The Troubadour, West Hollywood
Live Review: 11/24/10
It was a cold Wednesday night on the eve of Thanksgiving, yet I couldn’t turn down the allure of having my face melted off by Phathom. The four-piece band, hailing from Silverlake, features lead vocalist Matt Sikora and lead guitarist Jason Zielonka, bassist Yannick D’assignies and Anton Tilgren on drums.
They were headlining their fourth show at the Troubadour, an intimate venue nestled in the heart of West Hollywood and for this festive occasion, the band organized a party bus so their hardcore fans could ride in style. The massive, dark-tinted vehicle was packed with intense energy. People took turns pouring vodka from a classy crystal skull.
We arrived at the venue and were greeted with reasonably priced drinks and a warm, cozy atmosphere surrounding a darkly lit stage. In the background, the crisp sound of the speakers picked up a blaring guitar. We were in the midst of early sound check. Although I’ve been to the Troubadour several times, this time the venue had transformed into an intimate party of close friends. Familiar, youthful faces crowded around the stage; so close they could literally reach out and touch the performers. The softly colored lights created a hazy, dream-like effect on everyone’s faces.
To start off the set, Lysolgang, a three-piece punk outfit set aflame a mosh pit of flying elbows and kneecaps. Followed by the metal band, Allura, which brought a heavier fire to the table. When the headliner finally stepped onto the stage, the audience’s energy was stoked. Phathom stood there enveloped in hushed silence, when a sound bite of stern men discussing the existence of aliens loomed out of the darkness. At the fade out, Sikora’s rousing vocals abducted the audience in the brooding opener, “A New Escape.”
The mosh pit full of high energy, reached it’s xenith during the untitled number, “Song 1″ off their upcoming CD, The New Piracy (available in March 2011 on Hardline Entertainment.) The stirring anthem began with dual guitars rapid-fire chugging on the low end, igniting the audience into a frenzy.
Another notable moment in the set was the cover of the Beatles’ rock opus, “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.” George Harrison’s potent lyrics were respectfully given the Phathom treatment with Sikora’s powerful range and Zeilonka’s thunderous guitar riffs.
The energy and cohesiveness of their sound resulted from ten years of friendship and musical camaraderie. They’ve been playing since their adolescence, starting originally as the band, “Section 8,” (named after the military code for insanity.) Through their recent incarnation as Phathom, they’ve maintained all original members.
Finally they ended their set with an old favorite, “Carrion,” from off their Section 8 album, The Halo Effect. Sikora snarled angst-ridden lines, “my wounds are deep and poisonous.” The nostalgists from their early days earnestly mouthed the words. Suddenly everyone was rocking out like it was 2012 and the end was near. Moved by the energy, Sikora shredded on his guitar backwards up over his head. Accompanied by D’assignies who steadily pumped out a gritty bass line and Tilgren who hammered out the driving beat.
It didn’t seem long, but eventually all good things must end. We left the scene feeling exuberant and undulating with positive energy and warmth. On the eve of the chilly holidays, nothing is more satisfying than rocking out to some fun bands and getting buzzed in the process.
