Smoke clouds filled the stage, turning the strobe lighting into a hazy, murky tone. In a prayer position, Wesley Eisold of Cold Cave knelt on the floor facing the band. What was he praying to—Was it an appreciation of the moment? At the start of the set, Eisold greeted the Boston crowd at Brighton Music Hall and said grimly, “Welcome to church.” He chuckled at his own words and shrugged, seemingly unsure what he meant either. Darkwave synth as a genre dabbles in dissecting religious contexts. On Cold Cave’s album Passion Depression, released last year, it follows suit in its lyricism.

Being in Boston once again, the shows always feel like a homecoming as Eisold began his musical career with hardcore punk band American Nightmare here. Many of the fans in the audience of this Cold Cave show will likely be at American Nightmare shows as well. His projects garner a passionate following. The moods are quite different between the bands, and it was fascinating to see Cold Cave finally after seeing AN so many times. A true performer, Eisold moves across the stage differently with each band and interacts with the crowd more warmly as Cold Cave naturally prompts. His voice is a clear, deep tone as opposed to the fast shouts of AN. Both create a different form of release and connection.

Even the stage lighting creates a different mood to assure there are different creative paths between the two bands. Unlike a hardcore show of bombastic movements on and off stage, Cold Cave feels like a performance for individuality.

Fans arrived at the show with gothic makeup and repressed smiles. Here, they are embraced for their individuality. With a sense of freedom in self, and swaying electronic beats led by Eisold’s wife Amy Lee, the crowd danced joyfully. The gender fluidity output of Eisold’s record label Heartworm Press offers a sense of safe space for listeners. Touring guitarist Anthony Anzaldo of Ceremony furthers a realm of gender joy with both masculine and femme vibes.

Perhaps all of this acceptance, and joy in live music is what makes Eisold reflect on the evening as church. Not as a connection to the performance ocuring on a Sunday, but more that fans were rejoicing in the community and celebrating life, coming together to feel the music and share in the joy of Cold Cave. It is a cathartic space to surround ourselves in at a live show.

Buzz Kull joined as opener all the way from Sydney, Australia. His stripped down set consisted of Marc Dwyer, an elaborate keyboard, and excellent lighting. The electronic beats with exclamation point lyrics turned the venue into a dark dance club to begin the evening. He thanked the audience and expressed gratitude, as this was the first time for the musician to visit our fair city. His sincerity and kindness were felt through the crowd as they danced away the week in this collective space of renewing live music.

 

Cold Cave

Buzz Kull