If listening to records of Cabaret Voltaire for the first time, while sitting at the dome of an empty theater that was usurped by you for that purpose was ever a religious experience, then hearing Black Acid at this “close family” event at Monkey Town some years, (ahem, a decade or two), later was certainly an epiphany. An epiphany, in my parlance, I have to add, is not necessarily an inspiration but rather a moment that draws a line through history to all moments similar and connects them as one of the “rings” on a pyramid secures the whole structure. It was necessary, and also, since I don’t shy from the orgasmic potential of epiphanies, pleasurable.

As Richard Fearless, Black Acid singer/frontman, does his dj set before the show, which included quite a heavy dose of Reggae, we are led into the main space to find a seat.  Even with the encroachment of fans entering the room, it took less time than imagined to find a space on the couches, behind the drum set, if you were looking.  Once we were satiated with drooling over the liquid sky displays projected and a few more moments pass, our attention, and the band’s, is solely on their music.

It takes a bit of focus to get there, since the space itself is a living room, (I’m not adding your mom’s living room, or your factory space converted living room, it just is that as there is no notion of a coliseum in the square space bound by the seats).  The coziness of it all becomes a physical offset, though a comfortable one, as we’re all looking up at the band from our plush seating as though we were moths peering out of their cocoons at a winding performance.

My typical distaste for meandering jam bands was just severed, since tonight I wished this psychedelic set, (made up mainly of epic songs from Black Acid’s forthcoming debut Trans-Love Energies), would continue without pause.  Perhaps I missed some more casual connection with the band, but their crescendo was spectacular, if short, even though I wasn’t even on acid.

This performance was also highlighted by the fact the band played with special guests Morgan Wiley and The Last Drummers of Israel. The Last Drummers of Israel was first discovered by the band while performing on a subway platform last year. Wiley has most recently played synths for artists such as LCD Soundsystem and Hercules & The Love Affair. Lazyeye, Black Acid friend and visual lord for Fearless’ former band Death in Vegas, provided dreamy visual accompanment with new tripped-out kids on the block, The Stones.–Tim Nestor