The Black Angels and The Warlocks graced Seattle with two sold out shows, back to back, Wednesday night at Neumo’s for the benefit of Noise for the Needy. There was some serious love in the room for these two bands- for good reason. Directions To See a Ghost is the second album The Black Angels have released through local indie label Light in The Attic Records and their haunting lyrics and psychedelic drone really play to the times. This is no jam band, folks. The music is meant to infiltrate your mind and stir you up inside with lyrics of war, self-obsession, death, corruption, and more war. Not exactly dinner party music but when you combine a full house of savvy music lovers, a stage full of sexy Austin musicians, a projectionist and live freestyle artist, and “Native American drone roll” coming out of 8 ft speakers…. you not only have a concert; you have a transformative portal of thought-sound. Listening becomes an experience of being swept out to sea by a big, dark storm that forces you into a re-evaluation. Your daily existence stands trial and in the tidal wave of their sound, you are torn apart but left feeling re-focused.
Singer Alex Maas has an undeniably potent stage presence without a trace of the cold pretension that so often alienates a crowd from a popular band. Perhaps that is why The Black Angels are not merely popular, but well-loved. He moves from full bodied singing to playing guitar to hitting the keys to peddle pressing with a certain kind of energy that makes you think of Jim Morrison meets Sitting Bull, pure intent meets poetry. Or maybe it is guitarist Christian Bland’s transcendental string fingering against Adam Demetri’s 16foot 16mm film projections and psychedelic oils. One lady less this year, Christian takes over the drone machine for former member Jennifer Raines. Meanwhile, blonde rebel beauty Stephanie Bailey keeps the beat and holds down the drums like a warrior while Kyle Hunt switches it up with percussion, bass, and guitar. Nate Ryan is not to be ignored on bass.
There was a deeper resonance that emerged from the set that somehow spoke to their growth as band. After their recent European tour and now on yet another mammoth North American tour, it goes without saying that they’ve earned a few belt notches in the experience department. That being said- the synergy between them as they often switched up instruments, taking turns with the drums or backup vocals, lent a kind of new light to their stage presence. By the end of their encore, it was without question that The Black Angels are beloved of Seattle. And I would like to thank them and all the bands that played for Noise for the Needy concerts.
From Seattle, with love.
Full Stage Black Angels
Alex Maas of The Black Angels
