Saturday June 25 Dayton’s electro-pop cult duo Curse of Cassandra played their last local show at Blind Bob’s heading out to tour the country and eventually go overseas. They will return to Ohio for a Cincinnati gig but otherwise will live the traveling regional, national vagabond lifestyle, converting one crowd to the Cult of Cats at a time. Proceeds of the show went to The Tenth Life cat adoption center in Dayton.
The evening was a diverse mix of bands and sounds with rock, electronic, techno, goth, pop and punk, inspiring some in the crowd to dance and sing along. No heavy music to mosh or headbang to that night. Local horror author JJ Philips was in attendance among others. With anywhere from two to eight people on stage during the night’s performances, Praey, Goodnight Goodnight, C.O.C. and Electro Cult Circus played out to the cruel summer heat.
A few shows into their formation Dayton’s Praey is a cross-blend hybrid of preset beats and music with live instruments. From the shoegaze ashes of Where the Nameless Dwell comes new material and experimentation with gothic rock vibes. They could be described as half techno-rock fusion and half tribute to the sounds of ‘80s gothic style with mixes of The Cure, Siouxsie, Duran Duran with some Eurythmical elements. Nathaniel Jobe, Jeffrey Linder, Charlie Andrews and Bryan Campbell have begun a new sound and dance. There’s nothing wrong with doing a cover of a cover so they started off with a stirring rendition of Gary Jules version of Mad World. They gave Hungry Lucy some love in a Depeche kind of way on Blue Dress. Originals ranged from atmospheric to ambient with hints of shoegaze and a goth club dance floor after midnight vibe with moods of beautiful depression to multi-emotional blood-letting. For Only Me carried a gloomy, subdued melancholy while closer Book of Love ended with a happy, bouncy punk vibe.
Formed in early 2015 Dayton’s alt experience Goodnight Goodnight’s nine song set consisted of tunes ranging from electronic grandeur to shoegaze with a smile, in the vein of Moira, Able Danger and Hungry Lucy. Sorry started with shoegaze ambiance with whispers of folk and indie pop. Secret sounded new wave, electro rock with classical keys. Water had a more rock vibe while Laura had some Madonna influence. Plan on Playing began with air slicing keys blending in an atmospheric Pink Floyd dream cloud with dramatic grandeur, ending in eerie serenity. Was it worth It’s ethereal rays of sunshine were illuminated by Amanda’s vocals and Gary’s crashing guitar. Their current EP Don’t Fade Out is available.
Curse of Cassandra came on with an amped up stage presentation with psychedelic lights, the lighted broom stick mic stand and some bewitching energy.
They played most of the Cult of Cats CD going old-school on a tune from their debut EP. Darkborn started with a black cloaked Richter, cloaked in crimson light beginning the seduction.
The waves of history and memory came to shore on Ghost of Me. Jacob got a chance on the mic on Falling. The playful Dragon on a Leash brought out the party atmosphere. The summer heat and music brought out the hedonism on Stardust escalating into an old-school Binding experience.
We will not Hide was dedicated to the Orlando victims. They ended with the cold subtle touch of Carpe Noctem.
Three’s a crowd but Columbus’s Electro Circus Cult could be a traveling musical family with at least eight members occupying the stage and one MIA belly-dancer. Kind of like the B52’s, Skynyrd and early versions of Evil Eye Gypsy with a ‘60s groove. A bit of an oddity with bits of psychedelic, folk, and acid rock, with some punk, indie influence and a violin player. No acid needed to enjoy this beach party trip. There’s always a party in a traveling caravan.
Oh No (Keep it Alive) started with a rockabilly ‘70s prog feel, See Things had an opening acoustic indie feel, dreamy yet tranquil and trippy. Why’s reggae sway and swing brought out the good vibes. They played a shout out to their favorite habitat by way of Milwaukee, New Orleans with some hippie shake.
$100 was donated to the shelter for food, litter, medicine and supplies.
JJ Philips will be signing copies of her novel Parental Bloodshed at Septembers Horrorhound Weekend in Indianapolis.
Images by Mike Ritchie
