IPOD
RADIO
So this is a placeholder for soon, when I'll have the chance to sort out what I should and shouldn't share.
[Class "A" Priority Override]
Chemlab returns for their first show in Los Angeles in 10 years!
November 30th at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, with Idiot Stare (that's me!),
USSA (Paul Barker's new band), Skeleton Key and The Shaolin Signal.
Click the flyer to buy tickets now!
Buy Tickets for Chemlab, USSA, Skeleton Key, Idiot Stare and The Shaolin Signal!
This should easily be one of the most important shows that my band has ever played. And we've done some big stuff just this year. And if you know from guitar heavy Industrial music and you're old enough to have been going to shows in the early 90s, then you should remember Chemlab and definitely would almost certainly be a fan of both Ministry and the Revolting Cocks.
Chemlab hails from the east coast (as do I) and they haven't played in LA in 10 years. Before I moved to California, I was in DC for two years. Jared, the leader of Chemlab was then known for a band called Furnace (which was already a legend, but finished, and I never got to see em), and I knew and used to trade samples with a guy (Mark Kermanj who had a project at the time called Seed) who later became one of the original members of Chemlab, playing on their first album. So this is almost a homecoming show for me personally.
Paul Barker (AL Jourgensen's better half of Ministry and Revolting Cocks fame) will also be on stage showing off his new band USSA. And this is seriously good stuff. I hear Deftones, Tool, Ministry and several other heavy and strong influences in USSA. Seriously good stuff!
DEC 03, 2007 11:01 AM
The show was a tremendous success! I think it was the best set we've ever played, and while I wasn't onstage with them for all the years Idiot Stare has been around (I had my *own* stuff to do... :p), this gig has set a new standard for us, raising the bar high. The remodeling of the front room at The Knitting Factory is nice, the stage is huge, and the vibe is comfortable. I hadn't seen it since the redo. It kinda reminded me of the Fez Ballroom in Portland, which was my favorite gig on our west coast tour this past June.
We had a great time hanging out with Jared and the guys, reminiscing all the old times (we're such a bunch of old farts now) and discussing the current state of our dated but still fun "coldwave" part of the industrial scene. And after all these years, I am now *finally* the proud owner of a "FUCK ART LET'S KILL!" Chemlab t-shirt! 
All the other bands were great, it was an amazing lineup, with every act close enough to each other to be believable on the same bill, but with clearly distinctive sounds. USSA was everything I expected, though Paul was maybe a bit shy or perhaps road weary as he wasn't out hanging around with everyone. Chemlab's set was spot on perfect. The highlight of the night was when we went on a scavenger hunt for the lyrics to "Suicide Jag", as Jared invited Blayne (our singer) to join him and Chemlab on stage later in their set, but Blayne didn't know the words! Much fun. Blayne pulled it together and they did a great job of trading off parts and the crowd loved the surprise. By now Blayne is used to it. This happens to him every time we ourselves aren't headlining. Whoever is top billed always wants Blayne to do a song with them.
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