King’s X / Klone
12 April 2011
Electric Ballroom, London
Finding a suitable support band for King’s X is a difficult task, with the Houston band carrying such a unique sound. However, Klone turned out to be one of the most enjoyable choices I’ve experienced. Having picked up the band’s latest album Black Days in advance of the show, we made sure we were in the initially sparse Electric Ballroom in advance of their appearance.
Noting Matthieu Metzger credited with keyboards on the album, I had expected much use of that instrument, particularly for the ambient sounds. However, Metzger’s involvement was much more impressive, creating the sounds for the introduction to Rite Of Passage using a soprano saxophone and a serious of pedals on a table in front of him. Whilst employing that instrument through the set, Metzger also used a bizarre contraption that looked like a bong hooked up to what I believe he calls a systole device, consisting of filters and pedals. The effects were both striking and fascinating and provided a more organic sound than a keyboard would create.
With a remarkable sound from the off, the rest of the band were no slouches either and combined to create a modern progressive sound with Tool as an obvious reference point. Much to the annoyance of the photographers, the band appeared in silhouette, however the changing colours behind them worked well with the hypnotic music. With six members on stage, space was tight and whilst ventures around the stage were impossible, each member of Klone writhed insitue, engrossed in their own piece of the progressive puzzle.
The soaring vocals of Yann Ligner gave Rain Bird a more instant appeal, whilst the lumbering Immaculate Desire with its massive plodding riff provided a monolithic sound to become engrossed in. Ligner departed the stage as the band ran through the instrumental Closed Season (Interlude) complete with Metger’s frantic saxophone solo.
Give Up The Rest, with its hypnotic conclusion, was a great way to wrap up the set to a warm response from the growing crowd. Speaking to Ligner after, the band currently has no immediate plans to return to our shores and I do hope that changes.
Klone setlist:
Rite Of Passage / Promises / Rain Bird / Empire Of Shame / Immaculate Desire / Closed Season (Interlude) / The Spell Is Cast / Give Up The Rest
  
Often if you’ve had a brilliant holiday, had a great night out or been to an awesome gig, it’s best to not try recreate it. Two years ago King’s X filmed their gig at this venue for the Live Love In London DVD. Everything was perfect that night, from a pumped up packed crowd, to the sound and the band themselves.Matching up to that evening was going to be near impossible and whilst this was still a great gig to attend, memories of the last show kept creeping back.
Getting the comparisons out of the way, firstly the venue was nowhere near as busy, though as this time regional dates occurred, hence less people travelling to London for the show, it wasn’t really a surprise. As a result the audience response didn’t match up, though the singing of the whole of Goldilox by the crowd was still impressive. The sound quality wasn’t a patch on the DVD show and the setlist was three songs shorter. Whether this all affected the band I don’t know but whilst their playing was as ever spot on, they didn’t seem to be as absorbed in the show.
However, whilst I’ve seen better King’s X shows, I haven’t seen a bad one. It kicked off in a relaxed fashion with the band simply wandering onto the stage and Doug Pinnick almost shyly saying “Hello!” into the microphone. Groove Machine led us to The Train where guitarist Ty Tabor took the lead vocal. Following the heavy riffs of What Is This, Pinnick noted “There’s something about coming to London, you guys give us so much love.”
Complain and Pillow were two nice additions to the setlist, with the crowd bursting into a spontaneous chant of “Jerry, Jerry!” at the conclusion of the later. Taking a moment to let the drummer have his moment, Pinnick casually confirmed “That’s Jerry Gaskill”.
Pinnick brought out his monstrous 12 string bass for Pray, giving the song a huge sound, as the band stood bathed in red light. Meanwhile an energetic Dogman led Pinnick to lift the hat he wore throughout the set and fan himself, though the 60 year old frontman packs far more energy than most of his age.
The big crowd pleasers packed out the end of the set with Summerland and the previously mentioned Goldilox providing the sing-along moments. Meanwhile Over My Head squeezed the most bounce out of the crowd with Pinnick welcoming us mid song to “The first church of rock’n’roll. With my watch indicating 10pm, it was then a surprise when Pinnick announced the next song Visions would be the last song, as the band were going to use the rest of the time up to curfew to meet and greet everyone at the merch stand. Whilst I do think that is a great gesture, personally I’d have preferred a few more songs.
Whilst not my top King’s X gig, tonight was once again a worthwhile evening in the company of the Texans and I look forward to their return following a new album.
King’s X setlist:
Groove Machine / The Train / What Is This / Complain / Black Flag / Alright / In The New Age / Pillow / Pray / Dogman / Go Tell Somebody / Summerland / We Were Born to be Loved / Goldilox / Over My Head / Visions
  
LINKS:
http://www.kingsxrocks.com
http://www.kloneband.net
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