A friend recommended this show while I was in town and it sounded like a good time. The beloved metal bar has recently reopened in a new space, although this was more of a darkwave night. I failed to pack black and felt conspicuous in a pink top.
Normal Bias opened. I liked their synth-goth atmosphere even if it leaned a little too hard on Depeche Mode. The singer was good and even had Gahan’s powerful baritone. The one other member, less stylish, handled the electronics in the back. I wished there was a little more complexity in their music, but I could move to it.
Normal Bias opened. I liked their synth-goth atmosphere even if it leaned a little too hard on Depeche Mode. The singer was good and even had Gahan’s powerful baritone. The one other member, less stylish, handled the electronics in the back. I wished there was a little more complexity in their music, but I could move to it.
[Normal Bias.]
After a lengthy DJ break came Kontravoid, a solo synth performer. In a haze of fog machines and delirious strobe lights, he barely touched his desk and mostly just harshly shouted into his mic. The intensity only picked up as he went along. A few songs had hints of pop that were consistently crushed by the aggression. Friends told me this was not what they expected given his studio recordings. I found his industrial jungle too abrasive, although I still could dance to it. What else was there to do? I couldn’t understand the words.
The headliner was Buzz Kull, the solo act of Marc Dwyer. He had a little more personality and balanced the beats better with texture. I heard a bit of Skinny Puppy. Dwyer was more involved in his synth rig and used thick effects on his vocals. I wished I could’ve understood him better, too, but he played the best set of the night. The venue has clearly invested in a good sound (and light) setup, but the perennial problem of unclear vocals was still an issue. Or is that just the genre?
[Buzz Kull.]
Scores:
Normal Bias: B-
Kontravoid: D
Buzz Kull: B
P.S. Thanks to Keagan and Chris!
