For the record release party of their acclaimed new album Ten Silver Drops the Secret Machines took on the best-kept venue in New York, The Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel. Unlike other shows held in the gorgeous room filled by gorgeous people, this one would not be on a stage slotted back against the wall. This evening would be an “in-the-round” performance, in the tradition of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
With the ballroom doubling as the arena from Bloodsport the Machines hauled their cosmic light show and their impressive chops onto the stage. The Brothers Curtis and Garza opened with a track from Ten Silver Drops, “Alone, Jealous, and Stoned,” which displays desperately connective singing and lyrics alongside the trio’s raw power. The opener segued via Brandon Curtis’s eerie keyboards into the propulsive “The Road Leads Where It’s Led” which literally blew all the other kids away.
The in-the-round format was unique and one needed to walk the circumference, dodging a film crew and slack jawed fans, to soak in all of the elements during the performance. The crushing kick drum that Josh Garza obliterated with each stomp sounded different depending on your angle. From certain site lines the power wasn’t as evident, but when standing in front of the kit, it exuded chest reverberating force.
Each song in the long and fulfilling 13-tune set was worthy of a highlight reel, a flat out grade-A performance, with new tracks standing toe to toe with "old" favorites. The punky with a surprising pinch of country feels of “Bring Your Friends” and “Lighting Blue Eyes” rampaged around the room full tilt. “Pharaoh’s Daughter” ended with a metallic breakdown that smashed 18 wheels strong into the dirty riffage of the new “Daddy’s in the Doldrums.” “Doldrums” sounded reminiscent of “Have A Cigar” mashed-up with Ministry’s “Scarecrow” – creepy and engaging.
Old favorites “You Were Chains” with its scenic climax, followed by “Nowhere Again”’s skirt raising attitude apparently ended the night as the Machines left the stage and a voice began to tell the crowd technical difficulties were cutting things short, but before the voice finished the announcement, the problems were heroically fixed by the crew. The boys encored with the hearty “Sad and Lonely”, containing the slyest of the bands put down lyrics, “Did you get your heartache and your head rush confused?” and the crunching “First Wave Intact”.
Fashionably dressed in black and bathed in white light, the band powered through “First Wave Intact” with Ben Curtis coaxing wails and screeches from his guitar as the madness of sound erupted all around him. The Secret Machines are on the doorstep of superstardom, the new album might make it all happen, and tonight’s intimate engagement made it obvious to all that they are ready for it as distortion rang out to end the show.
Send any comments and locations with good Guinness to [email protected]
