Live at Cider Haus: Death Domain, Femme Covert, Cream Center 06.21.09

Upon walking into the Cider Haus in Baltimore, we were greeted by the always friendly Josh and Jane of Abiku . They directed us to check out the kitchen for some vegan BBQ. We each grabbed a plate and ,based on the odd "tofu" texture, decides that it was, in fact, BBQ human. That didn't, however, deter me from devouring my hearty plateful of the mystery "meat".
First up for the evening's entertainment was Death Domain consisting of only Adam from Atlanta's Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a few vintage synths, an incredibly unique and vertical turntable and not much else. Death Domain sounds like a fantasy collaboration with Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis somewhat angrily singing for electro-punk pioneer Daniel Miller aka The Normal. After plowing through an exuberant and, in true SIDS fashion, deadpan set of pulsating electro-melodies, the creepy vibe had fully saturated the environment.
The dark atmosphere set by Death Domain was swiftly contrasted by the carefree and, to a point, endearing nature of the next act, Cream Center. A disclaimer about the necessity of touching and togetherness was followed by a screaming barrage of Dungeons and Dragons addled insanity. Equipped with only an Ipod Shuffle and no mics, the two screamers (one looking like a geeky, white counterpart to Sho Nuff and the other, a modern day Samwise Gangee) abandoned regard for personal boundries. Slaying dragons, ogres and preconcieved notions over a soundtrack fit for epic, 16-bit battles, Cream Center loosened the intimate crowd for the nights final performers.

Femme Covert, a few hours late due to post-Fathers Day traffic, took the stage in the red luminated basement of the Cider Haus around 1am. The North Carolina natives hammered their way through a brash and irreverent clusterfuck of digi-log ditties lasting, easily, three times longer than any time I had watched them before. That said, the fifteen minute set was a perfect closing to the night eccentricities. The only downside was that the vocal spasms of the always entertaining David Lee were barely audible over the synth-punk mayhem. Thanks to Josh and Jane for making this previously canceled show a possibility and, as always, the hospitality we've come to expect at a Cider Haus basement show.

Cider Haus