KMFDM at The House of Blues, Anaheim.  6/22/04

By Orren Merton

Having missed KMFDM the last time they came around the HOB in Anaheim, I was excited to see this show.  Last time did get to see them, the entire band from the Attack album was on hand, even Tim Skold (who'd already joined the Manson band) showed up for some great encores with them.  Before the show, Sascha was out, just hanging with the fans, seeming very down to earth and friendly--a very promising beginning.  KMFDM shows attract a very wide range of fans, from punks and metalheads, to industrial rivetheads and goths.  And this show attracted a very mixed crowd, and age group as well--from fans who looked older than the band, to teenagers accompanied by their parents.

The lights went down, and the opening band I read later was called Black: Japan took the stage.  If old transistor radios could vomit, this is what it would sound like.  And that's all we heard, for 45 minutes.  I believe that this group is in a sub-genre of industrial called "Power Noise" (forgive me if it's spelled "Noiz" or something posing for hip, but that's really just illiterate).  I walked outside with my entourage (don't you wish you were a reviewer, so you could write that you had an entourage?) and we were informed that this was the band of Sascha's roommate, or something like that.  If true, it would explain how a band this unforgivably poor would get stage time.  If there are any Power Noise fans out there who enjoy these guys, feel free to write me off as an aging goth who just doesn't get it.  You'd be right--I didn't get it at all.






When KMFDM took the stage, we were ready for some hard rocking, industrial flavored "Ultra Heavy Beat" and they served it up deliciously.  Raymond Watts sat out this tour, so their show was less sex-drenched, although Lucia purrs and roars quite alluringly. The musicians also tried to engage the audience, and Sascha was his usual self, part humor, part rage, first poking fun at Orange County (House of Blues is on Disney property), and a visibly angry Sascha introduced the song "Stars and Stripes" from the current record WWIII by spitting "This song is for that FUCKING CUNT Bush" and going off on a mini-rant.  And the music was driving, heavy, metallic, electronic, and catchy.  Just what you hope for at a KMFDM show.

In general, their show focused on songs from their 1998 album "Symbols" to their recent WWIII, with only a few older favorites such as "Drug Against War," "Light," and so on.  Although Jules was fighting throughout the set with guitar rig issues, the sound was generally good throughout, and the band kept the energy consistent throughout.  They played for a good 90 minutes, and left with the audience satisfied, but still wanting a few more--perhaps the best way to leave.

Overall, this was a very good show, perhaps not their best, but far better than most bands with their canned music and "safe" banter between songs.  That KMFDM is still able to connect with their audience, and that their audience, while not large, is still able to attract new younger fans, bodes well for their continued relevance.  In some small way, I like to think the world is more bearable with KMFDM around.
 
 

Heat attracts heat

Living proof here are some KMFDM fans.

All images by Caren Spitler

 
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