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StarVox LIVE V
Having arrived in Portland, I ran into
Andy, Bn and the promoter in Portland, DJ Carrion (Derek) at Ozone Records.
We later went and checked out the "city of books" at Powell's across the
street where Andy was able to indulge a bit in his fiction collection before
heading to the Paris Theatre for the gig. At the door, I met Jett Black,
Sonya Brown and to my surprise and "The Cruxshadows/Bella Morte show was fucking phenomenal. Both bands played high energy shows that were as fun to watch as they were to listen to." - Adrianna
The next afternoon, after a nice lunch
with Jett and Sonya, Xian and I met the band at their hotel for the 3 hour
drive back to Seattle. (Lucky me -- I had my own personal DJ in the car!
Xian played song after song of cool stuff - many things I've never "I wanted to tell you what a great time we had at the show. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the Cruxshadows. It was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time and I was totally inspired by them. I really appreciated the effort the lead singer put out to the crowd (I definitely learned a lot!)--and I'm so happy that everyone responded so enthusiastically" - Susan, Luminous Flux
"What I did NOT count on seeing, though, is the band members wandering around the club before and after their sets. It was really fun - I did a double take every time one of them walked by." - Adrianna
Highlights included their version of Poe's "Annabel Lee" (which has improved since I saw them perform it last with Stacey adding eerie vocals in the background), their cover of Pet Shop Boys "Its a Sin", the romping, upbeat fun of "Deception" and the sing-along Rogue induced with "Eurydice" getting the crowd to echo "Don't follow me" during the chorus. There were times I almost fainted witnessing the unexpected participation of the usually hard-to-arouse Seattle crowd. It went better than I could have dreamt. Several times during their sets, Rachel stole the show with her excellent violin solos showing just how much an electric violin can add to contemporary dance songs. And here again, Stacey wowed the crowd with her guitar playing while Chris kept everything in line with his keyboards. People later commented to me that it was really great to see a girl guitar player kicking ass on stage. Two rockin girls and two gorgeous guys -- what more could you ask for in a band ? "It was a great show! wow! both bands were wonderful! so much energy and good audience interaction. and the violinist! she was amazing! i'm so glad we decided to go. I don't think i've danced like that in a while either. I sure was surprised when i got pulled up on stage towards the end of the show. eek!" ~Ethel 
With energy riding high, on the last song, Rogue pulled the one trick out of his hat that first endeared me to them long ago -- he pulled people up on the stage to dance along with the band. You should have seen the crowd's wide-eyed amazement as mass chaos broke out - people were EVERYWHERE dancing like I've never seen! New to the band's antics, Chris stepped out from behind the keyboards to the center of the stage to sing along with fans during the chorus. It was exceptionally nice to see him front and center and the additional vocals added alot to the song as Rogue made his way through the crowd dancing with people. Even the dancers - Beth and Jessica, pulled people up onto the podium with them and let the fans take the spotlight. For many, it was the first time they've ever got to be on a stage under the lights and for a moment, entertained the fantasy of being a performer. 
The crowd would not accept that the show was over and demanded an encore not once, but THREE times. The band, appreciative of the crowd, indulged them with some of their best songs including old favorites of mine, "Marilyn, My Bitterness" and "Sympathy for Tomorrow." Rogue even picked up the violin himself proving his musical talents go beyond vocals. At 12:30 DJ Xian then took over the airways feeding the crowd's frenzy with a danceable set of hits and even managed to get Andy from Bella Morte out on the dance floor with "Human Fly" by the Cramps. DJ Mistress Catherinna took over at 1:30 and  kept
the tunes coming for a packed dance floor until 3:00 am. Members of both
bands hung out at the Merchandise table and around the club, talking to
people and relaxing in the club environment. I thought for sure we'd have
to usher people out of there that night - they simply could not get enough
and I couldn't have been more pleased. The bands definitely made an impact
on the crowd here and due to the demands that they "come back soon," I
expect their next concert here to be even bigger. Their show was truly
an example of getting what you put into it. They gave 110% and the crowd
ate it up and gave it back.
Many thanks go to the following people for making this event possible: both the Cruxshadows and Belle Morte including the folks behind the scenes -- James, Beth and Jessica, Venus Clothing, ADSR/Musicwerks, DJ Xian, DJ Mistress Catherinna, DJ Slowdive, DJ Peter, the owners and staff at the Catwalk, Luminous FLux, John and Emily from Tragik Records, Gollum from Acid Ice Flows, Neue Aesthetik, Bare Wire/Eristikos Records, Dancing Ferret, Obrien from Kontrol+alt+delete, Paul at C89.5fm, StarVox volunteer staff, Anthony and Jessica, Flaming Angels and NIN from Mr Underhill from driving all the way down from Vancouver, and especially everyone that made the effort to come out for this event - you rock my world!
