By Crystal Harrell
On April 9, the Coachella Valley’s underground metal scene will take center stage at the legendary Whisky a Go Go as three local bands—Instigator, Nephilim, and Cryptic Funeral—bring their sound to one of rock music’s most iconic venues.
Since opening in 1964 on the Sunset Strip, the Whisky a Go Go has hosted generations of groundbreaking artists, serving as a launching pad for bands that would go on to shape rock and metal history. For emerging acts, performing there represents a milestone that connects them to that legacy—while also carving out space for the next wave of artists.
For the Coachella Valley’s metal community, this show is more than a gig. It’s a reflection of a scene built on collaboration, independence, and a shared passion for heavy music.
Though the desert is often associated with the stoner rock lineage of Queens of the Stone Age and Kyuss, today’s Coachella Valley music scene is far more expansive. Metal, hardcore, indie, and experimental genres coexist, creating an environment where artists are free to explore their sound.
Instigator—comprised of Jaxon Fischer (vocals, guitar), Mark Wadlund (guitar), Garrison Calkins (bass), and Chance Azar (drums)—points to that diversity as a defining strength. “The Coachella Valley is awesome because it’s a collective of different styles of music,” the band shares. “Every artist has a great ability to explore the corners of their music, without comparison.” Rooted in friendships that date back to high school, the band prides itself on precision and authenticity, striving to deliver a sound that is both sharp and grounded in metal tradition.
Nephilim—featuring Giovanni Livreri (vocals), Tristan Schultheiss (guitar), Jimmy Hegarty (bass), and Chance Azar (drums)—brings a technical and progressive edge to the lineup. Their origins trace back to garage sessions inspired by bands like Metallica and Megadeth, eventually evolving into a cohesive unit built on collaboration and musical complexity. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy here,” the band explains. “Hardcore, jazz, metal, pop, indie, folk, psychedelic rock—the desert is so diverse in its music scene.”
Meanwhile, Cryptic Funeral—Christian Torres (vocals), Tim “Crash” Puckett (drums), Henry Murillo (guitar), and Kurt Schawacker (bass)—represents the raw intensity of the desert’s extreme blackened thrash metal underground. Their sound, described by Torres as “extreme but groovy,” is shaped by the tight-knit nature of the local scene. “The pure metal community out in the desert is a bit small,” says Puckett. “However, that means there is a tightly knit community… built upon diligence and discipline in practices.” That DIY ethos continues to define the Coachella Valley’s music culture, where bands often rely on one another to organize shows and keep the scene thriving.
For Instigator, returning to the Whisky a Go Go carries a sense of history. The band first played the venue in 2017 and later opened for Doyle in 2018. “Playing The Whisky is always a good, fun show to have,” they say. “The energy of the crowd is impeccable… playing there in the past has granted us some legendary mosh pits.”
For Nephilim and Cryptic Funeral, the opportunity represents a major milestone. “It’s honestly just a great feeling to be able to play at such a historic venue with some of our best friends from the local metal scene,” Nephilim shares. “Who could pass on an opportunity like that?”
Cryptic Funeral bassist Kurt Schawacker describes the experience as almost surreal: “It’s one of those mythical places in a musician’s mind they never imagine themselves getting the chance to play. Like something out of a Guitar Hero game.”
Despite the venue’s legacy, the bands approach the performance with excitement rather than pressure. As Nephilim puts it, “We don’t feel any pressure… it just shows that we’re doing something with our music and trying to take it further.”
Audiences can expect a night of heavy riffs, dynamic performances, and the kind of raw energy that defines live metal at its best.
Beyond the performance itself, the April 9 show signals momentum for all three bands. For Cryptic Funeral, it marks a turning point. “After this show we can finally start on a full-length album,” Torres says.
For Nephilim, it represents another milestone in their evolution, with a focus on bringing their music to wider audiences and continuing to refine their sound. Instigator, meanwhile, continues to build on years of experience, returning to familiar stages with renewed energy and purpose.
As the Coachella Valley’s music scene continues to expand, moments like this highlight its growing influence beyond the desert. From local venues to the Sunset Strip, these bands are proving that the next wave of heavy music isn’t just coming from major cities, but instead, rising straight out of the desert.
