Jonny Numb

Hello, all! In lieu of a write-up of the last handful of shows I’ve attended, I figured it might be more exciting (and less labor-intensive*) to simply do a drop of pictures and videos taken at said shows.

“Why this increased desire to capture these moments in time?” you may be (but probably aren’t) asking?

Perhaps it’s the onset of middle age…or just an affirmation of a sentimental side I tried to keep hidden for years…or maybe it’s because my current phone takes better pictures/video than any of my prior phones. (It’s not that people really take “good” pictures with their phones…it’s more that phones have become so idiot-proof that there’s no real excuse for a “bad” picture.)

Just know that each of these shows lived up to expectations and justified the sometimes-long night out.

I’ve hyperlinked to the bands’ official sites or Bandcamp pages, so if you like what you hear, go check out their music & merch offerings. Always support the artist!

Let’s proceed in chronological order, shall we?

Korine @ Metro Gallery (Baltimore, MD) – May 11, 2023:

Filter @ Lovedraft’s Brewing Co. (Mechanicsburg, PA) – May 30, 2023:

Moris Blak / Danny Blu / Nyxx / Eva X @ Bar XIII – June 17, 2023:

I also saw The Sisters of Mercy at The Fillmore in Philly on June 3, but didn’t take any photos or video. While I have a couple of their albums, I am not fanatical about their music. I found it kind of bizarre how the packed room only seemed to react with genuine excitement toward the well-known hits. Was great seeing A Primitive Evolution open for them, though.

After work on June 14, I took a trip to Phantom Power in Millersville to check out The Russian White and Solemn Shapes. Both bands are relatively recent finds, and I was lulled by the geographical closeness of PP, combined with the ever-reliable, PA-based Silver Walks and Faux Fear rounding out the bill. And as this occurred mere days before the Moris Blak show, to say I was jonesing for an old-school “Goth/Industrial Night” was an understatement.

The show wasn’t well-attended, but the performances were on point. This was my third time seeing Faux Fear (they’re playing a gig at the new Skid Row Garage on July 21), and my millionth seeing Silver Walks. I love Solemn Shapes’ “Loss” and “Animalism” EPs, and their set brought the energy. Same with The Russian White, who created an ominous atmosphere through distorted vocals, menacing synth noise, and moody lighting effects.

I also got to hang out and talk with Solemn Shapes vocalist/keyboardist Melanie Foxfire after the show, who told me a proper album was on the horizon this year, to be followed by another tour. Ditto the vocalist/keyboardist for The Russian White, who was very generous with his time (they were recently signed to Distortion Productions, which happens to be the home of Eva X).

All that said, I didn’t take any photos or video during that show, either. But considering how all of the bands are rising stars within the current Goth/Industrial niche, I’m anticipating more opportunities to see them on the horizon.

(* = this post entailed me uploading every video to YouTube – something I’ve never done before – so a simple update turned into a several-hour project. Go figure!)