Sounds and Shadows

The folks at Modern.Wav have hit upon a novel idea for the San Diego area: a daytime goth event. And they went the whole route with two rooms and go-go dancers right along with a live performance. There, on Newport Avenue, surrounded by the colorfully assorted beach crowd, is The Holding Company. A very nice venue with its clockwork marquee, dual floors and sun deck. I have to admit that it was a bit surreal watching the regulars mingled with the semi nude ripped fishnet crowd, all while the Packers-Steelers game played on every TV.

When folks like myself reach “a certain age”, it’s nice to have the option of going to a daytime event and still enjoy a live show. Never mind the after party. Now the pregame is the happening event.

As a last minute late arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the event included a live performance by Straight Razor. But as the DJs wrapped up on the first floor main stage, we were soon treated to a hard hitting show.

For those of you who don’t know, Straight Razor is a musical project of actor Omar Doom, known for his work with Quentin Tarantino. Not only was he impeccably dressed and perfectly groomed, I was treated to some of the coolest mic stand poses I’ve ever seen.

Doom and his unidentified accompanist delivered a set that was on point with selections from their most recent release, Casualty, including their single The Curse as well as a cover of The Cure’s 100 Years.

Daytime goth events could be the new big thing. It’s nice to check out a show and still be home by 9:00.

A Tuesday night in San Diego is not for the faint of heart. Only the bravest would dare venture out on this evening. And so it was that tonight’s show would be for a very select audience. 

Having missed his last visit to San Diego, I was eager to see Curse Mackey do his thing on the local stage, but first….

Opening the show was Chicago’s Black Season Witch. Seeing a cello onstage definitely caught my attention and they put it good use as they opened their set with a number that made me think of dark chamber music. In fact, they created an entire atmosphere around their opener and set with sound effects and black-and-white visuals. The two extended goth jams then segued into a metal vibe that concluded with a very faithful Black Sabbath cover.

It turns out that there was a last minute change in set order as Curse Mackey came on next. Fans of Curse Mackey’s latest release, Imaginary Enemies, would do themselves a favor by seeing him perform live as these songs can be best appreciated through a venue sound system and very loud. Honestly, after opening with an electronic cacophony and then cutting loose on songs like Submerge, I found myself rediscovering an appreciation for the songs as the bass rattled my bones.

Now, with some artists who do the one-man-band thing, it can quickly become a glorified karaoke night. Mackey’s stage presence goes a long way toward making this a fulfilling live experience with enough energy to make a true show.

Additionally, this was the night that Mackey performed Kindness Of Serpents live for the first time.

Closing the show was San Diego’s own Moods of a Sinner. Buzzy guitars and solid rhythms fueled this mid-tempo fever dream with flavor. While I could definitely hear a little Christian Death in their sound it was clear that the musicianship is there. They can do more than goth, as proven when they offered some drop D riffs that made me think of the late Geordie Walker.

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Visitors to the San Diego area would do well to check out a show at Brick By Brick, with its friendly staff and solid sound system. And hopefully artists like Curse Mackey will continue to bring their talent to our fair city.