Live Review: Slimelight 14/8/21
Updated: Aug 19, 2021
528 days.. 528 excruciating days passed between my last proper Slimelight on March 7th 2020 (add probably another month on top since my last concert) and this perfect evening of bands in a glorious return to Slimes. Although that wait was horrible as were the withdrawals from my spiritual homes and live shows; Alongside the yearning to see friends again in that setting, and of course the tragic news of Mak - the co-founder of Slimelight's passing.. After all of that, I could not have hoped for a better evening of truly magical scope.
To see so many people and friends raving so hard to the music and enjoying what many have described this past week to me as 'A community temple where we all come to worship each other's company' was paradise in absolute.
A fitting moment for Mak's legacy..
To the Slimelight crew.. Thank you so much for one of the best nights of our collective lives. We love you!!
Review
J:Dead
The first ever live show from Jay's project J:Dead met all of my expectations and then blew them away. (Jay Taylor already being the live drummer of EBM/Synthpop bands such as Tactical Sekt, Tyske Ludder and Harmjoy.)
J:Dead's recent debut album of 'A Complicated Genocide' sounds gorgeous throughout, intermixed with softer vocals and occasional heavy, screamed filled sections that can feel like Human League one minute to a full on industrial metal band the next. I had no idea that Jay's vocals would be so very crisp and clear live however. Quite how he managed to walk that line between harmonic vocals and guttural growls is beyond me.
Honestly, he smashed that stage harder than any opening band has the right to and he did so with heaps of style and charisma. Of course, he left the heaviest track until last when thankfully the dance floor had packed with a half decent amount of people; Obviously lured in by the impressive music they had been overhearing, and he absolutely blew everyone away with that ending track. Pure class and I hope to see J:Dead on many more listings in future.