Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles-based doom metal band Faetooth released their sophomore album “Labyrinthine” recently, and they threw one awesome party for their fans at the Lodge Room. It was truly a night to celebrate the LA music scene as Faetooth included two other long-time local bands on the bill.
Their friends Street Play opened up the night. The two bands once played The Smell together and even had a former bandmate in common who played in both groups. The middle band was Iress, fronted by Michelle Malley, who was dubbed early on in their career as “the Adele of Doom.”
The Faetooth trio (bassist and vocalist Jenna Garcia, drummer Rah Kanan, and guitarist and vocalist Ari May) had Mozart’s Lacrimosa blasting through the venue as their entrance music. The song was part of his unfinished piece of work before his death. The band walked out onto the stage, kicking off the set with the opening track of their album “Iron Gate” that shook the venue floor like there was an earthquake. They proceeded to play the album from front to back (excluding “The Well”).
The fog machine worked overtime for “Hole” as Garcia and May stalked each other on stage. A much needed water break was needed to sooth those vocal chords that were already strained by the screaming of lyrics. “White Noise” overpowered the speakers that went haywire throughout the song. Those speakers were given a slight break at the opening of the meditative start to “Eviscerate.” That meditative sound ended halfway through the song.
Faetooth went through their album with a methodical and surgical fashion that had the crowd rocking their heads. That was especially true for the song “October.” After the final song of the album, “Meet Your Maker,” was performed the band headed off the stage, but there was obviously going to be an encore as Garcia spent some moments on stage tuning the bass before walking off stage.
The band came leaping onto the stage for their two encore songs. They ended the night with their most popular tune “Echolalia” that is off their debut album. The song provided another fun battle between guitar and bass and the crowd loved it.
As Iress did a brief tune up, the crowd screamed in response. The band started up with “Blush” and the crowd cheered away even more. It was evident that the Faetooth and Iress share a similar Los Angeles fan base. If there is one thing similar between the bands is that both love to scream out their lyrics.
Faetooth’s screams pierce the body while Malley roars with the fierceness of a tigress. It might have been a Faetooth night, but Iress got the audience response of the night. After asking for the lights to be turned pink, the band launched into the cover of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” As soon as the song ended, someone in the crowd yelled out, “Billie Iress!”
Iress is not just Malley. Bassist Michael Maldonado paced back and forth on the stage with powerful steps while stopping on occasion to showcase bold stances. Guitarist Graham Walker was as chill as one could be while playing to their slowcore metal sound. Drummer Glenn Chu made sure the band kept their aggressiveness.
Street Play put on an intense opening set. It was intense to such a degree that lead vocalist and guitarist Jenna Reynoza needed to fix up her guitar strap that had come undone by the workout. Reynoza had the audience conversation of the night. “What’s your favorite Christmas movie?” I’m not exactly sure she could focus on any one specific movie that was yelled out, but she did end up responding, “I love that one.”
Faetooth Setlist: Lacrimosa (intro music), Iron Gate, Death of Day, It Washes Over, Hole, White Noise, Eviscerate, October, Mater Dolorosa, Meet Your Maker. Encore: Naissance, Echolalia.
Iress Setlist: Blush, Ricochet, Falling, Ever Under, In Reverse, What Was I Made For? (Billie Eilish cover), Knell Mera, The Remaining.
Street Play Setlist: Can’t Say It out Loud, You Don’t Know, Sprawl, Samhain’s Delight, Heavy, Lycanthropy, Hard To Swallow, Dont Tell Ya Momma, Choke.
