Voltaire + Adrian H & The Wounds + Legion Within - El Corazon (Seattle; Jan. 29 2010)

The El Corazon 5th anniversary series of concerts started January 29, 2010 with an indie-gothic’s dream: Adrian H and The Wounds starting the evening, followed by the sinfully good Legion Within, and winding up with that love child of Shel Silverstein and Marilyn Manson, Voltaire.

The Portland group Adrian H and the Wounds swaggered through swirling stage fog and low green can lights to take the stage. Wrapped in black leather and steel studding from head to toe, Adrian growled through a hypnotizing set of songs from their self-titled CD, released last year. Pursuing the bass lines laid down by Shiggy, he slithered up and down his electric keyboard while Kelby Patterson stayed in the shadows and lent mournful echoes of sax. “The Old Church” is a beautiful example of the group’s ability to blend haunting piano and cigarette-smoke vocals into compelling liturgical alt-rock. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not depressing music. If anything, it gets right to the soul of your darkest thoughts and allows you to let the lyrics in. Broken Heart kept everything right on track, and even Becky came out and “sang” a few lines.

Adrian H and the Wounds was the perfect segue into Legion Within, a Seattle-area dark-industrial favorite. Vocalist William Wilson apologized in advance for performing with an injury he received while in California, but any limitations were absolutely nonexistent as they tore into their playlist. Material from their fourth album Mouth of Madness showcased stinging percussive beats and strong electronic distortions. The crowd was swept up from the start: El Corazon’s wooden floor was bouncing so hard it was impossible to get any photographs standing in the middle of the crowd. The spellbinding “Try To See Me” and “The Empire Is Burning” are spectacular examples of Wilson’s power and ability to connect with his fans.

Voltaire headlined the night’s lineup. He spent his time prior to his performance at the merch table meeting fans, something that is more and more rare at concerts. I introduced myself and he was irreverently gracious, a characteristic I was to learn that was to a great extent as responsible for his popularity in the Seattle goth music scene as his distinctive form of entertainment.

Like any child of perfect parents who represents the best traits of both, Voltaire blends baldly honest lyrics with byzantine musical arrangements. Tonight his only accompaniment was an acoustical guitar, which he put to good use, drawing his spur-of-the-moment set out to well over 80 minutes. Occasionally taking cues from his adoring audience, he bounded from favorites such as “Brains!”, ” When You’re Evil,” and “Death, Death, Devil, Devil, Evil, Evil Song” to a selection from Rocky Horror Show, “Science Fiction/Double Feature.” He paused often to allow the audience to participate, and brought a lucky fan up on stage when she said that she did indeed know every word to his songs.

Voltaire couches sly political satire and bruising commentary (“Alchemy Mondays”) with seemingly innocuous tunes, but listen long enough and you begin to realize that you’re standing in front of the guy your mom warned you about—and you’re not about to move—not til this song is done.

A lot has been written about Voltaire’s disturbing lyrics, especially the Ooky Spooky-era songs. But honestly, do you want to hear about the deforestation of the rainforest and that we are all going to die in 5 years if we don’t start recycling RIGHT NOW! . . . a rendition of impending doom wrapped in a rollicking sea chanty that also makes a fabulous drinking song (“This Ship’s Going Down”)?

I guess it’s all in the presentation.

El Corazon couldn’t have lined up acts that better satisfy the craving for hard alt-rock and showmanship like the three that were here tonight. Adrian H and the Wounds accompany Voltaire to Portland, and Legion Within are scheduled at The Crocodile in Seattle in February. Voltaire heads to New Jersey and Norway after Portland.

Voltaire said he no longer feels like he has to dress in costume when he comes out to Seattle (this makes his fifth appearance since 2009) because we are no longer his fans, we are his friends. As someone who hadn’t seen him perform before tonight, I can’t wait til my new friend comes back.

DOWNLOAD: Voltaire - When You're Evil (MP3) or Follow us for more Voltaire MP3s (Twitter)

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