it's their last, and have influenced everyone from shock rap to modern metal theater bands. The costumes have evolved constantly, the venue damage is real, and the audience expectation is simple: come ready to be horrified and entertained in equal measure.

Known for Rag Time, I'll Be Your Bolton, Sick of You, Slaughterama, Have You Seen Me

GWAR + Hartford

GWAR played Webster Theater on June 7, 2024, and the 18-song set was sprawling by any standard. War Is All We Know and The Sordid Soliloquy of Sawborg Destructo were deep pulls that set the tone early. You Can't Kill Terror and Starving Gods (Death Whistle Suite) gave the set real range, and Black and Huge made a rare appearance in the middle. The encore — I, Bonesnapper, Sick of You, Fuck This Place — closed Hartford out with appropriate violence. GWAR in a theater this size is a particular kind of experience.

GWAR in Hartford News

Live Music in Hartford

Hartford's metal and punk underground has always punched above its weight for a mid-sized Connecticut city. The scene gravitates toward Webster Theater and smaller venues that'll book the heavy stuff without flinching. GWAR fits neatly into that tradition of uncompromising acts that find their audience here—bands that prioritize spectacle and substance over radio-friendliness. It's the kind of place where shock rock doesn't feel out of place.

Hartford road trip to see GWAR?

Stay in the West End neighborhood—it's got actual character and puts you near some decent restaurants. Head to Saluto for Italian that doesn't oversell itself, or The Sycamore for New American food done properly. Before the show, walk through Bushnell Park and check out the Elizabeth Park conservatory if the weather cooperates. After, grab a drink at Vaughan's Public House if you want to decompress somewhere that feels lived-in rather than designed. The Wadsworth Atheneum is worth an hour if you have time to kill during the day.

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