Goth • Faith
and The Muse are just one of the bands
involved in the gothic rock movement.
Clovis IV
A gothic guide to fun, shopping and music
By Jon Matsumoto
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
Ghosts and goblins, vampires and werewolves, chills and thrills, death and
despair—these are some of the images and emotions that contribute
to the Halloween spirit.
For most Americans, exploring the shadowy side of life is a once-a-year endeavor
that only happens around All Hallow’s Eve. But for those who call themselves
gothic or “goth,” embracing the dark side is a year-round passion
that can involve everything from fashion and pagan spirituality to music, movies
and literature.
Here is a brief, though admittedly incomplete, guide to living la vida gothic.
The Look
Head over to Fullerton’s Ipso Facto, one of the top gothic clothing stores
in the Southland. If you want to find out how to look cool while wearing predominately
black and purple see Terri Kennedy, the majority owner of Ipso Facto and the
former frontwoman of the defunct Orange County goth band Stone 588. This little
shop of horrors is the repository for all things gothic including corsets,
capes, jewelry, books, CDs and even reusable fangs. Merchandise can also be
purchased through the Internet at www.ipso-facto.com.
In Los Angeles, Shrine is recommended as an acceptable alternative to Ipso
Facto. For a far more limited selection, you might try exploring your local
Hot Topic, which attempts to embrace a variety of rock-oriented fashions.
Dance the Night Away
There are a handful of gothic dance clubs in the Southland. Locally, there
is the 21-and-over Release the Bats at Que Sera in Long Beach. This evening
for ghouls transpires the fourth Friday of every month at 9 p.m. Release the
Bats, which has existed for nearly seven years, has also hosted live acts such
as Dinah Cancer, the Last Dance and Kommunity FK.
Bar Sinister is the tres hip Saturday evening gothic dance club that also includes
live bands. This is a 21-and-over club that tends to cater to the goth elite.
They not only spin classic goth (e.g., Bauhaus) and quasi-goth (e.g., Nine
Inch Nails) tunes, but there is a chance you might even encounter a celebrity
goth musician slithering about this Hollywood night spot, which also features
go-go dancers and a fetish room upstairs. Admission is usually $10, but depending
on the band, the price may be higher.
An all ages club, Funeral in Pomona has received some high marks for its cool
factor and its strong “dress to depress” orientation. “Gothic,
punk, dark ’80s and death rock dance” is the description given
at the club’s Web site.
Bands also perform here. $10 admission; $7 for club members.
The Sound
Here is a rundown of a handful of CDs that will offer a general overview of
gothic rock from its late ’70s origins to the present. Apologies to Siouxsie
and the Banshees, Nick Cave, Bauhaus, the Cruxshadows, et al. for being excluded
from this list.
In chronological order:
Joy Division, “Unknown Pleasures.” 1980.
• Bleak and unforgiving, this is a work that helped create the entire goth
rock movement. Baritone vocalist Ian Curtis is the personification of doom and
gloom. Little wonder why he hanged himself shortly after this album was released.
This disc’s one deficiency is that it does not include the English band’s
seminal goth ditty, the aptly titled “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” which
was originally released as a single only.
The Cure, “Pornography.” 1982.
• The Cure was better known for its more pop oriented songs. But “Pornography” is
the band at its dour best. Earlier this year Rhino Records released a deluxe,
two-disc version of this album, replete with tons of outtakes, extras and live
tracks. Indispensable.
Mission U.K., “Gods Own Medicine.” 1986.
• Vocalist Wayne Hussey kicks off this album with the unforgettable lines, “I
still believe in God, but God no longer believes in me.” The album is full
of dark soundscapes, hooky melodies and big rock guitars.
Swans, “Children of God.” 1987.
• New York’s Swans did not flash the usual cemetery-like visual look.
Instead, they let the music do the talking. Sullen and depressing, this intense
album makes some gothic rock songs sound like nursery rhymes.
Rosetta Stone, “Adrenaline.” 1992.
• An important album that reflected a transition of sorts into a more dance-oriented
sound in gothic music. The English group kicks up its heels even as it stares
into the grave.
Faith and the Muse, “The Burning Season.” 2003.
• Industrialized gothic-rock songs and wintry, medieval ballads contribute
to an album that is suitable for either dancing or deep reflection.
Mephisto Walz, “Insidious.” 2004.
• This no longer available album “The Eternal Deep” is a better
effort, but these California ghouls still score with their latest album. Multi-instrumentalist
Bari-Bari and vocalist-lyricist Christianna anchor this CD, which is mystical
and haunting in its delivery of a traditional guitar-based goth sound.
Inkubus
Sukkubus, “Wytches & Vampires.” 2005.
• The 16-track CD compiles some of the British band’s best material
from the ’90s and the early part of this decade. Swirling instrumentals,
spiraling female vocals and plenty of lyrics celebrating the occult lifestyle
make this album a keeper.
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