Matrix, Bochum, Germany
17th June 2011
Chameleons Vox, Neon Kross, The House of Usher
A little post-punk legend was on schedule this Friday evening with CHAMELEONS VOX, the updated version of THE CHAMELEONS. So there was lots of 80s feeling in the air this Friday and the support bands would support and strengthen those feelings fairly.
The House of Usher
In 1990, THE HOUSE OF USHER founded, back then still without any drummer, so a drum computer would be taking over that job until 1994 after the release of the debut album ‘Stars Fall Down’.1995 became a year of reformation and 1996 saw the release of the single ‘Succubus’ and in the following the album ‘Zephyre’, followed by a couple live gigs. Two years later in summer, The ‘Black Sunday Chronology’ was put out to the increasing fan base, who soon would be getting a self-released live CD of the tour they did with MIDNIGHT CONFIGURATION in 1999. Over ten years later, they’re still holding high the flags of a more classic direction of the Goth rock genre and have released their newest album ‘Pandoras Box’. THE HOUSE OF USHER is Jörg Kleudgen (vocals), Tom O’Connell (guitar), Georg Berher (guitar), Ralf Dunkel (bass) and Axel Burgard (drums). http://www.the-house-of-usher.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/thougothicrock
Music & Performance
An evening of 3 bands started with a real grandmaster of the 1980s classic Goth rock phase: THE HOUSE OF USHER! And first thing they did was bring the ‘Dark Prophecy’ to the little audience in front of the stage. More than ever before, Jörg Kleudgen seemed to have been sunken in his own world while sublimely performing the lyrics. Afterwards it was time to present some stuff off the new album ‘Pandora’s Box’ with ‘To The Glorious Dead’ and ‘How Far Can We Go’ that hit quite well with the crowd, amongst which you could find several long-time fans of the band. The one time Jörg left the stage was to the ballad ‘Where I Belong’ to a solely female vocal performance. Later on he complained that the lady’s been photographed more than him with a wink. Anyway, one a little too short performance came to an end after only 7 songs and left the crowd waiting for what’s to come next.
Setlist
01. Dark Prophecy
02. To The Glorious Dead
03. How Far Can We Go
04. Coming Home
05. Where I Belong
06. Finders Keepers
07. As It Really Is
Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 7
Sound: 7
Light: 6
Total: 7.3 / 10
Neon Kross
The initial idea of NEON KROSS was to have a band with a sound rooted in the early 1980s. Los Angeles based band was formed by Daniel deLeon (REZUREX, DEEP EYNDE) about 3 years ago and currently has a little album out, called ‘Not Human. NEON KROSS is Daniel deLeon (vocals, guitar), John McCoy (bass), Chinatsu (keyboard) and Jake (drums). http://www.neonkross.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/neonkross
Music & Performance
NEON KROSS I had only heard of in conjunction with this year’s Wave Gotik Treffen. The guys, most notably front man Daniel deLeon, were looking like punks of the 1980s and are already well known in their home area around Los Angeles, where they gained a strong fan base with their live performances. The sound they were going to present in the following, however, wasn’t so much punk-ish as it was inflicted with a glowing spirit of that eras’ wave music with an ever propulsive spirit living within. That much propulsive there was hardly any time in the set to catch a little breath before the next kick came. They threw down a rather minimalist performance that however never lacked a certain amount of fun. A band to keep a firm eye on. 
Setlist
01. 1984
02. Don’t Want
03. Not Human
04. Hanging Around
05. Downtown
06. A Number’s Game
07. Darkness
08. Dimensions
09. Spider Dance
10. Kill The Radio
Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 6
Sound: 7
Light: 7
Total: 6.8 / 10
Chameleons Vox
History starts with THE CHAMELEONS getting formed in 1981. They're standing in line with bands such as JOY DIVISION or ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, however never even getting close to the mentioned band's successes. Nevertheless, their first album 'Script Of The Bridge' is considered one of the most important records in Post-Punk today, and also the following little list of albums found not a little list of appreciators today. Due to death of manager and friend Tony Fletcher, the band disbanded in 1987. A reunion took place but never reached the class of early times again. Now, the voice of THE CHAMELEONS Mark Burgess starts anew with the CHAMELEONS VOX, incorporating besides him original drummer John Lever and adding two new guitarists and a bassist to the line-up. http://www.thechameleons.com / http://www.myspace.com/chameleonsvox
Music & Performance
In the minutes, leading up the band’s performance I began to fear it wouldn’t even become remotely as packed as it was when I first saw the CHAMELEONS VOX playing. But all of a sudden a lot more people were there, gathered close to the stage and hailed the band, led by Mark Burgess, who soon came on stage to start with ‘A Person Isn’t Safe Anywhere These Days’. The stereo guitar sound filled the room instantly and Burgess’ signature vocals got everyone hooked on to the track right away with sparkling eyes. ‘Looking Inwardly’ continued to get everyone back to a time when the band we now saw playing was still active as THE CHAMELEONS. 
Good to see that special sound they’ve created back then still has value in today’s world. It’s like drowning in a modern form of ‘Nostalgia’, one of the first songs to be extended with various instrumental sections. Then when the show reached its preliminary end the audience was that much persistent the band came back one more time with Burgess expressing his sincere gratitude to those who had come that night. The ended up coming back two more times playing songs such as ‘Monkeyland’ and leaving their crowd exhausted but happy. 
Setlist
01. A Person Isn’t Safe Anywhere These Days
02. Looking Inwardly
03. Up Down The Escalator
04. Tears
05. Nostalgia
06. In Answer
07. Soul In Isolation
08. Singing Rule Britannia
09. Caution
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10. In Shreds
11. Monkeyland
all in all, three encore blocks with about 6 additional songs containing furthermore Second Skin or Swamp Things and a Medley of 4 songs
Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 8
Sound: 9
Light: 8
Total: 8.2 / 10
All pictures by Daniela Vorndran (http://www.vorndranphotography.com / http://www.black-cat-net.de/ / www.myspace.com/vorndranphotography / www.facebook.com/blackcatnet)
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