Gridlock :: LIVE @ DNA Lounge (Show Review)

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

(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.

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.

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)

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)

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.

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• Photos by Jamie Zawinski