Wax Idols endings and beginnings

WAX IDOLS

HOUSES OF HEAVEN

FOIE GRAS

THE HI HAT, LA

16 JUNE, 2018

In the midst of York Blvd, the old Highland Park Billiards has found a new lease on life as live music venue The Hi Hat. In a nod to it's previous life, a few of the tables remain in front by the bar, while the back has been opened up with a stage abutting the brick walls, open space in the middle and steps to sit on, attached to the sound booth facing, it's an ideal setup. Wax Idols were in town, ending this leg of tour with a release show for their latest effort, Happy Ending, out now on their own label, Etruscan Gold. As always, the biggest pleasure is watching the new songs explode in a live setting, and the set was laced with the new, capped off by a guest appearance by previous bassist Marisa Prieto, to add vocals to her contribution, "Devour". In July, the band will head south for a series of dates in Mexico.
Keeping it, as per usual, a family affair, the show also featured Houses Of Heaven and soon to be LA resident and flyer artist Foie Gras. Foie kicked off the night with a set that found a luminous side to the darkness, making room for a Brian Eno cover along the way. Houses of Heaven was a highlight last year, and have only grown since, increasing both the tightness and the immensity of their sound, with this evening's set previewing a clutch of songs on a forthcomiing LP from Felte Records.

WAX IDOLS

HOUSES OF HEAVEN

FOIE GRAS

Echo Park Rising: Wax Idols

ECHO PARK RISING: WAX IDOLS

ORIGAMI VINYL, ECHO PARK, LA

15 AUGUST, 2015

After stepping back from her stint as touring bassist in White Lung, Hether Fortune finished tracking the newest Wax Idols LP American Tragic, (due out in October via Collect Records), and started to get the machine in motion again. The Origami Vinyl showcase at Echo Park Rising was the perfect place to road test two new band members, (Marissa and Peter), and the new songs, in preparation for the national tour in October/November. Blitzing through a set that started heavy with "Sound of a Void", "Dethrone" and "Ad Re Ian" from Discipline + Desire, they moved mid set into the new songs, with Fortune stepping back from guitar to focus on the songs, and even drop a quick rap. New man Peter earned his stripes here, covering all the guitar ably. Marissa stepped into large shoes filling the bass chair, but pulled it off with steady runs and backup vocals. The LA native seemed to have most of her family in attendance, which raised the energy level. The new songs are fascinating and a whole new level for Hether, and even in the imposing space of the loft of Origami Vinyl, the band seemed already in mid-tour form, fiery as ever. Check the amazing version of "Deborah" below, as well as live staple "Dethrone'.

Cultist Zine Birthday Bash!

CULTIST ZINE 2nd ANNIVERSARY

w/WHITE LUNG/CRIMINAL HYGIENE/

HELLER KELLER/WASHING MACHINES

THE ECHO, LA

27 JANUARY, 2014

Mish Way and Hether Fortune (White Lung)

Getting the ball rolling on a new year in a big way, The Echo in Los Angeles presented Cultist Zine's 2nd anniversary celebration with Washing Machines, Heller Keller, Criminal Hygiene, and topped off by Vancouver's White Lung. Thanks to the good folks at Altamont Apparel, this four band bill was absolutely free. Short of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, there will be little competition this year in the value for dollar department.

Washing Machines got the party started with a bang and rewarded the early birds with a startling set straddling tune craft and dissonant guitar flights. Heller Keller pushed the pace with a brutal thrashy set that took no prisoners.
Criminal Hygiene finished up their January residency of Monday night shows with a flourish, doling out their particular brand of straight-ahead four on the floor rock with a high energy level, as if the Replacements stayed in the functional window. They had the home field advantage, with a crowd primed for their set, and they took advantage. It's hard to believe it's been a year since their LP, CRMNL HYGNE-keep an eye out for a forthcoming EP entitled Withdrawn.
White Lung was the cherry on top, setting off a series of relentless melodic detonations. There are few modern front-persons as compelling as lead singer Mish Way. She commanded the proceedings with a fervor and kept the audience on their toes. As a side note, she also penned one of the best pieces of music writing I read last year for Talkhouse, a simple column on a song that sums up one's relationship to music better than I could ever hope to.
Focusing on their most recent LP, "Sorry", the set was short and brutal. Sidenote two: sitting in on bass, none other than Wax Idols' Hether Fortune, and she was the perfect counterpoint for Way, partnering with drummer Anne-Marie Vassilou to anchor the churning guitar of Kenny William. As evidenced by the evening, the core trio is in good form, and it will be interesting to see where their next album takes them.

Yasi (Cultist) takes the spotlight

balloons!

WASHING MACHINES

 HELLER KELLER

 CRIMINAL HYGIENE

 

WHITE FANG