March 2, 2024 – La Tulipe, Montreal, Quebec
It was that time of year again for our annual all-nighter celebration in a city that never sleeps – nuit blanche, as we call it, and this year with the wonderful Twin Temple and Vowws intown to help us celebrate it.
This year marked a special occasion, and the rain wasn’t going to slow us down. As Montrealer’s, we’re used to getting all weather in one day. Kicking off the evening with some Satanic do-op, complete with plenty of dark-wave, industrial atmospheric death pop. La Tulipe was the perfect venue choice for the evenings rituals. .
See Also: Municipal Waste at Foufounes Electriques, Montreal
Housed in an old movie theater that was transformed into a quaint performance venue, now famous for its burlesque shows. It oozed with charm like both bands on the God is Dead Tour.
Vowws
Photo by Laura Collins.
I was excited to catch the openers, Vowws, an Australian duo I had discovered during a deep dive for new music. Singer keyboardist Rizz Khanjani and guitarist Matt James spent most of the set cloaked in darkness, with smoke and strobe lights perfectly synced to highlight just enough of their faces.
Photo by Laura Collins.
Rizz’s face was adorned in white with smeared black eyes, adding to the theatrical theme of the soiree. The extra talent from a live drummer made a significant difference, even for the simplest of beats. I could see how anyone who is a fan of Trent Reznor’s many projects would be into this.
The crowd was starting to warm up to the music, some already in a trance. With the muted and distorted sounds of Rizz’s voice coming through what looked like and trucker shortwave radio mic. I had my eyes closed, really soaking it all in, although I was also pretty blinded by the strobes from my vantage point. It was a great start to what would be an unforgettable evening.
The band played through most of the songs on their earlier release, “Under the World”. Though they deny being fans of eighties darkwave, I could hear Matt channeling Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode during the song “ESSEFF”. As a fan of Depeche Mode, this was a pleasant surprise, and I felt transported back to an era that I can only look back on through music.
Despite being coined as “death pop”, the band’s music is far from it ,in it’s inspiration. The songs come from Rizz’s embracing and accepting her darkness instead of always fighting against it. Having experienced plenty of racism and sexism while growing up, I admire any artist who can embrace what life hands them during the bleakest of times. This, in itself, is the definition of a true artist finding a perfect balance.
Gaining interest from big names like Gary Newman and Chino Moreno over the years has led to many collaborations and even invitations to play on huge tours. Sadly, I missed their short set during their visit with the Deftones and Gojira due to our terrible public transit system. However, looking back, I’m glad I did. The trio produced a wall of sound that hit you right in the face, especially if you didn’t know what to expect. It was easy to see why they were chosen to play in stadiums right away. I grabbed a few handmade patches after in hopes they might have had some vinyl for sale.
Twin Temple
With a crowd dressed to the nine, it was obvious that as tongue and cheek the band is, that we take our show attire seriously. Beautiful people rejoice to the sounds of Satan! Married duo Alexandra and Zachary James wore tailored rhinestone matching fifties outfits, embodying that era fully, with matching hair and make-up that was devilishly flawless. The imagery is represented in the background with a Baphomet alter. The ritual anointment of the crowd with unholy water began. With swords and chalices brought to the forefront of the stage.
Photo by Laura Collins.
Interacting between each song with the eager fans, asking repeatedly “Are you evil? Are you horny? “ Getting some cat calls back, nothing too crazy. With songs played over the night such as ‘Be a Slut’ or ‘Let’s Have Satanic Orgy’ the fans were tame compared to stories of actual sex acts happening at some of their shows.
The crowd was eating up every moment, singing and swaying to the song ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ A soulful tune, making reference to dying together in lust to join the twenty-seven club. Alexandra stylistically channeled the late Amy Winehouse in her vocal range.
With the rest of the band in the background dressed in black playing their crucial role in the overall sound. Holding matching hats and standing dead still when not playing. The saxophone always brings a show to a whole new level. We were even treated to a lovely rendition of the The Munster’s tv show opening theme song, while Alexandra took a bit of a repose.
‘Satan’s A Woman’ brought about a Satanic sing-along, as guitarist Zachary obsessively threw all his guitar picks into the eager crowd. Dividing the crowd down the middle pitting us against which side could praise Satan loudest. My side won by a landslide, but the prize was nowhere to be found, as Zachary ran out of guitar picks long ago. A horny rose was given out instead to the thorniest crowd member.
The band has faced so much controversy and misunderstanding due to their Satanic views and private practices. However, they remain unapologetic and confident in their beliefs. Public figures like Alex Jones have spread hate and incited protests against the band, but they have not let this deter them. They have found a creative way to channel the negativity into their show.
After being doxed publicly, it’s impressive to hear that they have incorporated hundreds of surplus bibles into their performance. The shredding of the lord’s word is a bold statement that showcases the band’s fearlessness and confidence. The souvenir bibles will serve as a lasting reminder of the band’s unapologetic spirit and their ability to turn hate into a positive and entertaining experience for their fans. Highlighted in the song Burn Your Bible.
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Winding down to the end with a long encore of God Is Dead, they brought out a life-like baby doll for the sacrifice. The lights cut right before the dagger did. The fans stayed cheering long after for more since it was still early.
Overall, Twin Temple’s live performances are a must-see for anyone who adores vintage rock and roll style, and a touch of the mystical magical. We were transported back to a simpler era with the help of Satan himself.
