GREEN DRUID "Wander the Wasteland" through Scottsdale with a hypnotic doom set at Pub Rock

Green Druid bassist Ryan Skates and drummer Mikey Honiotes performing at Pub Rock in Scottsdale, AZ on March 14, 2025. Photographed by Justin de la Cruz.

Pub Rock once again hosted a stoner metal gathering as Colorado Psych doom group GREEN DRUID took to the Scottsdale stage for their “Wandering the Wasteland Tour.” Their Arizona dates recruited the presence of veteran sludge metal group GOYA, with other Arizona bands SONS OF PROVIDENCE and DAYTRIPPER aiding in their ritual.

THE SONS OF PROVIDENCE played a set of droning industrial metal featuring a duo of drums and what looks to be the skeleton of a cello, as well as being accompanied by low creeping vocals. The duo’s slow, sinister aura made for long tracks that made their setlist seem short at first glance. Multiple microphones with additional stage props made the set up at the front seem as though the singer was about to start speaking at a political rally in the year 2055.

Earlier this month, GOYA announced their next album titled “In The Dawn of November” to be released on Blues Funeral. The title track, eight minutes meditating on the inevitability of death, featured a slew of slow fuzz riffs and solos sprinkled in to satiate any fan of SLEEP, WINDHAND, or ELECTRIC WIZARD. The steady titanic wails from the guitars created the illusion of slowly roaming through barren lands while isolated.

The Colorado four-piece GREEN DRUID came out swinging with slow chugging riffs and vocals that teetered between hypnotic and demonic. The easygoing tempo would pivot to unnerving doom painting the image of a lingering apocalypse much like the art of the cover of “At The Maw of Ruin.” If you wanted the guys in CROWBAR to smoke more weed, this band is right up your alley.

On February 25th, DAYTRIPPER announced on their Instagram page that their drummer known as “The Primitive Sage” departed the band, and announced their newest member: “The Warrior Sage.” He made his live debut on the “Wandering the Wasteland" tour filling in on the drums. Unlike his compatriots, the Warrior Sage looked more like a fan of AMON AMARTH than SLEEP. If I were to give him a bottle of reverse Just For Men shampoo, he’d be looking like toked-out Gandalf in no time. The Seer Sage, providing additional vocals, wielded The Staff of the Bog when the song of the exact same title kicked in. The Scribe Sage let out an accursed black metal voice in his soul announcing The Sludgelurker as the closing song of the set, as well as capping off the festivities.