[ATTENDED: March 1, 2022] Model/Actriz
I hadn’t heard of this band. I looked them up online and listened to the first song that came on and didn’t think that much of it–a kind of aggro dance-punk with a spoken lyric delivery.
When I saw the lineup, I wished that Model/Actriz went on first so I wouldn’t miss any Gully Boys.
But then Model/Actriz came out. [The really cool thing about Elsewhere was that they posted the time the bands were scheduled to go on, so you could adjust your purchases accordingly. They also had this really cool wristband that somehow connected to your credit card–you were only allowed to use the wristband to buy things at the bar. High tech!]
There was drummer Ruben Radlauer, bassist Aaron Shapiro (who looked like actor Connor Swindells from Sex Education) and guitarist Jack Wetmore. And they proceeded to make an unholy but wonderful racket.
Singer Cole Haden came out on stage a moment later with a gorgeous, glinting metallic headpiece on. They told us their friend had made it for the show. It was like a tiara that hung down into his face–not ideal for the intense performance he would put on, but arresting nonetheless.
The band plays a fantastic cacophony–with sharp guitars and a bass that often sounds more like a drum thump. For the most part, Haden speaks over the noise, but he occasionally screams as well.
The set was really intense and I was pleasantly surprised to see all of these grls pogoing around to it.
After about three songs (who can tell how long these songs actually are), Cole came down into the audience. They sang with some people, went all the way over to the stairwell and walked back through the crowd right next to me. I had totally lost them in the crowd since there was no spotlight.
At one point at the end of a song, Cole screamed really loudly and then looped the scream and then manipulated it to make an intense wall of sound that they kept up for a good forty seconds.
Back on stage, Cole removed the sportscoat to reveal a striking undergarment (Cole Haden is a born performer).
Cole told us their grandparents were in the audience and he made some amusing comments about the two of them. Then Cole went back to sing by them (I think–there was a very old-looking guy back there). Cole climbed on all kinds of structures back there as well.
On the way back to the stage, Cole brushed right by me again and then turned and sang right into the face of a girl standing next to me. For a solid twenty second. It was pretty intense.
By then we were all exhausted and then band played another song or two and that was that.
It was such a spectacular performance. And even though Cole was the person you wanted to watch. i also couldn’t stop watching the band. The sounds they were making were insane and cool. And it was somehow abrasive and catchy at the same time.
No one seems to have kept track of their songs on setlist so I really have no idea what they played. Maybe I’ll be able to figure out a few songs after listening to the playback of the videos.
SETLIST
Leave a Reply