King’s X / To-Mera / Haken
22 January 2009
Camden Electric Ballroom, London


Haken were just wrapping up their set when we entered the Electric Ballroom. However, two members of the band were sticking around, with Tom MacLean moving from bass to guitar and Hen from guitar to keyboards for To-Mera.

I’d been quite fond of To-Mera’s debut Transcendental, which mixed Dream Theater like progressiveness with a harder edge and smoothed over by Julie Kiss’ lush vocals. However, follow up Delusions proved harder to swallow, heading further into progressive territories with the songs having less obvious hooks and more demonstrations of the band’s musical dexterity. Tonight’s opening song was apparently new and indicated that To-Mera will continue to follow the direction of their last album. It was followed by a song from Delusions that I couldn’t even recognize due to Kiss’ vocals being muffled in the mix.

There was a warm but reserved reception from the crowd to Mirage, though the attempt to get them clapping mid-song fell a little flat. Finally, Inside The Hourglass threw the lifeline of a catchy melody for the crowd to grasp on to and ensure that To-Mera left on a high. Supporting a band with such memorable songs as King’s X, you have to wonder whether To-Mera’s more instant material, such as the absent Blood, would have worked better. However, the band seemed to enjoy themselves and at times when they slip into over indulgent sections that border on showing off, you have to conclude that’s their main aim.

To-Mera set list:
? (new song) / ? / Mirage / Inside the Hourglass


The ecstatic cheer as a roadie walked out on stage to flash his torch at the sound desk, signifying it was time for King’s X to take the stage, really proved that tonight was about one band only. The warmth from the crowd as the three band members make their way onto the stage sent a buzz round the venue and you just felt that we were in for something special. This was confirmed as we were welcomed to the Groove Machine with one of the best live sounds I have ever experienced. It’s usual to expect a couple of songs before the sound settles but Doug Pinnick’s vocal was sounding amazing and Ty Tabor’s guitar solo was rich in sound.

The bouncy nature of Alright, from the band’s latest album XV, raised the atmosphere further featuring the first showing of King’s X trademark three part harmonies. Ty Tabor has credited the more retrospective Pleiades as being the genesis of the King’s X sound and it was welcome addition to the setlist.

At fifty-eight years young, Doug Pinnick ripped physique resembles that of Iggy Pop, with his six pack clear for all to see. Pinnick tells us that London is his favourite place to play and he’d wanted to record a DVD here for years. Tonight that was finally happening and will be well worth getting a copy of when it’s released.

The perfectly crafted Move from the new album leads us to What Is This from the band’s 1988 debut album which was lapped up by the crowd. Talking is kept to a minimum with comments from Pinnick such as “This one’s about when we were lost in Germany”, which was a pretty obvious clue. Pinnick appeared with his monstrous 12-string bass which ensured the gospel like Pray sounded enormous.

Each member of King’s X is integral to their sound and the crowd won’t let Jerry Gaskill think he’s forgotten at the back, with a chant of “Jerry”. Gaskill’s playing was skilful and technical, but economical when it needed to be and he proved a massive kit was not required. Meanwhile Ty Tabor, sporting a Jimi Hendrix shirt, showed why he his so highly regarded with his unique tone and emotional solos.

Gaskill took lead vocals for the more laid back Julie before the pace was picked up once more for Looking For Love. The two big hits from Gretchen Goes To Nebraska followed with, as always, an amazing rendition of Summerland, followed by Over My Head featuring an extended jam section. Over the top of this, Pinnick delivered a sermon on the power of music before calling on the audience, dubbed the King’s X choir, to supply their voices.

Where the King’s X choir really came into their own was for Goldilox, with the crowd singing the whole song on their own to the delighted looks of the band. Visions followed by Moanjam finally brought the evening to a close. This was my first gig of 2009 and it will be a very difficult one to top.

King’s X set list:
Groove Machine / Alright / Pleiades / Move / What Is This / Lost In Germany / Black Flag / Pray / Dogman / Go Tell Somebody / Julie / Looking For Love / Summerland / Over My Head / It’s Love / We Were Born To Be Loved / Goldilox / Visions / Moanjam



LINKS:
King’s X
To-Mera
Haken