Lightning Bolt and Black Dice: Concert Review
A Night of Noise Rock Ignites Fans and the Brooklyn Community
Nov 8, 2009
Less than a week before their extensive tour abroad in support of their most recent release, Earthly Delights, genre-bending Lightning Bolt rigged up their equipment and gave one final farewell to American fans. A smattering of frenetic drumming played over heavy and droning bass guitar, and like that, Lightning Bolt's Brian Gibson and Brian Chippendale were off, leaving fans exhausted, out of breath, and wanting more.
Above the Auto Parts Store (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
This low-key venue was perfect for the occasion. Fans gravitated towards a ramp which lead upstairs to the venue - a dark expanse of concrete and anticipation. Resembling a warehouse, the venue provided a good context for fans and musicians who lavish the discreet and exclusive nature of these underground performances. Bands set up on a low riser (no more than one or two feet off the ground) and fans capitalized on this opportunity to be close to the musicians - to be part of the performance. During Lightning Bolt's performance, fans in the front row lean forward, nearly touching Chippendale's kit.
TV Ghost
The opening act took the stage with an aggressive performance that animated the dark mass of fans. The four-piece took the stage and ripped into their first track with confidence with their front-man opting to set up his mic stand on the floor and interact with audience members. Their sound could best be described as post-punk. Guitars were heavily distorted and chord-driven, played over quick-paced drumming and wild vocals which vacillated between poles of lethargy and visceral screams.
Mick Barr
Mick Barr, the guitarist of New York's Black Metal act "Krallice" took the stage for a solo performance. Barr clung to his guitar for a performance that tested the endurance of Barr and his fans. The set consisted of one lengthy exposition of insanely fast strumming with gradual if not drudging alterations of pitch from his fret-board.
Black Dice
By this time hundreds of fans had packed into to the dark room in anticipation for Brooklyn natives, Black Dice. The band's complex setup complimented their music style, which was intricate and droning at the same time. The band played one lengthy song comprised of many smaller tracks from their recorded material. Blending a catchy electronic sound with a sludge industrialism Black Dice manipulated willing audience members with a diverse sound. A kid in the front is dancing like it is Woodstock, another is banging his and pumping his fist like he has five more minutes to live. Either way, Black Dice has a tonal complexity that kept audience members on their toes for nearly an hour while the trio pounded their way through an extremely loud set.
Lightning Bolt
The duo rigged amps, pedal-boards, and other equipment in preparation for a loud and aggressive set. Lightning Bolt immediately launched into a stunning performance of the first track from their new album, "Sound Gaurdians." Featuring heavy metal bass riffs, spectacularly fast and enduring drumming, and brief vocal outbursts, fans responded with fist-pumping, pushing, and jumping.
The place literally ignited. A bottle rocket tore through the air leaving behind a trail of sparks which barely matched the intensity of Lightning Bolt's set, which was cut short due to a handful of unfortunate technical malfunctions. After a performance of "Colossus," they played a handful of new and unrecorded tracks which showcase the evolution of their music.
These songs have a complexity and density not seen in many of their early albums which rely on reptition and a steady build of musical speed and intensity. Lightning Bolt closed the night with a rowdy and extended performance of Ride the Skies title track, "Ride the Sky." Always a fan favorite, the audience seemed on the verge of implosion as Gibson and Chippendales bass worked in a discordant harmony, responding to the controlled chaos of one another.
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