It was almost 100 degrees in Philadelphia yesterday. The heat was sweltering, and I was attending a death rock show at The Fire – a small bar / club near a hip section of the city. I am probably an unlikely looking fan of anything labeled goth or death rock – I’m an aging hipster and give off strong Dad vibes. But I’m game for anything and I love just about any style of music. I dug out my combat boots and paired them up with shorts that have a punk rock patch sewn on and I was on my way.
The band Martyr Whore had reached out to me in advance asking me if I’d be interested in attending the show and connecting with them. Preliminary research indicated that there would be a 100% chance of me liking them – deeply indebted to the original incarnation of Christian Death with a melodic sensibility that isn’t always apparent in death rock music. I had an opportunity to talk with the band beforehand – they were in the US from France and seemed impressed by the scene here. They are hoping for a break in the music scene and despite the death rock moniker they were super nice. The goth vibes were strong among the band and the audience, but I think my aging hipster Dad vibes were just as strong.
The band opened with Witches, a punk inspired song that perfectly set the scene for their set. Droning vocals that contrasted nicely with the aggressive music. William Blake was another highlight – Lloyd Amant’s vocals displaying contained rage that let loose in a cacophony of noise. I really loved this song on their latest record – it is even better live. Salem lived up to its name – a spooky number that made me feel like I was live at the witch trials. Excellent guitar work on this one, I was lost in the noise. The band closed with a cover of Christian Death’s Spiritual Cramp – a perfect way to show the band’s influences. Martyr Whore stayed true to the original – a catchy bit of gothic punk that left us all wanting more. I can’t wait until they come around again – hopefully sooner rather than later.
Verdict: A band worth checking out
For Fans of: Christian Death, The Chameleons, The Sound, Bauhaus, Alien Sex Fiend
Setlist (Approximate):
- Witches
- Living Dead
- Birth of Tragedy
- William Blake
- Lord Barry
- Lord of Thunders
- Dolls
- Whore II
- Salem
- Caesare Borgia
- Rosey
- Spiritual Cramp