Immortal Tour at Lincoln Theater. A pop lover goes goth.
by Rachel Kincaid. Photos by Stephen Lin.
December 3 marked one of the last stops on the Immortal Tour at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, bringing goth industrial acts Cruxshadows, Ayria to Raleigh again, this time with special guest I:Scintilla. The crowd formed slowly outside of the theater on a cold night with a few dozen people from Raleigh's goth scene. "I hope at least 200 people show up," commented Lee 'Bones' Moore, author and filmmaker while waiting in line. "I heard that this could be one of Raleigh's last goth shows if they don't get a crowd." The bleak perspective was an underestimation of the fans that would pack the venue that evening, evidence that the Triangle's goth scene is certainly growing. While it still may be small compared to many cities, it is not without enthusiasm, and its decked-out members strongly supported the anticipated return of the Floridian dark electronic headliner with bells on. And gas masks. And, vinyl.
Inside, the crowd continued to build. This would be my first goth show. As a listener to mostly mainstream music, I found myself a bit of an outsider watching this subculture mingle, text, flirt and wonder why the hell I was there. Black corsets and eyeliner everywhere made me finally understand what Luke was feeling when he enters the bar in search of Leia and Han Solo. And it became apparent that the headliner, Cruxshadows and their opener Ayria had been creating quite a stir online and abroad, and that the crowd was expecting much of the same this night.
Brittany Brindrim from I:Scintilla
I:Scintilla of Chicago warmed up the crowd. Not bad for an opening band. Frontgirl Brittany Brindrim brought enthusiasm and a likability to their set, along with a great set of lungs. I:Scintilla has electro rock figured out and members Jim Cookas (guitar and programming), Vince Grech (drums) and Justin Pogue (keyboards) sound like they have lots of the hiccups of an evolving band worked out. Brindrim, over-reaching at times with her gestures and dramatic facial expressions of young adult angst, would get her point across better by the inflections of a purposefully sung track. I:Scintilla is known internationally already as a band with potential, passion and energy. Now to convert Brindrim's repetitive movements and goth rule following into risk taking, will be the task to make a truly memorable live show for mainstreams and subcultures alike. Download "Cursive Eve."
Jennifer Parkin from Ayria
The best set of the show was the surprise of Cruxshadow's opening act, Toronto's Ayria. Led by a sexy Rainbow Brite in black-and-white singer Jennifer Parkin promoting her fourth album Hearts for Bullets, Ayria's industrial-electro trio had me hooked on their incredible mix of hip hop, dance and electronic elements backing edgy, inky-black and fun lyrics from their very first track. Plainly put, this group knows how to entertain. Parkin invites her audience to consider her lyrics for what they were meant with hypnotic vocals. A visually pleasing show, Ayria has an international following and it's no wonder. Parkin must have known what it was that she was meant to accomplish, because she does it so easily. New album Hearts for Bullets is what every club, coffee house and clothing store needs to have on rotation. Stat. They popped my industrial cherry and I think I'm in love. Download "Analog Trash," ""6 Seconds," "1000 Transmissions," and "My Revenge on the World."
Cruxshadows has enjoyed critical acclaim during their 15 years together lead by Trent Reznor-meets-Jesus singer Rogue. The Floridian assembly of dark synth-pop dance keyboardist, violinists, guitarist and dancers are in demand world wide as far as China and by such groups as National Geographic Television and The Style Channel. So I really shouldn't complain. What Cruxshadows has learned, apparently, is that you give your audience everything you've got and you don't hold back. What they remind us of, however, is that a band has to know when to say when. Seven people on stage, all competing for your attention is more reminiscent of a 3-ring circus without a ring master than of a band not afraid to shock that Cruxshadows was probably going for. The tricked-out go-go dancers Jessica Lackey and Sarah Kilgore, while giving the audience a view only their gynecologist has tickets for, desperately upstaged the electric violinists David Wood and JoHanna Moresco. Rogue also blocked guitarist Valerie Gentile who has a look and intensity of a valuable frontwoman. Cruxshadows' strengths are the romantic lyrics and narcotic violins. Diagnosis? Careless staging. You're sure to see more of them, however, as they make their way to the top, as their material is quite strong. Download "Birthday" and "Sophia."
Valerie Gentile top left, Rogue top right, JoHanna Moresco bottom