Nitzer Ebb Live at The Music Box, San Diego, California, 09/02/2023

“Forty Bloody Years” was how it read on the ad for Nitzer Ebb’s forty-year retrospective tour. How time flies. I still remember seeing the video for Control, I’m Here for the first time on MTV’s 120 Minutes and thinking that I have seen the future. Well, the future has come and gone and here we are, four decades later.

All Photos: Patrick Dickson

The Music Box itself is a somewhat upscale venue; with two balconies overlooking the main dance floor and stage. Video monitors on each level allow for ease of viewing the onstage activity, which is helpful in a space where it’s easy to find yourself too far from the railing to see much of anything.

There were interesting goings-on all around upon entering the venue. For starters, there were the fetish-themed go-go dancers in cages right on the dance floor, as well as the BDSM cosplay performances throughout the night.

The first musical act of the night was NYC’s Normal Bias. This duo offered a tasty buffet of catchy and danceable electronic tunes and was well-received by the crowd. And while they were a palatable opening act, my own impression from the set tells me that the best work of Normal Bias is still ahead of them.

San Diego’s own MATTE BLVCK was next, with an energetic set that was also the only performance of the night to include any non-keyboard based instruments. Members would switch off from electronics, guitar, bass and percussion throughout the set. I personally liked the slower jams that got my foot tapping and were swaying the crowd into dance mode.

Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for… Nitzer Ebb hit the ground running, opening the show with their iconic Control, I’m Here. But something was different this time. Not just because the lineup was simplified to just Bon Harris and Douglas McCarthy, as opposed to the three or four person lineup of shows past. What also made the show unique was the change of arrangement of recognizable classics. The whole performance was a power medley of remixes; an interesting way to breathe fresh life into old favorites and keep the energy level consistent throughout the show; although I felt the energy level was diminished for not having a live drummer this time around.

Douglas McCarthy stalked the stage as he belting out crowd favorites. He seemed to move gingerly about the stage as one banger after another flowed without break or interruption. Bon Harris kept the crowd fired up as he played a little bit of everything from percussion to vocals.

I moved around a few times, trying to find the best vantage point to watch the show. I eventually ended up on the second balcony. And while I still couldn’t see the stage, the video monitors were doing their job. Besides, the second balcony had its own vibe. Since hardly anyone else could see the stage either, most folks on the balcony just rolled with it and the balcony became a separate dance party of its own.

With a one-song encoré, Nitzer Ebb was done. Everyone was appropriately sweaty and danced out by this point, but the party vibe continued out to the street as folks filtered out of the venue.

It sure doesn’t feel like it’s been forty years. But Nitzer Ebb has worn it well and, in my opinion, remain one of the most relevant EBM bands on the scene and continue to lead the charge.

VR SEX (Live at The Casbah – San Diego, CA. 3/24/22)

All Photos: Christopher Shawn Strong

FULL DISCLOSURE: I’ve had a woody for this band since the first time I heard ‘Surrender’ and have been geeking out on their sound ever since. So when I found out they were launching their U.S. tour right in my San Diego stomping ground, everything else went on hold for a night.

VR SEX is an all-star band comprised of  Noel Skum (Andrew Clinco of Drab Majesty), Z. Oro (Aaron Montaigne of Antioch Arrow/Heroin/DBC), and Mico Frost (Brian Tarney). On this night, the band performed as a quintet with Noel on guitar and sharing lead vocals with Z.

The information I could gather about this LA band was a bit sparse, so I’ve just kept my ear to the ground; figuring/hoping they’d make their way down south eventually. Happily, the tour coincides with the release of their new full-length, Rough Dimension, but more on that later.

https://vrsex.bandcamp.com/album/rough-dimension

Opening the night was Oakland’s Marbled Eye. They have great musicianship with a rock-solid rhythm section. One thing that confused me, though, was when certain pre-recorded musical parts suddenly came from out of nowhere. It seemed out of place. Despite that, they seemed to win the crowd over. I look forward to seeing what comes next from this dynamic quartet.

https://marbledeye.bandcamp.com/

By the time VR SEX took the stage, the venue was about two-thirds full. I was worried as, when I arrived, the place was still quiet with few people hanging out. It just goes to show that The Casbah can usually be counted on for a good time, even on a Thursday night.

I was amused that the band took the stage dressed identically as Mormon missionaries – complete with the LDS name tags. Z. hit the ground running; a non-stop bundle of energy as he danced, swished and shimmied on the stage as though he was having the time of his life. The rest of the band were tight and solid. Noel stood stoically on guitar; his towering stature totally dominating stage left. Their “wall of sound” approach was a bit dialed back from what I heard on the recordings. That was probably the band having mercy on the soundman. Any minor nit-picking about the sound could be easily explained away as the band playing their first gig of the tour and have not yet shaken the bugs out.

What amazed me most was the precise powerhouse drumming that fueled the whole experience. Early recordings utilized a drum machine. But this live lineup is as intense and powerful as any show I’ve seen in recent memory. Every song they played was a delight – even the songs I wasn’t familiar with. This was truly one of those sublime live experiences that reminded me of why I go to so many shows.

After the show, I was tempted to ask the band for an interview. But, as I had not bought the new album yet and wasn’t up to speed, I didn’t want to look like an idiot. So I just settled on a few handshakes and attaboys and was on my way. The new album, by the way, will be the subject of my next installment.

As VR SEX will be on tour through April, you should do yourself a favor and check them out when they come to your town.