Faster Pussycat / Loveblast/ Gino's All Stars /Baby Jayne @ Empire 4/24/2015

I went to see Faster Pussycat at Empire ($13), for one of the last shows ever at the venue! Recently, Empire announced that they would be closing in early May. This really is the end of an era, and I'm not sure where all the shows that came there will go- Baltimore? Maybe DC? I met up with Tony, Nathan and Alie, Jen, Kim, Matt Rice, Beth, and Ruby and Julia there.

Shut Up n ROCK

HIM / Motionless in White @ Fillmore, Silver Spring 12/12/2014

I went to see HIM (a pricey $38) with my buddy Tony at the Fillmore, Silver Spring. I saw Robin and Marie there, but not many other familiar faces. My buddy had seen HIM before, many years ago, but I never managed to see them until tonight. I think that this Finnish goth rock/metal band has consistently put out solid albums, albeit a bit more on the emo/mopey/mushy side of lyrics, and I thought they'd be great live. And at the Fillmore, you know it was going to sound pretty fabulous! Initially it was just HIM on this tour when it was announced, and at some point they added Wounds and Motionless in White, neither of which I was excited for.

VNV Nation / Whiteqube @ Empire 5/14/2014

Juliya and I went to see VNV Nation (Victory not Vengeance) ($25) at Empire. We met up with Kate, Jason, and DarKNess, and Lori (Chris Crazy-Wolf was also there, but he was hiding!).

Alice Cooper/ Marylin Manson/ GWAR @ Merriweather Post Pavilion 6/17/2013

Went to see Alice Cooper w/ John and Kate. Met up with Shabba n Michelle, Bobbie and her dude, Tom, and even Ms. Lindsey and Zach! So many people! I was convinced to get some pit tickets ($80), which were about double the lawn. I was a bit hesitant, mainly cause I am not a Manson fan- but Alice is always great.

Project Pitchfork/ Ayria/ Spider Lillies @ Empire 6/2/2013

Went with John and Kate to see goth/electronic/industrial/whatever group Project Pitchfork ($20).  I was only somewhat familiar with Project Pitchfork ("Timekiller"), and not much or other with the others, but I've def been pleasantly surprised at these electronic shows before. There was some horrible on and off rain, and that kind of set the mood a little...darker. There were a good amount of people there, a lot of the same people from the Night Shift event the previous week- Joanna, Dar K Ness, most of Ego Likeness, among others.

Hanzel Und Gretyl / Deathmaschine @ Recher Theater 2/15/2013

I went with John and Kate to see Hanzel Und Gretyl at the Recher Theatre - and was expecting a pretty happening show. However, the turnout was nothing like the KMFDM show we saw last year, so I was wondering if Recher did not promote, people were too busy, conflicts, the rain/cold/shitty weather or if people just don't dig Hanzel und Gretyl. There were about 80 people, tops at the show last night and it was visibly bare, compared to KMFDM which drew hundreds of people and was comfortably full. Tickets were relatively cheap ($15 in advance, face val). I was kinda furious that we coulda avoided buying in advance arrggh.

The Birthday Massacre @ Empire 11/29/2012

Went to see the Birthday Massacre/WIlliam Control/Aesthetic Perfection/Creature Feature/My Enemy Complete at Empire last night. Met up with Milla, John, Kate and saw Phoebe, Matt, AND Jesse (ASOT) there too! There were a lot of people, the parking lot was packed and there was a great turnout. Not a sellout, but the dancefloor was basically full, with a lot of observers from the railings.

Icon of Coil @ Empire 9/6/2012

Went to see Icon of Coil / [:SiTD:] /Ego Likeness /Platform One @ Empire (Jaxx) with John and Kate ($23). I think this was a Spellbound promotion. There was a pretty good turnout, IMO..about 120 people or so. Saw Matt H., Phoebe, and some other people who frequent midnight there too! Some interesting people as always, a cute girl with bat backpack, a girl with a mostly shaved head and head tattoo, a very tall dude in a kilt, a guy in a mesh shirt and gasmask, etc. As John said, there were a TON of chicks there (as opposed to the sausage fest at...most metal shows). This was a late show, doors at 8:00 X_X: Note, this was also their first stop for this tour, and first USA tour in like 8 years! That's 2 first tour stops in 2 days for me (Accept/Kreator and Icon of Coil) !

