Tag Archives: industrial music

REVIEW: A Night of Dark Glamour: Aesthetic Perfection Takes the Stage (10-12-24)

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Chandler, AZ — On an unseasonably warm mid-October evening, Aesthetic Perfection brought their signature blend of dark electronic and industrial sounds to the Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds. Aesthetic Perfection is celebrated for their intense performances and thought-provoking lyrics, and on this summery evening, the band delivered an unforgettable performance while opening for Twin Temple and Till Lindemann.

Daniel Graves, Aesthetic Perfection - Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds
Daniel Graves (Vocalist), Aesthetic Perfection
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Founded by Daniel Graves – who is still the lead vocalist nearly 25 years after the band first came into existence – Aesthetic Perfection has a contagious energy. Graves noted several times that they weren’t very well-known, but that mattered very little to the audience. After all, what is there not to like? Graves is indomitable onstage, a whirlwind of sound and fury, mixing his nearly non-stop movements and animated expressions with a voice that switched between a vocal-fried metal growl and smooth as butter – something one would expect to hear in a Top 40 song from back when Casey Kasem was hosting the show.

Close-up of Daniel Graves of Aesthetic Perfection reaching out to the camera
Daniel Graves (Vocalist), Aesthetic Perfection
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Graves was joined onstage by NOIZITH who switched between the guitar and keyboard throughout the night. NOIZITH was known as PYRCE until recently, and before that, Julia Pierce from the band Cherri Bomb. NOIZITH is an incredibly talented artist, moving from rock to being a DJ and then stepping in to play with Aesthetic Perfection. Playing a sleek black Schecter guitar, NOIZITH made the remarkable look almost routine. Pacing from side to side, posing occasionally, and doing some dancing while shredding, it would be hard to picture another artist who could play off of Graves and his energy any better.

NOIZITH, Aesthetic Perfection - Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds
NOIZITH (Guitarist), Aesthetic Perfection
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

Rounding out the band was drummer Brooke Colucci, known better as “Rock Angel” to many fans who followed her on social media as she went from a 15-year-old phenom to a touring drummer at only 21. Formerly the drummer for the band Plush, Colucci made a name for herself with her drum cover of Tool’s “46 & 2” on YouTube. Colucci was the only one of the trio to stay stationary, in no small part due to the difficulty of moving a drum kit around the stage.

Brooke Colucci, Aesthetic Perfection - Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds
Brooke “Rock Angel” Colucci (Drummer), Aesthetic Perfection
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

The seven song setlist included a new single “Into the Void,” from the 3 song Bad Vibes EP. Casual goth/industrial music fans may note there is an undeniable Nine Inch Nails influence in the song – with perhaps some Marilyn Manson mixed in there for some good measure. They would be right, as the song was mixed by Sean Beaven, who mixed the aforementioned artists as well. 

Graves also made sure to mention the heat – which has stuck around, refusing to leave, much like the first clingy middle school boyfriend who just doesn’t get the damn hint – you know the one. He noted how little it bothered him, as he is a goth who grew up in the deserts of Southern California. This, of course, was tied to the song “Summer Goth,” which has an unexpected yet very welcomed reggae feel to it until you get halfway through and the breakdown reminds you that you are, indeed, at an Aesthetic Perfection show. The song’s vibes felt especially appropriate for the atmosphere of the outdoor concert.

Daniel Graves, Aesthetic Perfection - Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds
Daniel Graves (Vocalist), Aesthetic Perfection
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © All Rights Reserved

The final songs of the short setlist included “Gods & Gold,” “S E X,” “TOXIC,” “Rhythm + Control,” and “Love Like Lies.”

Aesthetic Perfection "Fall Goth Tour 2024" dates
Aesthetic Perfection “Fall Goth Tour 2024” dates

Aesthetic Perfection may not exactly be a household name for the casual music lover, and this is unfortunate. If you see them on the bill, make sure to check when they’re hitting the stage, get there a bit early, and be prepared for a sonic delight. Graves, NOIZITH, and Colucci are dark, charming characters, and they will absolutely win you over by the end of the show, even if you have never heard of them. This was the case this evening, with the audience eagerly raising their hands into the air at the behest of Graves, gladly posing for a photo behind the band before their set’s finale.

