Geisha at Thekla

Of course it wasn't just Geisha, but that's how I sold it to my friends: "Want to go out and listen to some dark noise metal that's mentalistic and wicked?" also playing at the Thekla (Wednesday 15th September) were Ivory Springer, The Edmund Fitzgerald and Bronnt Industries Kapital. It said doors at nine, but knowing Thekla we left late, and arrived hearing rumours (so far unconfirmed) that this was a gig the POLICE DID NOT WANT YOU TO SEE (apparently they tried to shut the place down). Anyway, on to my entirely subjective 'review':

Ivory Springer

Dammit. Arrived too late. Apparently they were very good, but I'll have to wait a bit before I get to review them.

The Edmund Fitzgerald

Just starting when we arrived, Oxford's TEF were a bit muffled, but that's what you get for sitting round the corner on a boat. Once we'd got over the first round of drinks I ventured out to see what the hell was going on with the music. Distant vocals, no bass, an insane drummer and two guitarists, all of whom seemed to be lost in their own thoughts, yet somehow managing to stay extremely tight. This was quite something. To give you some kind of idea about the scale of TEF's vision, they played 3 songs, in a 45-minute set. The songs start innocently enough, you know - strong riffs, powerful metal, we couldn't hear the words - then it all seems to go haywire. A quiet period, followed by extended bouts of syncopated power chords all executed with mathematical precision, before rocking out in a big way. I have to admit though, that by the end of the third song I did kinda wish that they didn't make it quite so extended. Like you know, that instead of going 'I like that, lets do it over and over again and build it up slowly', they just did it once and got on with the rocking. Very impressive mind.

Geisha

I really wasn't prepared for this. Well mentally I was, of course - just in the mood for some serious metal shouty madness - but I was nowhere near prepared enough for them to be THAT good. The hairy singer shouted incomprehensibly and hit his 'you thought there wasn't room for any more distortion? Well here's a little bit more!' pedals at appropriate moments while the leather trousered bass player showed TEF what a really good bass sound is (although I hear he regretted wearing trousers that tight later) and their drummer was a skilled dervish of percussion. I'm sure I could hear Zeppelin riffs in there, just with maximum added fuzz and noise. Occasional bouts of beautiful music broke the noise up perfectly and even with severe flu it really sorted out my dark mood.

Bronnt Industries Kapital

I'm not really sure how this got onto the bill, I didn't stay long enough to find out if there was any metal involved but it certainly started out as quiet, atmospheric electronic sounds with shades of Aphex Twin. Good beginning, but it was a Wednesday and I was ill.