Freaks United - 7/4/2012

Went with John n Kate to Freaks United in godforsakenDC on July 4th. I was not familiar with any of the bands except the Gothsicles,  but it sounded like an interesting time. And promise of visible fireworks, so that was cool too. So after the fantastic adventure of driving thru DC, road closures, pedestrians, horrible buses, and the heat, we get to some sort of industrial (no pun intended) area, and we see the venue is some sort of warehouse looking building, near a Pepco property... and a Dept of Homeland Security office? At one point I needed to go out and re-park my car, because there was a very non obvious sign to park back in instead of parallel. Blew my mind.

We caught some of the DC fireworks a block or 2 from the club (which, by the way apparently is some sort of male strip club or the like usually- note the 'no touching' photo). One of the people at the door mentioned this too. As the night went on, the regulars slowly trickled in and I think they went upstairs. 

There were a good number of people there, some I recognized from Midnight (Phoebe, Matt, that cross dressing dude). A number of...interestingly dressed... girls too. It was a pretty fun time overall. Nothing on draft, but the drink prices were alright. I think I captured way too many lasers on my photos....

 ESA had songs with little or no vox, and I couldn't make out what he was saying when he did have vox. It was OK, but I really didn't get into it. It was one guy.

The Gothsicles came on next and were very energetic and fun. I thought the vocals sucked/were annoying, but the combination of the energy, silliness, and the related video behind them made it work. I thought it was a great live performance, but not a band I'd get a CD of. They were NES/chiptunes/the like themed. On their Superhero song they apparently gave me a shoutout- I was wearing my Captain America flag shirt. I completely missed it. The two guys both came and chatted with me briefly at different times- they were pretty cool guys. Also, one of them wore a power glove during the performance!

Interface came on next, with a drummer, a keyboardist, and a vocalist. I thought they were my favourite of the night, music wise. They had a slow spot in the middle (keys solo- Katya, see the photo where it looks like the dancefloor is deserted). Their last several songs were faster/more my speed :3 I think they were from NYC.

Waste- 2 guys in... masks and at their keys/compys I thought were a waste of time. Their couple songs I heard were very trancelike, sounded alike, no vocals, and didn't seem to go anywhere. I think we rolled outside for a break after that 2nd song.

iVardensphere- came on waaay late (12:30 something) and we were debating on leaving or hearing a bit. I dunno what the deal with the bongos was, but they were nearly inaudible. A few guys were there on percussion and they had the guy from ESA on vocals for one song (couldn't make out any lyrics). I couldn't get into them- they just were a lot of drums and bass with electronic elements, that just didn't grab me/ The songs didn't seem to go anywhere. The samples I heard before sounded better, but whatever.

Merch- Gothsicles, Interface def had merch-shirts n CDs, stickers, etc. I got an Interface CD ($10). There was another side to the merch table that I can't recall what it had beyond t shirts (not sure who for).


Photos (with a ton of lasers):
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26778407785/freaks-united-7-4-2012-i-went-down-to-dc-freaks
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26778597229/freaks-united-7-4-2012-ii-esa-was-on-first-he
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26778797129/freaks-united-7-4-2012-iii-the-gothsicles-were-on
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26778995088/freaks-united-7-4-2012-iv-interface-they-were
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26779290558/freaks-united-7-4-2012-v-waste-and-then

Setlists:

ESA
(?)

Gothsicles (~8:35)

• This Year's Password Is 'Party'
• Save Dat Mermaid
• My Guy Died (Level 12 Human Sorcerer)
• Drunk Cuts
• Who Wants to Join Our Super Hero Team? (Right Now, It's Just Me & Jim) 
• b-r-[x]-a-n
• Wearing a Star Trek Uniform,Watching Tony Lechmanski Sleep
• BAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLSSSS (Prometheus Burning vs. The Gothsicles)
• Eff the sun 
• (I could never be) your woman (Cover  of White town)
• Konami Code IV

Interface

within your reach? Stateless? Destination  Age of Computers Angels in disguise Katya Stranger in a strange land Never say farewell Body Flow Energize Faith in Nothing Wasted time

Waste
? (heard like 2 songs that were very trancey / sounded the same... went outside)

iVardensphere 
drum intro
song w/ guy from ESA
?