There was a lot going on in Deep Ellum on Saturday night. The Deep Ellum Metal Fest was spread among half a dozen venues, Elevation Worship drew a huge crowd at the Bomb Factory, various local shows were going on at places like Three Links, and the usual crowds were bar hopping throughout the neighborhood. But, a near sell-out crowd collected at Trees for the Lords of Acid’s Pretty In Kink Tour. Taped nipples, fishnets, latex, and leather were abundant as the crowd was prepared for an amorous night of industrial-dance debauchery.
Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Gabriel and The Apocalypse kicked the show off promptly at 7:30 with their brand of industrial rock that is obviously inspired by the other bands on the bill. Playing a 30-minute set, the band got the crowd moving and helped set the tone for the evening. The young band dressed the part, but also had the songs and performance to back it up. They were followed by the first of two performances by Little Miss Nasty. Calling themselves “Rock n’ Roll Burlesque for the 21st Century,” the quartet of dancers performed to a medley of rock and dance music that instantly had dozens of dudes filming on their phones. Performing to songs by Iggy and the Stooges, Pink Floyd, Rage Against the Machine, and Bikini Kill (among others), the dancers had the crowd singing along and elevated the atmosphere at Trees just in time for Orlando, Florida’s infamous Genitorturers.
With over 30 years under their…strap-on’s, the Genitorturers took the stage to a roaring applause from the packed house. Led by vocalist Gen, the only constant member of the band, the Genitorturers played around 10 songs, including tracks from their debut album 120 Days of Genitorture, 1998’s Sin City, 2002’s Flesh Is The Law, and their most recent, 2009’s Blackheart Revolution. A devil on stilts, among other bizarre characters and sex rituals performed alongside the songs. Wicked, depraved, and highly entertaining, the Genitorturers set made it difficult for Los Angeles “death pop” band Orgy to follow.
Orgy’s set was the most mundane and forgettable of the evening. As the band went through the motions, they got the biggest applause for their most successful song, their cover of New Orders “Blue Monday.” Not that the performance was anything more than boredom personified, the crowd seemed to enjoy it. But, their tribute to the late Keith Flint is where things became utterly disappointing. Just days ago, a despicable act of violence toward a woman occurred in Deep Ellum that was further exacerbated by a total failure of the justice system. As civil protest loomed over the evening and police patrolled the streets, the bands cover of Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up” was so completely tone deaf and inappropriate that more than a few concert goers were struck by its inclusion in the show. As bands were advised to stay off their tour buses and vans after 10pm to avoid any potential conflict with the planned protests, it’s hard to believe Orgy were unaware. All that said, their set was completely uninspired and routine.
The second performance from Little Miss Nasty quickly erased Orgy’s set from the crowds collective memory and put things back on track for the rest of the evening. This set included an original song, something about sippin’ on a forty, and got the crowd primed for Lords of Acid. Founding member Praga Kahn (keys, programming, vocals) is joined on this tour by vocalist Marieke Bresseleers, guitarist Sin Quirin of Ministry, DieTrich Thrall on bass, and Galen Waling on drums. While the Lords line-up alternates frequently, over the 25 dates that preceded the Dallas show they had clearly locked in as a unit and were hitting their stride from song one. Playing close to 20 songs across six albums, including last years Pretty In Kink, the band constantly engaged with the crowd and fed off their energy. Whether the crowd was singing along or tossing around an inflatable sex doll, they were fully celebrating the band and their performance. Classic songs like “Voodoo-U” and “Out Comes The Evil” were received with an ecstatic response, while newer songs like “Sex Cam Girl” and “My Demons Are Inside” were also met with enthusiasm. As a long time admirer of the band, it was great to see the smile never leave Praga Kahn’s face. Doubtless, the Dallas crowds reaction to the bands set was satisfying for him and well deserved after more than 30 years in the business.
If you’ve never seen Lords of Acid live, you’ve missed a great party. There are only a few remaining dates on this United States run (Austin, 3/24; Albuquerque, 3/26; Las Vegas, 3/27) and we highly encourage your attendance. If the fear of missing out is a condition you suffer, you’ll hate yourself if you don’t show up. Of course, the Lords of Acid always deliver a great show, but the full line-up makes for one hell of an evening.
– J. Kevin Lynch (words); Corey Smith (photos)
– click to enlarge photos –
