Contact: evanjthomaspr@gmail.com
Web: lordsofacidofficial.com
Players: Praga Khan, keyboards, programming, backing vocals; Carla Harvey, vocals; Olivier Adams, percussion, keyboards, programming; DieTrich Thrall, bass
Belgian electronic rockers Lords of Acid sure know how to put on a show. The sex-obsessed party animals have been knocking around since 1988, when acid house musician Praga Khan got it into his nut that he wanted a band of his own, and so the Lords of Acid were born, appealing to fans of industrial rock/metal, as well as Khan’s existing house aficionados.
In the years since, the lineup has shifted with members coming in and out. Khan’s the constant—he’s the creative force. And there has always been a female frontperson, a strong woman to keep the crowd in check. Oddly but interestingly, a few of the former Lords of Acid singers and musicians have come together as of late, as the Queens of Acid.
At the Echoplex, in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles just as summer was kicking into gear, the Lords of Acid rolled into town and hosted the most gloriously hedonistic, debauched, and decadent gig that the region has seen in some time. With genres and genders blurred with equal enthusiasm, it felt very much like a throwback to the sort of Berlin cabaret vibes celebrated in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Each and every opening act brought it, from trans electro-rapper Mz. Neon to theatrical synth-pop stars-in-waiting Tony & the Kiki, from larger-than-life diva Princess Superstar to dark Denver crooners Dead on a Sunday. The whole event was about a celebration of sexual freedom, and freedom of sexuality. And in these dark times, that’s something to take Pride in.
All of that said, nobody was stealing Lords of Acid’s thunder. The most recent addition to the ranks is powerhouse singer Carla Harvey, formerly of the Butcher Babies and also a member of The Violent Hour. While previous LOA singers have had a sultry growl and coo, Harvey is a proper singer and it initially makes for an odd fit. She’s also a tremendous show-woman though, and the pairing works.
There are some new tunes, notably “Karaoke Superstar,” featuring guest vocals from the returning Princess Superstar. The dudes from Tony & the Kiki also pop back up for their recent collab with LOA—"El Mundo Está Loco.”
Meanwhile, Harvey does a great job on tunes from the early albums, including “Drink My Honey,” “Rough Sex/Take Control,” and the closing “I Sit on Acid.” There’s no subtlety here, but we don’t want any. The Echoplex simply embraced the filth and had a blast doing it.
