Gridlock :: LIVE @ DNA Lounge (Show Review)

::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::

Gridlock LIVE @ DNA Lounge with Pneumatic Detach, Antigen Shift and Aesthetic Perfection, 10-17-04.

833 image 1
(San Francisco, CA): If someone would have told me 6 years ago when I
decided to quietly “drop out” of the Industrial scene
that one day I’d be doing a write-up of an Industrial
show, I’d have told them to stop with their write-up
foolery
. Now, after the eve of Sunday, October 17th,
I’d be thanking them for thinking of me and asking if
they were going as well, being as this was no ordinary
Industrial show. Performing live for the first time
in the Bay Area in close to 3 years, Mike Cadoo and
Mike Wells were going to demonstrate their mastery as
Gridlock to the familiar as well as the uninitiated.
Armed with a blank piece of folded computer paper and
my Hawaii Hello Kitty pen amongst a small clique of
other writers with their chic digital gadgets in hand,
I knew I’d have a lot to write about.

833 image 2
Aesthetic Perfection first took the stage hostage with
our attention as ransom; they succeeded in collecting
it flawlessly with their premium blend of shredded
vocals and harsh electro beats, coaxing dancers onto
the floor – a rarity so early in the eve at shows, if
my memory serves. After their performance, I
overheard nameless voices uttering praises like
“Dope-ass old-school done right!!” and “Do they have
any releases??” I investigated and confirmed with
Aesthetic Perfection founder Daniel that their debut,
titled Close To Human will be available from
Bractune Records in February 2005.

833 image 3
Next up demonstrating sonic expertise was Antigen
Shift
, who charmed brutal atmospheres mixed with
insistent, crunchy beats that wouldn’t let the dancers
take a break out of his unusually minimal equipment
setup. I later learned that sometime during the
journey from Ottawa, Canada to San Francisco, the
airline had lost the baggage containing the equipment
originally intended for this performance. I’m mad
impressed the show went on without a missed beat for
Antigen Shift despite this obstacle, and after talking
with Nick himself, I hope this horrific experience
doesn’t sway him into avoiding any more shows in the
U.S. (Next To Departed review)

833 image 4
Warming the crowd up for the impending Gridlock
performance with a baptism of blistering power-noise,
Pneumatic Detach dispensed their aggressive narratives
that sounded like the 10x amplified decay of an
unearthly living organism with choreographed projected
visuals to match. Their performance was very
well-plotted to engage the crowd. Being a former
drummer playing piezo trigger-rigged PVC pipes, I
confess they won me over with the precise complex
drums of Justin Brink that made me want to tackle some
good old-fashioned electro beats myself.

Having never experienced Gridlock live outside of
listening to Live Traces (Review) on my headphones for long
plane rides, I felt every hair on my body stand on end
as the first droplets of “Pallid” filled the room with
its ominous presence before unveiling Gridlock’s
signature mix of cracked concrete beats and gorgeous
ambience with the projected visuals complementing
them. While everyone danced for the opening bands,
they stood stationary, entranced by the washes of
emotion that continued on “Return,” an eye-stinging
lullaby to an infantile machine. (Formless review)

833 image 5
By the time “UH4.17” and “Estrella” were making their
presence known with broken processed chords teasing
the dancers with impending beats; I became aware that
Gridlock had the crowd in their grip. It wouldn’t
have mattered if an earthquake hit when Cadoo
surprised the crowd by grabbing a microphone and
voicing his emotions during “Sever”, the energy in the
room alone was magnified enough to keep the Richter
scales busy.

Later, in the interim of not one but two encores,
voices bounced around the room shouting “Bu-Yaam!!”
and “Frantic!!” The beats that followed signaled that
Gridlock wasn’t about to leave before finishing us off
proper. By 12:30, they did not disappoint my
expectations. This was beyond Industrial or IDM,
despite what everyone else might label it – labels
wouldn’t do justice for what Gridlock has to offer in
any setting, especially in this live environment. I
must say this was well worth taking the next day off
of work, and I would not hesitate to do so again.

::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::

  • DNA Lounge Website
  • Dekonstrukt Website
  • Photos by Jamie Zawinski
    grid-pattern-300x250-v1b