BeatRoute Magazine B.C. print e-edition - August 2016

photo: Galen Robinson-Exo
Insane Clown Posse
Venue Nightclub
July 16, 2016
It’s an easy thing to hate on Detroit’s infamous rap duo,
the Insane Clown Posse (ICP). So easy that they’ve declared
themselves the “Most Hated Band in the World.” Witnessing
ICP live though, requires a more balanced take on things. For
one, Juggalos – ICP’s infamous fans – are very dedicated to this
duo. Taking to the venue hours before doors opened, Juggalos
and Juggalettes lined Granville Street in hoards, decked out in
facepaint and merch screaming “Woop woop!” the signature
chant of the Juggalo. Walking into the venue, you could
already smell the scent of Faygo in the air.
I went to the balcony to witness the show from afar, safe
from the spray of Faygo. What I noticed immediately is that
there’s no irony at play for ICP. They’re completely serious
about what they do. Sure, a big part of what they do is having
fun and acting ridiculous, but there is no “in-joke” and absolutely
no pretention about it. Furthermore, there was no DJ
on stage at any point. The duo of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope
were more than content having just themselves and their rotating
crew of Faygo replenishers and masked back-up dancers
onstage. Their fans didn’t seem to mind either. About three or
four songs into the set though, my plans crashed around me as
I took a face full of Faygo up in the balcony. As I cleared Faygo
out of my eyes and nose, I noticed the entire lighting and
sound rig at VENUE was completely covered in plastic wrap
and tarps.
At one point in the show, Violent J jumped off stage and
started to attack an audience member. I didn’t see what
started it, but J lived up to his name and targeted an audience
member with a vicious attack. Upon seeing his partner getting
swung at in the audience, Shaggy 2 Dope jumped off stage too
and punched the audience member in the face. It was at this
point security got involved and ICP returned to the stage. Seconds
later, there were dancing bears onstage throwing confetti
into the audience and both Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope were
acting as if nothing happened. Not even 15 minutes after the
outbreak, ICP wound their show up with what they call “Faygo
Armageddon,” inviting audience members onstage to spray all
the leftover soda around indiscriminately. What resulted was a
surreal spectacle, the likes of which I’ve never witnessed: a sort
of bacchanalian celebration of excess, except with people in
clown make up spraying soda.
This show was bizarre on many levels and actually felt more
like an “experience.” Something you truly had to see to believe.
I didn’t walk away from the show a fan but I gained perspective.
I also laughed a lot and met some interesting characters.
Still no word on how magnets work though.
• Joshua Erickson
Crystal Castles
The Commodore Ballroom
July 23, 2016
Crystal Castles’ new world tour has
kicked off just before the release of their
fourth album AMNESTY (I), which is the
band’s first without singer Alice Glass. As
most inquiring minds will want to know,
how does new band mate Edith Frances
measure up? Glass has been known
for her unsettling stage presence and
energetic vocals, and with the group’s
finely tunes aesthetic, a lot is resting on
Frances’ contribution to the live show.
Backed by their now fully owned
image of Madonna with a black eye, the
show at the Commodore Ballroom on
Saturday night seemed to definitively
mark that not much has changed for
their live show, and we can expect the
new album to be a continuation for the
group and their sound. Starting with
Frances strutting out and straddling
the mic stand, fully committed to the
Crystal Castles uniform, with giant docs,
sunglasses, pink hair, and a lit cigarette to
top it off.
Frances’ vocals are put to much the
same purpose as Glass’. She has a comparable,
if not better, range, and the set
list did not shy away from older material.
After opening with new track “Concrete,”
the show continued with the punky “Baptism,”
and “Suffocation” from their second
self-titled album. The set lasted an hour
and littered in new songs “Fleece” and
“Frail” among fan favorites like “Crimewave”
and “Not in Love.”
Just as it seemed Frances’ might have
been losing energy through the second
half of set, Ethan Kath took over the
helm for a brief DJ set that slid into
full on EDM. With thudding beats, and
strobe lights set to blind, Crystal Castles’
live show remains unapologetically maximalist,
intense, and danceable.
• Sydney Ball
photo: Lester Rajapakse
28 REVIEWS
August 2016