We Love Tour
April 16th, 2014
Des Moines, Iowa
Wooly’s
Combichrist, William Control, New Years Day, September, Microwaved
Combichrist is one of the bands that slid under my radar. It wasn’t until Wes Borland’s Black Light Burns toured with them that I was fully introduced the Andy LePlagua on stage intensity. The level of energy that this man projects during live shows is captured throughout each Combichrist’s albums. That’s no secret.
When I first saw the band, back in 2009, Leplagua’s band consisted on two drummers and a keyboardist. I was thrilled to hear that Combichrist would be touring with a full band. I’m getting ahead of myself though.
Having never played a show in Nebraska, I knew that I’d have to travel for the We Love You Tour and I was alright with that. Thankfully I have a great circle of friends who share my passion for live music. It helps that we also have very similar tastes in music. We didn’t hesitate when we heard that Combichrist would be stopping in Des Moines, Iowa. It’s only a few hours drive and I’d heard great things about the venue they were booked to play. What I wasn’t expecting was the size of the crowd. The last time we’d seen the band was in a drive bar in Kansas City and there were maybe 30 people in attendance. The small crowd size didn’t stop the bands from putting on a blistering show but it’s always better to witness the show with a larger crowd.
By the time we arrived at Wooly’s there were already a few dozen people waiting outside for the doors to open. After a stop at Zombie Burger, we headed back to the venue. For the opening band, the crowd size was already greater than the last time we’d seen Combichrist and throughout the night the crowd size grew.
Opening up tonight’s event was Microwave, one of Waterloo, Iowa’s local bands. I cut my teeth on Des Moines’ local music scene in the 90’s. For those of you not familiar with the time, there were three bands that caught national attention and defined that areas scene; Smakdab, 35″ Mudder and Slipknot. You’ve probably never heard of the first two but Gabriel Wilkinson was a member of Smakdab. It’s always a treat to see a show in Des Moines and think back to those bygone days by seeing how much the scene has changed. I’m very picky, kinda snobbish, when it comes to local music. I’ve seen some brilliant bands that deserve to be noticed and some bands who it’s seems only has a purpose of filling space. I’m torn with Microwaved. The band consists of one guy, Gabriel Wilkinson, playing the guitar and singing, with prerecorded music playing. The music was decent, damn near great. The vocals were not. His vocal inflection was weak and annoyingly distorted. No one in the crowd seemed impressed with his set, which is a shame. Granted, the vocals need work but the music was good. There were definite elements of early White Zombie and I could tell that he was influenced musically by the likes of Rammstein and Skinny Puppy. Still, if he can find a better vocalist, this band will go places.
Microwaved can be found at http://microwaved.bandcamp.com
Up next were native Des Moines rock veterans September. By sheer coincidence, I’ve been facebook friends with September’s vocalist Lucas Brighton but, even though they’ve played shows in Omaha, I’d never gotten the chance to see September live. I’m thankful that this opportunity finally came and that it would be in front of a hundred fans. September’s music appealed to the majority of the crowd. September’s unique style, a mesh of thrash metal and industrial, went over well with the crowd. Fans were bouncing on their heels and singing along with nearly every song. The band has a refined stage presence, one that reminded me of the golden days of Des Moines’ metal scene. Brighton’s vocals ranged from an aggressive yet calm tone, to those guttural growls that coupled brilliantly with the heavier songs the band played.
Guitarist Kyle Christensen and bassist Thomas Brighton stayed on their respective sides during the set but managed to whip the crowd into a near frenzy as Lucas paced across the stage like a caged bear. Drummer Nathan Anderson, who began their set wearing steam punk stylized sunglasses with blue lazer pointers mounted on each side, was one of the most energetic drummers I’ve seen on stage. The band’s well timed interactions with the crowd boosted everyone’s mood, and Lucas thanked us for their opportunity to play multiple times.
The two tracks that September played tonight that got the most reaction from the crowd were Circle, an original track and their closing song; a cover of Nine Inch Nails’ Head Like A Hole. A humble industrial metal band from Iowa whom still knows how to rock a venue. While Des Moines’ local music scene glory days of Slipknot may be over, September are carrying the touch and keeping the scene alive.
September can be found at http://www.septembercircle.com
Next to the stage were the California quartet News Years Day. The band took the stage with a vengeance. Formed out of heart break and hell bent on revenge, New Years Day have recently come to the attention of the masses thanks to their current single Angel Eyes, which features vocals with Motionless In White’s Chris Motionless. Vocalist Ash Costello knows how to work a crowd. From the moment this petite young woman took the stage and demanded that the crowd move closer to the stage, we all knew we were in for one helluva set. Costello demanded our full attention, and she got it. During the band’s third song, the crowd opened an unprompted circle pit. Costello continued to work the crowd into a frenzy, prompting them to continue their decent into madness and submission.
New Years Day’s brand of industrial pop rock music went over very well with the fans. I noticed more than a few members of the crowd singing along to every word. Even those not familiar with the band quickly picked up on the choruses and were enticed by the dark sexuality coming off of the band. New Years Day seemed to collect every ounce of energy that the crowd created and refocused that energy into their stage presence. We were utterly captivated by their music.
Costello’s vocals ranged from a sultry whimper to a primal scream. But the band’s music wasn’t all doom and gloom. Costello made it very clear that the band’s top priority was to take away the daily problems that may be on our minds and treat us with an amazing set. The band wanted to make sure that we had a break from reality, even if just for an evening.
The only complaint I’d heard was that the band’s set was so short. With some luck, they’ll be back through the Midwest soon enough and hopefully headlining their own tour.
