“This isn’t a love song,” quipped Christopher Hall shortly before tearing into their breakthrough single “Violent Mood Swings” off 1994’s Ungod, draped in his trademark distressed black sweater and leaning over the mic into a delighted crowd. And yet, we were swept off our feet anyway. Also of note was the opening band, LA’s own INVA//ID, who released their debut last year, Masochism In D Minor. Do not be fooled by lead singer Chris…
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A-ha “Hunting High and Low” Tour: Brighton, 6 November, 2019 – show review
It’s been 3 years since we last saw A-ha in London at O2, and we were really happy we’d get to see them in a smaller venue this year – Brighton Centre in Brighton. Though the venue had a seating plan, we didn’t assume people would be sitting, as I don’t really think anyone could enjoy A-ha live without moving. They had prepared two sets for this occasion; Hunting High And Low for the first set, and a…
Read MoreMidge Ure “Vienna & Visage – The 1980 Tour”: performance at G Live, Guildford, 15 October 2019
On 15 October 2019 we had the opportunity to see Midge Ure and Rusty Egan on the same stage which was undoubtedly a dream come true for Visage fans who came to see the two original members perform Visage classics. Before we could hear any of those, the crowd was introduced to the show by Rusty who gave us a lecture on Djing and 80s synth pop and new wave scene. Rusty had prepared…
Read MoreShe Past Away/Twin Tribes/Aurat at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA July 28, 2019
The dimly lit, densely fogged fervor at the packed-to-the-gills Echoplex in Echo Park, was the perfect environment for the stark and gloomy beats of Turkish goth rockers She Past Away. This particular show was the last date of a tour which marked their US appearance. The energy was running high and the line for the merch table was halfway across the room well into the night; openers Twin Tribes were another highly anticipated act….
Read MoreDrab Majesty/HIDE/Body Of Light (Drab Majesty Record Release Party) @ The Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, July 26, 2019 – show review
Goths, shoegazer indie kids, and punk turned out in equal numbers for Drab Majesty’s hometown record release party at the Fonda Theatre in LA last week. The dark and dreamy androgyne duo took the stage to pink and blue fog, building momentum with “A Dialogue,” the opening track to their new album Modern Mirror. Deb DeMure strummed out arpeggiated chords with urgency and delicacy reminiscent of our favorite 80s 4AD artists, where they wove…
Read MoreGrendel @ Catch One, Los Angeles, July 19, 2019 – show review
Self-described “Pagan-Synth” Oklahoma duo Esoterik kicked off the night with a captivating sound which combines ethereal vocals with synthpop beats. Their hypnotic new single “Spirits Light The Way” featured vocalist Allison Eckfeldt swirling onstage and a hooded Brady Bledsoe providing dark, atmospheric synths. The 80s influence continued with Glass Apple Bonzai, the solo project of Toronto-based Daniel Belasco, who brought us uplifting anthems wrapped in signature analog synthpop warmth, with an appearance by Striplicker…
Read MoreLiving Colour “Vivid 30th celebration” UK tour: Northampton show review
On 20 July 2019, Living Colour visited Northampton during their UK tour in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Vivid. It was our first opportunity to see this legendary rock band… although Living Colour can’t be labelled so easily. Their music is a very interesting and inspiring mix of hard rock, metal, funk, even hip hop and jazz; their musical expression is so rich and their songwriting utterly clever and thoughtful. They have been…
Read MoreThe Cult / Prayers / Zola Jesus / VOWWS at Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA June 15, 2019
“There’s nothing like live rock n’ roll,” mused Ian Astbury to a rapt audience under the full moon at Greek Theatre last weekend; wise words indeed from a leading expert. The charismatic frontman of 80s goth rockers The Cult was in top form for a perfect night of smash hit after deep cut, kicking things off with “Sun King” and “New York City” off their 1989 release Sonic Temple. Astbury strutted around the stage…
Read MoreMen At Work + Lene Lovich Band @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 21 June 2019 – show review
On Friday, 21st June, we went to O2 Shepard’s Bush Empire to see the long overdue live show by Aussie legends Men At Work, supported by the apparently immortal Lene Lovich and her Lene Lovich Band. As usual, the audience demographic was more suited for some more formal occasion, but these kinds of shows have a tendency to bring out fountains of youth and euphoria in an otherwise more serene crowd. At 8 sharp,…
Read MoreMy Life With The Thrill Kill Kult / Curse Mackey June 13, 2019 at 1720 in Los Angeles, CA – show review
Everybody’s favorite Kult has done it again with their latest release, In The House Of Strange Affairs, an appropriately sleazy and campy chapter in the noir-meets-psychedelic-industrial-disco chronicles of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. They were joined on this tour with the multi-talented Curse Mackey, who has just released his first solo album, Instant Exorcism. A Pigface veteran who stormed the industrial scene in the 90s with his dark and gritty band Evil…
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