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May 06, 2011
Combichrist Tour: 
Combichrist, Ivardensphere 
@ The Palladium - Upstairs [Worcester, MA (USA)]

 


April 10, 2011
Unsound Festival New York 2011: 
Lustmord, Void Ov Voices, Robert Piotrowicz 
@ Abrons Arts Center [New York City, NY (USA)]

 


March 27, 2011
Millipede Show: 
Millipede 
@ Darkroom [Chicago, IL (USA)]

 


November 19, 2010
Combichrist Tour: 
Combichrist, Aesthetic Perfection, Ivardensphere 
@ Webster Theater [Hartford, CT (USA)]

 


September 30, 2010
The Swans Tour: 
Swans, The 
@ The Middle Cafe - Downstairs [Cambridge, MA (USA)]

 


August 04, 2010
Tragedy For Us Tour: 
Iszoloscope, Ad·ver·sary, Cervello Elettronico 
@ Champions Cafe [Everett, MA (USA)]

 


July 03, 2010
Steel Hook Prostheses Tour: 
Steel Hook Prostheses, Bereft, Sewer Goddess, Xiphoid Dementia 
@ Club Choices [Somerville, MA (USA)]

 


May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Satori 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Sardh 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Eldar 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Nurse With Wound 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Schallfaktor 
@ Werk II [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
The PCP Principle 
@ Werk II [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Flint Glass 
@ Werk II [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Seventh Harmonic 
@ Schauspielhaus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Loell Duinn 
@ Schauspielhaus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Arcana 
@ Schauspielhaus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Ashram 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Sonne Hagal 
@ Volkspalast: Kantine [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Sigillum S 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Moonspell 
@ Kohlrabizirkus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 21, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 1 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 21, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 1: 
Conjure One 
@ Agra Hall [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 21, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 1: 
Kirlian Camera 
@ Agra Hall [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 16, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 5: 
Covenant, Rotorsand 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]

As much as I wanted to see Detroit Diesel, I had tickets to the new Cirque Du Soleil show, Totem. I really could not have cared less about most of the bands playing on the last day. When I hear most fru fru synthpop acts, I wonder how they cannot be anything but embarrassed. Maybe it gets them chicks by being all emotional.

I will admit that I would not have minded checking out Lights Of Euphoria, but it did not work out that way. Fast forward to Frozen Plasma. It was totally easy-listening synthpop. I buried my face in my hand for two songs before fleeing to the cafe area.

Next up, Rotersand. Now here is an EBM/Synthpop band that has some power. Their frontman, Rascal, clearly commanded the stage as he moved about. He knew when to be soft and when to hammer the lyrics. He was possibly the only singer who was not a dick when telling the audience he wanted to see hands in the air. People gladly raised their arms like the worshippers they were and he thanked them. I had had enough calling for hand raising by this point in the festival, but I could at least appreciate that this interaction was a two-way street. At one point during the set, Rascal jumped off of the stage and sang within the crowd. The audience was respectful and did not mob him. He spent the rest of the song amongst his enduring fans before returning to the stage. Musically, they sounded perfect. The trio was very tight. It was obvious their practice paid off. They played every club hit except "Electronic World Transmission". They really had all the elements that make a great show - sound, charisma, and execution.

The last full set I stayed for was Covenant. I have seen shows on all their US tours, including their first one where they played in an artists' space in Boston in front of maybe forty people that probably was not supposed to have live shows afterhours. They are great entertainers and play music I enjoy. Eskil's smooth voice is only matched by all the hair products he must use to keep his slick 'do.

They played many songs from "United States Of Mind", "Northern Light", and "Skyshaper" as well as two new songs, neither of which I particularly liked. They reminded me of easy listening electronica. It makes me less hopeful that the new album will be any better than "Skyshaper" - my least favorite album. They did play "Figurehead" and "Stalker", but gone were "Theremin" and their anthem, "One World One Sky". I suspect many of the older songs were cut since the festival set was limited to roughly an hour. I stayed near the front for the entire show. When I looked back, all I could see was a sea of happy faces as the packed audience screamed and danced for their idols.

I only stayed for a few songs by Melotron before saying my goodbyes. I had to sleep before driving home the next day.

I feel like I did a lot of bitching in my Kinetik reviews. I definitely think that the festival is moving in a more popular direction that is not where my main interests lie. I cannot begrudge that as the organizers want to continue having a successful (and hopefully profitable) venture. I just cannot see a year where they will beat the first year's lineup that included Feindflug, Xotox, and Noisuf-X. As for all the other European powernoise bands? I see them every year at Maschinenfest so they're a bonus to the festival, not a must-see for me. All in all, I had a great time and enjoyed some of the bands each day. It will be interesting to see who plays next year!

[Close Review]

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May 15, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 4: 
FabrikC, Terrorfakt, Nachtmahr, Destroid, Memmaker 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]

 


May 14, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 3: 
Alien Vampires, Combichrist, Absolute Body Control, Decoded Feedback, SAM, Synapscape, Komor Kommando, Iszoloscope 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]

 


May 13, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 2: 
Leæther Strip, Tyske Ludder, Imperative Reaction, 16 Volt 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]