After some time to catch our breathes and re-gather our thoughts, we were ready for William Control. It’d been a few years since William Francis and his band have toured through Iowa, but apparently he wasn’t so impressed with what Iowa had to off the last time he stopped here.
Even though I was familiar with Francis’ other band, Aiden, this would be my first time seeing his alter ego live and the first time I’d be hearing many of the tracks. Francis strutted on stage wearing a priest’s robes. A lit cigarette dangled from his mouth. The man was the definition of a cool showman. From the moment the intro music started, the crowd was bouncing. Francis joined the band on stage and shredded into a blistering live rendition of New World Order. The crowd, still riding high from New Years Day’s performance, bounced in place and raised their fists into the air, pumping with the intense beats. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a vocalist with as much energy as Francis’ has. The man barely stood still for the band’s 45 minute set. Francis bounced and jumped around the stage just as much as the fans did on the floor. Several times during their set, Francis whipped his chorded microphone around, twirling it around himself, and snapping it like a lion tamer’s whip.
The band’s music was incredibly intense. Having now heard the studio versions of the tracks they played life, it was a real treat to hear these cuts played live by the band. New Years Day’s Ash Costello even joined the band during their performance of Dorian Grey and was asked by Francis to stay during the next song, Tranquilize. The crowd went ballistic!
Francis admitted that he wasn’t impressed the last time the band passed through Iowa. In fact, he had said that that was going to be the last time they played. He was also hesitant about joining Combichrist on tour. He elaborated by saying that Combichrist’s fans were “older and more subdued,” and didn’t know how well his band would be accepted by their fans. Honestly, he couldn’t even say that with a straight face. As soon as the last word came out of his mouth, he burst into laughter. Francis was very pleased by the crowd’s reaction though and thanked us numerous times, and said that he was grateful for the opportunity to make new Iowa memories.
Various members of the bands were found milling about the crowd and hanging out at the merch table. They seemed genuinely appreciative when they met their fans, autographed cds (and body parts) and posed for pictures. Knowing that the bands we came to see enjoy us (the fans) as much as we enjoy them makes the concert experience that much more enjoyable.
After seeing an amazing line up, the crowd was antsy for the main course of the evening. For those of you who’ve never seen Combichrist live before, it is a religious experience and veteran musican Andy LePlegua was going to take us to church.
Combichrist is easily one of the most under appreciated bands outside of the industrial metal genre. Their fans, however, are diehard and eager to prove their allegiance to LePlegua’s cause. Tonight’s show would be the first time that a lot of the fans, myself included, would see a live incarnation of Combichrist that was comprised of a full band. Hearing a selection of tracks from the band’s catalogue performed by a full band would be amazing. As if seeing drummer Joe Letz going ballistic behind his drum kit wasn’t enough, throw in the stage antics of Abbey Nex, who’s toured with Hanzel und Gretyl and GENITORTURERS, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a killer live set. The new album is raw, visceral, and seethes with uncompromising urgency. So many of us could barely contain our enthusiasm of wanting to hear the new material played up against some of our favorite tracks.
Cheers erupted from the crowd as soon as the lights went out. The approval level of the crowd was deafening when the orchestra version of WTFIWWY started to play. The subtle string arrangement faded and morphed into the dark industrial opening chords of We Were Made To Love You as the member of Combichrist walked onto the stage. LaPlegua, the last to arrive on stage, wore a sleeveless hoodie, it’s hood pulled up over his head. LaPlegua also wore an executioner’s mask, it’s face lit up with bright red bulbs. Hearing this man screaming the lyrics of WWMTLY and the crowd screamed back the chorus of HATE DISORDER LOVE DESTROY was chilling. Abbey, during the 1st and 2nd choruses, leaned into the crowd with his mic stand, thrusting the fans into action, singing along with the band.
It didn’t take long for the fans to get riled up. The thrashing and moshing started as soon as the band took the stage and continued through out the first half of the set. The crowd’s reaction to Throat Full of Glass and Maggots At The Party was nearly nuclear. The entire venue was shaking. The flashing strobe lights were nearly as intense as the thunderous beats from Letz’s drums and Abbey’s bass. Couple those beats with the brutal guitar riffs and industrial chimes of the keyboard and you have yourself the perfect concert experience.
It was fantastic to see a full band on stage and to hear these tracks played by a full band was something that very few of us who’d previously seen the band had gotten to witness. LaPlegua’s vocals were clear and dominated the set. During Blut Royale, LaPlegua took a missed side step and nearly toppled over. I’d find out after the show that he messed up his knee during the tumble. Not to worry though. Laplegua admitted that would be medicating himself with rum to assure the discomfort wouldn’t hinder him for the rest of the tour. “Nothing works as well as a bottle of rum,” he told me.
Combichrist’s set was filled with the perfect mix of tracks from the band’s six full length album releases. The bands song choices were laden with hook heavy choruses, speaker crushing beats thanks to the likes of Letz and Abbey Nex, and spotlighted LaPlegua’s dark, aggressive vocals.
Their live performance of Throat Full of Glass ruled the floor and had the entire crowd bouncing and dancing, while the brooding The Evil In Me showed us another side of LaPlegua, that of the sorrowful man trapped inside of the monster. Follow the Trail of Blood, of which the album version features vocalist Brendan Schiepatti of Bleeding Through, was an instant anthem of aggression, and immediately become a crowd favorite.
With the release of We Love You and the We Love Tour, LaPlegua and his band have emerged a more vital beast, stripped of all pretentious flaws. In pushing forward, Combichrist’s playfully sinister facade is torn away. What is exposed underneath is an uncompromising expression of lust, anger, pain, and hate personified in the music. Tonight’s performance showed us a new side of Combichrist, one that has evolved beyond the primal demon that the band was and into an unrelenting, more focused malevolent force in music.
