Buy the ticket, take the ride. ~Hunter S. Thompson
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| Designed by: |
| Black Light Burns at Station 4 |
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| Written by John Abbott | |||
| Wednesday, 04 February 2009 17:27 | |||
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It was "The Stash" (previous) and I again, last night, for Black Light Burns, a goth/industrial/death-metal rock band. The show was held at Station 4, in the middle of St. Paul's seedier warehouse district. The crowd, though it looked dangerous, (tattooed, clad in leather and facial metal that could have had a combined weight in pounds) was safe enough I think. At one point, I shuffled forward a step, so a tattoo'd mohawk could slide behind me and get to the bar. As he went by, he leaned down and said "Thank you , man" A headbanger who's mother taught him manners. Yeah, this was crowd that was not as dangerous as it looked. Black Light Burns was in fact the warm up band to the featured act, CombiChrist. Let me get the main act out the way now, before I go into the better details. CombiChrist define themselves as "Techno Body Music" but basically, self labelling aside, they were a punk metal band with large spiked out mohawks. Right away in their first song, it was easy to hear the difference in the sound quality from the warmup act. There was no doubt the headliner was on better gear. The vocals were clear and bright. The sound was even louder than Black Light Burns so I was moved well back in the audience. They had a good beat and a distinctive, sort of upswing, at the end of a phrase in the vocals. I was happy, because my expectations, somewhat set in advance by The Stash, were low. I was surprised. I liked this band's sound. Then, I didn't care much for the second song, but the third song I was back to happy, because it was more like the first song. Then came the fourth song was much like the first, and I was ready for the band to move on. Then fifth song, and maybe the sixth, or was it the seventh, or maybe it was all still the third song. I dunno. They all sounded exactly alike at a certain point. My disappointment grew, and after about half their set, I had had enough. The Stash had his fill even earlier than I, and we were outta there. Station 4 is a bar and then, you go through a door and down a few steps to a large room, maybe 32'x90' that has the stage on one end. There were about 250 people in this room, maybe another 50 in the bar. Capacity, I would guess would be around 700, the fire marshall might think differently. So, it was by no means a sold out show. The crowd, as I said, looked rough. Nearly 100% pierced and tattooed. Lots of face makeup, lots and lots of leather, rubber and vinyl. I think what happens is these same people show up dressed to the big shows, like Nine Inch Nails or Marilyn Manson, but they are so diluted with whitebread blonde haired scandinavians, that they don't show up. Condensed In this crowd, I was the outsider. When I was first introduced to Black Light Burns by my nephew Brian, I was impressed with the band. It had a Nine Inch Nails sound to it. As well it should, Black Light Burns is producer is Danny Lohner, keyboard and bass player for Nine Inch Nails. Lohner, also played bass in the original band, but now it is a job taken over by Dennis Sanders. The lead singer, Wes Borland, formally of Limp Bizkit, was dressed reminiscent of Guy Fawkes, in black suit and face paint. At the show, I was really struck by how much more energy was put into the live performance than their CD. I don't think I have ever heard a band that sounds less like it's recorded music. Songs on the Cruel Melody CD are at times almost lite and instrumental. Polished. Which I enjoyed. I was very happy with the entire disk. Playing live, the band had a raw edge to all it's music. Every song was keyed up, harder, louder and rougher around the edges than their disk. The rawness of it was great! I don't go to live shows to hear what could easily be lip-synced. This show didn't have any lip sync quality to it. Wes Borland screamed out those lyrics. Musical highpoints, though I didn't take any notes, from the Cruel Melody CD, Coward, and also Animal. Another high point, one Wes announced to be a new song I look forward to buying. I wish I would have gotten the name. There were some issues at a few times. Stop a Bullet had a few fat finger moments and vocal breakups. Other songs had some issues as well. But, there is always a risk when a national act band like this, plays a small bar in a podunk town, they will do it as a toss-off show. Really, I didn't sense any of that. Black Light Burns played hard and for the most part, played well. The sound quality was definitely not there though. Why is it? Where is it written in the show promoter's bible, the warm up band has to sound like crap? Even when the band was (I am guessing, contractually obligated to be) out on the floor, to do a meet and greet after their show, they seemed ok with being there. I got to press the flesh with some rock star. I shook Wes Borland's hand and thanked him for coming to St. Paul. I was happy. I wish I had the spare $$ to have bought a t-shirt. I want to apologize in advance to all my friends, who, in coming years, will have to repeat themselves. The music last night was LOUD. Painfully loud at a couple of points. Well into the 140db range. I am still feeling some residual effects this morning. Still though, I loved it. It could have been a touch quieter, and a touch clearer. But, it was great to feel the music. I was about 20 feet in front of the main speaker and the bass felt like someone hitting me in the chest. These were songs I knew and to be able to rock out to them was great. Overall, I was very happy with Black Light Burns. It was great to see a national act calibre show in a small venue. With the bands similarity in sound to Nine Inch Nails, and my singular disappointment with *that* concert, this music punched my NIN card in a way I was missing from before. Trent Reznor can keep his light show, I go for the music!
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| Last Updated on Sunday, 18 October 2009 18:28 |
