The Killer and The Martyr started the show, illuminated in the yellows and violets of the stage lights above. As the music commenced, I sensed that this show would not disappoint. By the third song, I was convinced that the bands' appeal to me was delivered through the ethereal vocal reverb of singer, Christian Haberkern, and distinct accompaniment of keyboardist, Sam Epstein, reminiscent of The Doors at their finest. In fact, at one point, "Riders on the Storm" slipped so easily into my forebrain that the comparison to The Doors became undeniable.

Wake of the Titan stepped up next and sound-checked with an impressive line or two from "Bohemian Rhapsody". Once the band was set to roll, confusion beset me as I watched the guitarist and bassist beat on the back of their instruments. They were pounding on the back of their instruments, yet a strong, penetrating musical creation was produced through this incessant pulsate, leading into a fully instrumental song that succeeded in highlighting the genius of each band member and simultaneously inducing chills.

Wake of the Titan

They almost became a 3-in-1 entity on stage, perfectly balanced and flawlessly coordinated in their sonic explosions. Vocalist/guitarist, Jake Merritt, relished in his elaborate guitar work, playing with such rapture, it left no doubt that every note he played up and down and all over those frets were resounding straight through his being and out of the speakers. Not only were these guys impressive on their instruments, but their lyrics indulge in reflections of the deeper matters of life and society. Lyrics such as "you will live for ages, but you will still grow old" touch on themes like immortality, time, or existence, while other songs contain a political perspective that "people are for sale," and of the government composition of corruption and hypocrites. And, by the way, they gave their CD, Goodnight Cold Earth, out for free and I'm pretty sure every single one of them got snatched up that night!

But, Wake of the Titan was not the only band giving out free CDs. The night's headliner, Lions and Scissors, also offered their album, Lucid, free for all and gave the audience permission to "burn copies or burn it!" Lead singer Chad Yochum promptly thanked the two bands before his for playing and joked that they were "killer" and "titanic." Upon warning us that those will not be his only witticisms of the evening, the band started in on their set. It didn't take more than five minutes to become mesmerized. Their sound bears much resemblance to Muse and some to Radiohead, but they manage to break away from these two giants through powerful moments of erotic distortion and an air that they'd be unwilling to accept this comparison.

Lions and Scissors

Not only does Yochum tell jokes, he also pays attention to his dreams. He prefaced several songs with a brief recapitulation of his subconscious mind, one of which he was feeling trapped in a "SAW" movie. When Lions and Scissors were not telling jokes or retelling dreams, they produced melodically arcane music, while Yochum switched between his guitar and the Wurlitzer without a glitch. The set ended with what Yochum called their only happy song, which provoked sadness from me. Before the song ended, Yochum had dropped his mic and pretentiously fled the stage, leaving the rest of the band to follow the tune out to completion.

This was a Grade A show, and I don't mean angus, I mean AMAZING!