Just got back from this gig about an hour ago. Overall I'll give it a 5/10. Katatonia performed to perfection, as did Moonspell. Yet something was severely lacking from the atmosphere. It didn't have a big time feel. We arrived at around 7pm and noticed a disgusting line out front of the whisky a-gay-gay. This lead us to head in the opposite direction and go to amoeba music, which to our dismay, but not our surprise, was riddled with cancerous humanity. After a handful of minutes we high tailed it out of that Emoporium and treaded onward to the venue. As we arrived for the second time we noticed Keen of the Crow on the side of the street with some of their gear. Obviously we had missed their performance. First band up was Amon Isis of Hoboken Chile, meh meh meh. The lead singer was a girl who had her tampon on too tight. Broad couldn't shut her trap long enough to chew on a sandwich, yet at the same time she was quite appealing on the eyes. She may have received indifference as opposed to animosity if she would lay off the between song chit chat and not be OCD about her britches. Her damn leather pants kept on sagging past her navel and she obsessively pulled at them like an eager beaver. Half way in to the set came her partner for duel vocals, a rather rotund ragamuffin wearing an outfit that would commonly be seen at a burlesque show. Bah big thumbs down on this one.
Several minutes later we run in to Metal Amy of Heathen Crusade fame. We asked her if she was going to the second annual in which she replied "I'm going to try." We smelled her void of halitosis rose petal fragranced breath and voyaged to the merchandise table. I myself picked up a nice plain logo Moonspell shirt, along with a Katatonia hoodie. Prices were a little steep, but what can ye do?
Afterwards, we hiked on back to the car to drop off our goods and take a nice soothing piss in a stairwell. A homeless african american will have a pleasant slumber tonight. As we returned we caught the final song of Daylight Dies and began to notice that our backs were no longer up to the tedious task of standing around for hours on end watching bands perform. At this moment I wish I was at the theaters watching Borat. Oh well. Anyhow, out come Katatonia to a thunderous ovation, as overweight gothic chicks and 4 ft 11 inch tall long haired mexicans who look like Chilean strippers threw up the horns in jubilation. I in bewilderment, stood idly by grimacing that I must be surrounded by such disgusting gothic filth. Can people just dress like normal human beings for fuck sakes?!?! I seen a 300lb profanity doppleganger, dawning mascera and wearing tribal hair patterns. His head looked as if his barber had down syndrome. I wish a stillbirth upon his offspring, if he is ever fortunate to land a fellow disproportioned switchblade symphony loving locklear of the night. But I digress, Katatonia came on and played to perfection for a good 10+ jams. 90% of the material came from the Great Cold Distance and Viva Emptiness. May I announce that Blackheim is a fucking God among men. I was seriously enthralled by his guitar mastery and backing vocals that awoke the dead in the neighboring "Rock Hudson Celebrity Cemetary for the disenfranchised". I could of went for some more material from yesteryear, but obviously the new era fans needed to be catered to.
Moonspell was quite nice. Fernando has excellent stage presence. He figuratively grabs you by the balls and commands your attention. The setlist was a big step up from when I seen them tour with Opeth, due largely in part to the addition of several tunes from their latest high quality offering "Memorial". Pretty decent gig. I'll give the music a 9/10, atmosphere a 2/10, people a big fat negative 2. The lowest common denominator was in attendance tonight. Hey I'm not trying to get on my high horse and come off as some sort of high brow bloke, but I am a cultured culturalist and know a douchebag when I see one. So take my word for it.
I'd like to also give A big hearty F U to the security staff who acted like nazis pushing myself and several others out of the way to bully two good blokes who were simply resting on the floor between sets. If you're in Los Angeles, and are within the sight of my typed words, stay away from the Whiskey. Shit hole with a capital corn!
