Hellcat Records Tour
W/ The Nekromantix, Orange, The Heart Attacks, Westbound Train
May 14, 2007
Opera House

Despite stage invasions, punches thrown, and poor sound; the Nekromantix managed to win over an almost filled Opera House this past Monday night on the recent Hellcat tour.

There were three opening bands before the Necromantix took the stage. The Westbound Trains from Boston, a catchy ska band that had half the floor skanking, was quite obviously the highlight of the three.

I was very happy that the venue was changed from the Mod Club to the Opera House (allegedly changed for a free show put on by Billy Talent), because I thought that Toronto’s legendary burlesque ballroom would be an excellent fit for a classic psychobilly freak-out and for once in a million shows the standard and incredibly over used smoke machine actually fit the bill. With lead singer/stand up bassist Kim Necroman’s signature coffin shaped bass center stage and beautiful gothic women dressed up in black wedding gowns, this was the perfect atmosphere.

The set, which ran the gambit of the Nekromantix catalogue, showcased intense speed, incredible skill, and an onstage ease. This confirmed just why the act has been a staple on the psychobilly circuit for years, despite various line-up changes.

While ripping through song after song, it became apparent that something was missing from making this a truly remarkable performance. That factor was the sound of Necroman’s stand up bass – although the self-constructed famed coffin shape masterpiece (once made out of a real child’s coffin) looked incredible, the sound it produced was that of an unplugged electric bass – not the deep heartbeat thick bass you hear and associate with the Nekromantix’ albums. Furthermore, this situation was not improved when three separate stage invasions (in the matter of two minutes) also in the words of Necroman “fucked up the bass.” These rambunctious acts of punk seriously halted the momentum of the show and resulted in a 10-minute drum solo while “things got sorted out.”

The Nekromantix were playing with love for their crowd that night, but they probably could have gone up on stage half heartedly, played and left and it still would have felt like sweet “necromance” to all the long time Nekro’ fans in attendance. I left the venue that night satisfied, with their catchy tune “Bloody Holiday” stuck in my head.


- Vivian Thomas 

Photo by Alex Hryshko









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