August 22, 2015 | Posted in:Vellum News

 

In the center of the gritty Lower East Side resides Fat Baby. The lounge/nightclub is typical with bridge and tunnel clientele, DJs and VIP bottle service. Downstairs is a speakeasy for live music. The sub-level atmosphere recalls after hours clubs with a punk vibe that you might stumble upon in London. The wheat pasted stage displayed various cultural icons and Michelangelo’s David on the load-in stairs. His perfect form fading ever so slightly. Last night in these environs Vellum hosted a show to celebrate the upcoming release of its 15th issue.  It featured three emerging acts each with a unique dynamic sound. Crystal Noir and The Obscurity are labeled Gothic/Industrial which they fit in aesthetically, but musically lean more towards a bluesy style especially with Crystal’s smooth and sophisticated voice. Her vocals seemed to outshine the other four members and her stage presence is a cross between Glam queen and Maleficent. Next up was the ethereal Nox Cult. It was the first gig for the trio in four months and despite various nicks and picks they sounded incredible. The chemistry between its members produces such high energy which is infectious to the listener. It mirrors the feeling you get after strenuous exercise when endorphins are released.  Nox Cult opened with the scathing “With Knives” a track the band is currently working on to put out as their first single followed by a flawless rendition of  “Maniacs.” They debuted a new song which reminded me of the more obscure stuff Soda did in his last project (e) motion picture. In particular the way Nox Cult used different time signatures to showcase his broad vocal range. After tonight it was plain as day that the band hasn’t lost any of its charm since playing live in April and possess all the elements that make a great outfit. Closing the night was the experimental punk duo Aliens. The two misfits are Blake on guitar/vocals and Samm on drums/samples. I really dug their sound which offered hints of Sonic Youth and Gary Numan. Blake plays a mean six-string and Samm’s stick playing adds a minimalist element which works well with the songs.