By Andrew Bansal
July 17th 2013, Five Star Bar, Los Angeles CA: Having been to this venue several times in the past, I’ve always felt that it really carries a vibe that’s best for a doom metal show more than any other type of music. I’ve seen doom outfits like Mournful Congregation, Pendulous, Anhedonist and a few others put on some great shows here, and last night was yet another opportunity to experience a doom show in this setting. Lycus from Oakland CA were the headliners, along with Lake Ov Blood, Helen Money and Trapped Within Burning Machinery as the support acts. For the tiny size of the venue, the turnout even as I arrived at around 8:40 was great. The LA underground fraternity had turned up in numbers to support and enjoy this gig, and the bands participating in the evening’s live entertainment did not disappoint this crowd one bit.
Trapped Within Burning Machinery had already started playing by the time I arrived. This is a band I saw at the Whisky a Go Go just last week where they opened up for Weedeater (you can read my review of that show here). They impressed me at that show but this one was a much better gig for them, with a sound system that suited their doom/drone style more, a smaller room that amplified the power and impact of the music, and a more receptive audience that was enjoying what they were hearing. For fans of this musical style, this is a great local band worth checking out.
The artist I was most looking forward to seeing last night came up next, previously Chicago and now Los Angeles-based cellist Alison Chesley performing under the stage moniker Helen Money. Seeing a solo cellist playing her music all by herself was an entirely new experience for me, and I’m sure for almost everyone else in this crowd, and quite a mind-bending experience at that. I was familiar with her music through listening to the studio albums but its intensity grew tenfold in the live setting. The manner in which she made every single note ‘talk’ was very Pink Floyd-like. Many believe that there is a certain beauty in minimalism, and Helen Money vindicated the belief with her less-is-more approach. She had a multitude of pedals around her feet and she perfectly switched around all the effects she required to go along with the cello’s sound. Even though she is a local now, the feel of the vibrant Chicago scene was bleeding through her music. She had the crowd’s complete undivided attention through her 30-minute set and treated them with something truly unique.
Lake Ov Blood followed that with their funeral doom and played an excellent set, with probably more variation in their tunes than any of the other bands that played this show. They had a lot going on drum-wise and their twin guitar attack provided a melodic, melancholic touch to it all for a good portion of the set. They turned out to be the perfect support act for the show’s headliner Lycus who hit the stage at 11:40, after taking as long as 40 minutes to set up their gear. It always befuddles me when I see bands taking an eternity to do a simple guitar-bass-vocals-drums setup, but nonetheless, it would be fair to say that Lycus’ set was worth the long wait. Their doomy drone sounds were shattering the walls of the Five Star Bar. I feel that there is a real sense of expression coming through doom music and the musicians who play it. It’s something a musician simply cannot fake. I can go on describing it on here but for you to ‘get’ it, you would need to attend a doom show.
Overall, another fantastic evening of live music at the ever-amazing Five Star Bar. If you’re into doom, give all four of these artists a listen.