Show Review: The Dead Space @ Hotel Vegas (2/3)

Nathan and I were on double show duty. We started the evening at Red7 for Zola Jesus. We made notes, we shared them with Nicole, she didn’t entirely agree with what we had to say which we are OK with.

…and now for something completely different.

We made our way to Hotel Vegas for some jams to catch Beth Israel, Ghetto Ghouls and The Dead Space. Click past the break for a couple notes and plenty of pics…

Beth Israel uses a drum machine to add edge and depth. Beats are heavy and made heavier with the live drum work adding forcefulness and the piped in underlying harmony gives guitar or bass the fill that sometimes is missing in a three-piece during the inevitable travels away from big chords to fills and solos. The effect is very cool and allows the band to play with harmonies and swapping roles between guitar and bass, high to low, all while accentuating the at-times abrasive but on point vocal. Favorite band of the night, so far.

Ghetto Ghouls brings the added depth by having more people on stage. The energy created is channeled through the lead singer and sometimes guitarist Corey Anderson. Red-faced or stoic, hooded or not, you gravitate as the lyrical delivery is as clear as day while being “musical”. Henry Rollins-esque? Perhaps, but only the best traits, less poetry, more narrative. But with all of that said, the band (including Dead Space’s guitarist on bass) creates the energy to be channeled in the first place. Favorite band of the night, so far.

Dead Space meanders on stage and it is pretty late, but so what, everyone is still here. Loud, musical, controlled, patient and thorough. Each instruments is tense, but not rushed. Sensible? Does that word work? Jenny’s drumming is the perfect match; compact, precise, yet powerful and just free enough within the construct of the songs to make it all work perfect. Their forays into psych, post-punk and gaze will unite any audience, they need to play a lot of shows with a ton of different bands. Put them on any bill where a guitar is carried in, I’d be cool with it. Favorite band of the night.