Aesthetic Perfection "Fall Goth Tour 2024" dates
Aesthetic Perfection “Fall Goth Tour 2024” dates

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

Photography © Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
All Rights Reserved.

There Is No Us Release “Fame Whore” Single & Video

Arizona-based Industrial Band Featuring Videographer/Photographer Jim Louvau & Andy Gerold (Ashes Divide)

PHOENIX – There Is No Us, the Phoenix-born industrial band featuring Andy Gerold (Ashes Divide, My Darling Murder) and photographer/videographer Jim Louvau (Chester Bennington, Jerry Cantrell), release their first single in five years with today’s arrival of “Fame Whore”. The video can be viewed here.

The track, which was produced by Sean Beaven (Nine Inch Nails, Slayer), is from the band’s forthcoming debut full-length album, with additional details about the Cleopatra Records’ release to be shared soon. The song can be streamed here.

“There are people who will go to any lengths for fame and power,” says Louvau. “Our society has embraced celebrating false idols, politicians, and the people they see in the media. This way of thinking has paved the way for untalented hacks, phonies, and people who are puppets to the idea that if you put enough lipstick on a pig it will become beautiful. ‘Fame Whore’ explores humans’ intense and unhealthy relationships with attention, drugs and the lust for stardom.”

There Is No Us is Jim Louvau (vocals, production, visuals), Andy Gerold (guitar), Jared Bakin (guitar), Eddie Lopez (bass) and Elias Mallin (drums). The band formed in 2015, releasing their debut EP, Farewell To Humanity that year. A follow-up EP, Generation of Failure, arrived in 2018. They attracted a cult following through performances with In Flames, Drowning Pool, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Stabbing Westward.

At the same time, the members also respectively paved their own paths. Gerold hit the road as a guitarist or bassist for everyone from Ashes Divide to Marilyn Manson, while Lovau worked with some of the most influential artists of all-time as a photographer and video director. His photography spanned studio and live shoots for Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Alice Cooper, Queens of the Stone Age, and late legends Chester Bennington and Scott Weiland. Collaborating with Tony Aguilera, he also helmed music videos for Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains, Killer Be Killed, and Exodus in addition to Fuck Content—the critically acclaimed Greg Puciato documentary. Meanwhile, Mallin held down the drums for the likes of Kesha, Noah Cyrus, and Hollywood Undead live.

There Is No Us online:

Featured photo (top) by Tony Aguilera



PHOTOS: Ikonoklast Hosts SINister Fetish Party & Concert at Joe’s Grotto 7-15-17

PHOENIX — With two stages to alternate between, Joe’s Grotto music venue has always been a favorite local spot for deliciously gritty punk & metal shows, and unusual performances. This made it an obvious venue of choice for a “sexy fetish party” like SINister  – calling out for Phoenix fans to rock out as their wildest, freaky selves. Amongst murky shadows of dimly lit stages and strobing rainbow LEDs, a true sense of community could be felt as this unique local scene came together to support a myriad of eye-catching, emerging artists.

Lucky for you, Burning Hot Events was on the scene to capture fans and performers alike. Our photo booth was hosted by our event photographer London Snow, who donned her very best sexy maid outfit — complete with a matching wig and frosty makeup perfection.

Photo Booth

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SINister Photo Booth - Joe's Grotto 7-15-17
SINister Photo Booth - Joe's Grotto 7-15-17

Organized as a birthday celebration for Ikonoklast vocalist, Jonah Foree, the night boasted a hard-hitting lineup including musical acts on the main stage like Scar Eater, Amensic, S.L.U.T. (Satanic League of Underground Techno), and of course Ikonoklast. Agents of LUST heated things up during the sets of both S.L.U.T. and Ikonoklast, sending arches of electrified metal sparks onto the dancers and into the crowd below.

The party also featured DJ Beautiful John, live body painting by El Spawk, and burlesque & fetish performances by Pain Proof Punks on the second stage. The performers on the second stage included Little Jae Sinclair, Lexi Locket, Katara Fox, Crystal Frost, Dr. Copperchops, Miss Wonderland, and Luna Sky.

Performer Photos

View Band Photo Albums:
S.L.U.T. | Amnestic | Scar Eater | Ikonoklast

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

Photography © Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
All Rights Reserved.