I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 11, 2024] Secret Chiefs 3: UR

I saw Secret Chiefs 3 seven years ago when they opened for Dead Cross.  They are a band created by Mr. Bungle’s Trey Spruance.  For that show the band came out all in hooded robes.  No one spoke.  One more note: Musicians tend to float in and out of SC3, so the concept of “current” and “former” members isn’t entirely applicable.  Thus, I have no idea who was on stage in front of me, except Trey who stood center stage.

The band for this show is an iteration of Secret Chiefs 3 called UR.  Fun fact:

In 2007, it was announced that Secret Chiefs 3 has always been a general name for seven different bands, each representing a different aspect of Spruance’s musical and philosophical interests. The seven bands are Electromagnetic Azoth, UR, Ishraqiyun, Traditionalists, Holy Vehm, FORMS, and NT Fan. Spruance has stated that the sound collages of Electromagnetic Azoth serve as the center of Secret Chiefs 3

This show was advertised as

Ars Nova Workshop is thrilled to present Secret Chiefs 3: UR, an incarnation of the shape-shifting avant-cult group led by Mr. Bungle guitarist/composer Trey Spruance, at Solar Myth on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. This show features a brand new incarnation of the SC3 surf band UR. including Spruance, Ches Smith, Shahzad Ismaily, Matt Hollenberg, and Adam Minkoff, performing a full set of all new music.

So this was the band UR–no robes/hoods, just five guys on stage having a really good time playing surf rock (and things that are clearly not surf rock).  I was right in front of Trey, which was cool, except that the band plays in kind of a circle so I pretty much saw the back of him for most of the show.

I had a great view of Matt Hollenberg who matched Spruance on guitar and drummer Ches Smith who was fantastic to watch–very intense with excellent rhythmic changes.  I could also see Shahzad Ismaily but he was seated and had a music stand in front of him so I couldn’t really see him playing much.  But I really enjoyed the interactions he had with Ches.  Behind Trey was keyboardist/guitarist Adam Minkoff.

The set was the band playing their new album in full.  And it was great.  It is, as suggested largely surf rock, but it’s so much more–time changes, middle eastern motifs, solos, heavy metal riffs, and lots of smiles.  It was fantastic.

At the end of one of the songs, there was an unholy twang and a metal piece of Trey’s guitar popped off, loosening all of the strings.  It was bizarre and kind of funny.  And fortunately, there were other guitars on stage.

Nobody said much of anything during the show–there wasn’t even a microphone, so when Trey introduced the band, no one heard him since everyone was clapping.  But I did hear him say (to the audience) I should get my own tuner, I guess (he was borrowing the tuner on Hollenberg’s guitar).

They were the only band playing and the show was over by 9:30.  It was a perfect opportunity to pop out for a little while.

 

UR 2024	Secret Chiefs 3 2017
phant	Dolorous Stroke Ψ
elec	Tistrya ß [Ishraqiyun]
sata	Saptarshi ≠
archrise	RFID Slaverider £
fount	Codex Alimentarius £
wido	Agenda 21 £
aero	Vajra Ψ
empr	Personae: Halloween (John Carpenter cover) ß [UR]
brown	The 4 (Great Ishraqi Sun) Ø [Ishraqiyun]
coming	Brazen Serpent
arch set
motor
encore
Hurqalya ¥
Ship of Fools (Stone of Exile) Ψ
Book T: Orbital Ballroom in the Hall of Resurrection ¥
Combat for the Angel Ψ
Labyrinth of Light ∇ [UR]

¥ SECRET CHIEFS 3-Hurqalya (Second Grand Constitution and Bylaws) (1998)
Ψ SECRET CHIEFS 3-Book M (2001)
Ø SECRET CHIEFS 3-Book of Horizons (2004)
∇ UR – Circumambulation / Labyrinth Of Light (2007)
£ TRADITIONALISTS-Le Mani Destre Recise Degli Ultimi Uomini (2009)
≠ ISHRAQIYUN single (2011)
ß Book of Souls: Folio A (2013)