The Horrors

The Horrors can't half make a change. Perhaps it's because they've been fans of industrial music ever since the release of their debut album Strange House in 2007. Just because you couldn't hear it didn't mean it wasn't there. Well, now it is.

It has been — quelle horreur — ten years since a bunch of goths from Southend in Essex left their early roots as a Screaming Lord Sutch-like novelty act to produce a psychedelic masterpiece in their second album,

Their first visit to Toronto for their debut album Strange House was one of my fave gigs of 2007, basically tied with Daft Punk.

They stopped into New York a few days ahead of its release for a intimate performance at Rough Trade NYC and on June 13 they returned for a slightly larger performance at Le Poisson Rouge for the second round of their tour as a part of LPR X, the venue’s celebration of their 10th anniversary.

It’s one of those few nights where you feel like rock and roll is dying. Playing in front of a mediocre sized crowd that undermines a band with a sound larger than what they’re given credit for, it was a performance-by-numbers night for the Horrors.

My typically calm walk from the parking ramp to the venue last night was interrupted by the buzz from Minneapolis celebrating Pride.

Kraftwerk, David Bowie, and Iggy Pop got the crowd digging that late seventies post-punk vibe, a theme that would be present throughout the entire night.