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Psyclon Nine: Show divine
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Written by Annalee Fanning, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Exposing yourself to new experiences and situations is the heart of adolescence. A new situation I encountered recently was attending an industrial show.
The word industrial, as used in this article, describes a genre of music that combines harsh techno beats, heavily synthesized vocals, and a certain dark energy.
My companions and I went to see Psyclon Nine, an industrial band, on September 16. Imperative Reaction, a less intense alternative band, would be playing alongside them.
The show was at The Masquerade, a small but popular venue in Atlanta. Waiting in line to enter the venue, I noticed the sign had misspelled the band’s name as “PSYCLONE NINE,” with an extra “E.”
Finally entering, I was surprised by the size of the crowd. About 20 people were lounging at the bar tables or leaning against the empty stage. It took a while for the audience to accumulate to a more respectable number. Even then, there seemed to be no more than 150 people there at the climax of the evening.
After I waited and loitered for a couple of hours, the opening band got on stage. If I said the band’s performance was terrible, I would be grossly understating. The band, whose name seemed to escape everyone’s memory, was not industrial. The sad fact was that the members of the band all appeared over the age of 30, (or even 40); much older than the headlining bands’ members.
The next band was Imperative Reaction. Although the performance was drastically improved from the opener, it was not very memorable. Imperative Reaction’s music is a milder tone of techno, with a more familiar sound.
Fortunately, quite a few people had left when Imperative Reaction stopped playing. This allowed me to get an ideal position to see Psyclon Nine. I was directly against the stage, but to the right of the crowd- a safe distance away from any crowd brutality or moshing.
Nothing compared with the final act. Psyclon Nine emerged on stage one member at a time, shaking off coats of baby powder as they bounded to their positions. “Nero Bellum,” the lead singer, appeared last, sparking the most excitement.
The band as well as the audience was bathed in a ghoulish, bright green light. Powerful beats radiated from the speakers directly into my brain, probably because I was standing right beside them.
Nero’s vocals are best described as extremely synthesized raspy growls. Regardless of whether I could comprehend what Nero was saying, the music possessed me.
For the first time since childhood, I lost all my inhibitions in public. When I was not madly snapping pictures, I was dancing uncontrollably. It was such an amazing feeling; I was bursting with the same energy Psyclon Nine was radiating from the stage.
Near the end of the show, the heart of the crowd erupted with violence. An intimidating mosh pit had formed. A few people were hurt, but that might have been what they came for.
Feelings of immense freedom and throbbing vigor were abundant. With their attire complimenting their attitude, Psyclon Nine astounded me.
The show only cost $12 at the door, and it was unquestionably worth it. I had a fantastic time, and only a mild headache afterwards.
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December 14th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Well seems like you had a great time! If you don’t mind me asking how long did it really take for the band to come on? I mean yes i know there where other bands but I want to know more about the “main band”. Yet this does tell me alot I would love to hear alittle more like what type of people you met or maybe even the type of music was there not just Psyclon Nine. Thank you so much for your time
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Annalee Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
It took maybe an hour or two. It seemed like a long time, anyways. I met some very interesting “industial” kids. Twenty somethings wearing huge goth boots, tiny skirts, dread-falls, technicolor hair styles, etc. I high-fived a guy wearing a butcher’s apron spattered with fake blood, and my group still continues to communicate with a dude named Wesker who wore awesome contacts and other industrial gear.
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