Clairvoid Fest featured lineup of local bands performing for the benefit of Meristem with 100% of the proceeds going to the center for young adults on the autism spectrum. Event date: August 27, 2017.
Love Rites opened up Clairvoid Fest with a self described sound of new romantic post punk r&b. They scathe the surface of 80s diva bravado vocals with boisterous pop hits vocal style of the ’00-’10s with frenetic drum style and pensive paced guitar combo. Their songs had aspects of moody post punk, but the delivery of their set live was similar to an upbeat and faster paced version of George Michael’s ‘Freedom! ’90’.
Related artists: Duran Duran, Wham!, Erasure, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Walk The Moon.
For the follow: @loverites on instagram
Cat Scan are blazing through local venues around town with their frenetic approach to their music. Call and response moments between lead vocals of David Evanko (guitar) and Quincy Larsen (bass) allowed for catchy rhythmic behavior to enjoy. Their delivery was a bit of that refreshing experimental noise and jazz scat application to allow for jittery excitement of wordplay mashup originality and flow. Parallels to Suburban Lawns with freakout moments the make Cat Scan standout.
Related artists: DEVO, Operation Ivy, and Minor Threat to name a few.
For the follow: @cat_scan
Band Aparte grip at your heart with the goth wave post punk attitude of Brian Mendoza (vox). He was thrashing about the stage and even ran to the back to grab a latter for dynamic effect to make known with every bit of his energy that ‘Memory On Trial’ was their melancholy too. ‘Dream Wave’ has the capacity of mopey, yet hopeful thoughts as the bass lines envelop you whilst scattered vibrant energy from guitar curls you to connect to that longing for your significant other.
Related Artists: The Cure, The Fall, Nick Cave
For the follow : @bandaparte_
Burning Palms have always been a fixture at the back of my mind for bands to watch live, but I would always miss a chance whenever they toured Los Angeles. They delivered sensuous doom rock and roll with a trance-drone taboo tinge. Ringing it in with two drummers that kept building up the shamanic momentum, especially on ‘False Prophet’. Tambourine element added live with sweet harmonies and wailing female vocalists, Simone Stopford and Sathya Honey who shook the aches out of your backbone, especially on ‘Hologram’. Next chance you get, feel out their set. It’s a ritualistic performance. It would appear the lineup is ever evolving, especially since Nikki Pickle (aka Nicole Smith (now with The Mad Walls) is seen in former live photos.
Related Artists: Marianne Faithful (Broken English album mood), Dead Ghosts, L.A. Witch
For the follow : @burningpalms
Exsage delved right into their set with desert monsoon appeal as they scaled up momentum with pummeling drums, weighty bass lines, and three guitar layers that rounded out. Kate Clover (vox, guitar) dominates the calvary anthem vocal stylings that fall in line with Annie Wilson of Heart, but claiming her own firm affirmations in her craft. With such volition and control, Tom Foley kicked it into high gear with moments of wild fuzzed out fretting.
Related artists: The Kills, Heart, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
For the follow : @_exsage_
The Tissues demand your attention with unforgettable vocalist, Kristine Nevrose. Jerry Narrows guitar styling is gripping and ferocious with the silver tongue devil concept applied to the stumming style, especially on ‘Fire’. Collette Arenas matches up to Kristine’s vocals bursts of red in the face anger and gets into her own detached indifference trance when you see her play drums live. I appreciate their bassist, Bianca Ayala who keeps a steady beat, however, she allows breathing room to be mercurial and match the chaotic push and pull of The Tissues song structure.
Related artists: Teenage Jesus & The Jerks (vocals), Pylon.
For the follow : @thetissues
Dead Dawn closed out Clairvoid fest with howls to hone in on that melting pot of subterranean culture grime of Los Angeles sound. China Morbosa (vox) delivered breathy ‘lived many a lifetime’ vocals that burst out into moments of punk outcast scream. Their music focuses on esoteric gothic superstition and emaciated lonely wanderer with a switchblade attitude. Brandon Loyd Burkart showed up with cymbals all warped to add to the appeal of their beaten down, but not dead yet motifs. Guitarist, Abilene Fawn creates a fuzzed out distortion sound that bounces off that lonely back alley way in the memory at the furthest reaches of your mind. Gabriel Rebagliati bursts out with bass hooks
Related Artists: Cherie Curie, Joan Jet, Cat Power,
Sonic Youth (Rather Ripped album mood), Dead Boys
For the follow: @dead.dawn
Words/Photos: Grace Dunn