9 - 10:30
Belle Morte Live Show 10:30 - 11:15 Dj Mistress Catherinna
11:15 - 11:30
Cruxshadows Live Show 11:30
- 12:30 Dj Xian 12:30 - 1:30
Dj Mistress Catherinna
1:30 - 3:00 Bella Morte Official Websites:
The Cruxshadows Websites: Dancing Ferret Label:
Cleopatra:
The Catwalk Club:
DJ Xian:
DJ Catherinna:
11/08/01 |
delight,
a very beautiful but quiet, DJ Xian who had flown in from LA to spin at
the Seattle show the next night. Inside, the Paris Theatre was MUCH
smaller than I expected it to be and despite the cool temperature outside,
was rapidly becoming a hot box. The bands had set up a merch table in the
front lobby, a pop stand was off to the side and inside the main room,
a sloping floor led down to a rather small stage. The bands had done the
best they could with the small stage, even managing to include the permanent
"cage" into their set up. Bella Morte opened to an eager and expectant
crowd. Andy's intense energy translated immediately and people, who I assume
knew very little about the band beforehand, were soon dancing in front
of the stage. Gopal did his wonderful deathrock stare as he plunked out
punk-inspired bass lines and Bn amazed me again with his skill on guitar.
Andy's "shirt" of liquid latex, which he sometimes ripped at and tore off,
caught the eye of many adoring new fans. I haven't seen them perform live
in over a year and I must say, they only get better. Despite the
sometimes mellow tones of their CD, a live show is exactly the opposite.
Ripped with intensity, you cannot help being caught up in the energy this
band performs with -- again and again, be it 1000 people or 100, they'll
give you all they have to give and then some.
Cruxshadows
took the stage, minus Rogue, in front of a packed floor of eager fans.
The music started, and to the surprise and delight of all the fans, Rogue
entered the music hall from the back, walking through the crowd with hand
held flashlights, "By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way
comes...." It was awesome to see the reaction from the crowd and I was
reminded of my own initial enchantment seeing the Cruxshadows for the first
time years ago. The set was tight and well done, the band was in top form
- gelling on stage more than I had ever seen them before. Stacey's place
as their new guitarist appeared solidified and the high stage allowed for
several dramatic leaps by Rogue off into the crowd. Rachel's violin playing
was concise and very beautiful (so nice to hear a violin so predominately!)
and the smallness of the stage put Chris wonderfully closer to the front
of the stage than I've seen him before. During the violin solo in
"Deception," Rogue jumped down, grabbed an unsuspecting adoring fan and
danced arm in arm with him around in circles. I could see the look of shock
on the fan's face -- and everyone around them was smiling uncontrollably.
True to form, Rogue's dramatic interaction with the crowd is what really
wins people over with this band time and time again.
even
heard before!). The band's two vans were crammed with people, equipment
and clothes. The Bella bus had a bicycle strapped to the front of it (clever
boys!) and I had to laugh at their personalized licensee plate..."WOEISWE".
Note to traveling bands out there -- walkie talkies are invaluable for
communication between vehicles when you're on the road (smart idea no?)
wasn't
any time for eating or resting and I experienced first-hand how tough its
got to be going from city to city on tour, busting your ass on the road
to get somewhere, unload, play a show and do it all over again the next
day. I don't know how they've done it this far along...it has to be exhausting.
While the bands were doing soundchecks, I was busy making sure vendors
were ok setting up and my wonderful group of volunteers put out promo materials
on the tables. I had made the Seattle show a 
with
people whenever they could - always with a welcomed smile and a handshake.
There are no egos to cater to here, just down to earth musicians who are
grateful and love when they get to entertain an audience. Their Tour Journal
on 
Between
bands we had a "Who's sportin' the best Mohawk" competition and then Mistress
Catherinna spun some more great hits to keep feet happy while they waited.
It wasn't long and the Cruxshadows were ready to go. Again, the band took
the stage, the music started and Rogue magically appeared wandering through
the crowd from the back, making his way to the stage. The crowd, just like
at the Portland show, was immediately enchanted. Along both sides of the
stage, Beth (Gopal's girlfriend) and Jessica (Rogue's girlfriend) added
to the eyecandy as they danced for the entire set. Lights, backdrops and
Egyptian symbols added to the stage setting. For Rogue, a former Art Major,
creating an atmosphere for their show is definitely a priority for the
Cruxshadows and something new bands could learn a little from. It definitely
adds to the experience of seeing a lie concert. The crowd was mixed with
people who knew their songs and those new to them. Irregardless, I was
AMAZED at how people danced enthusiastically through the whole set. Rogue's
departures from the stage down into the crowd definitely served to encourage
people to participate. I heard several people comment that it was like
he 
was
singing "to you" not "at you" and that it made the show more personal and
exciting.
