San Francisco Music News

There were props. A smoke machine and a projector to be precise. For the Warlocks and the Black Angels it was not about simply playing their songs. It was about creating an atmosphere. The Warlocks played a Jesus and Mary Chain type of heavy, slurred, throbbing psychedelic rock. Each member experimented with the space of their sound, moving towards and away from the amps and distorting their sound. Frontman, Bobby Hecksher, sang his lyrics on the foggy stage with a slight grin as if he knew maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem. The Black Angels opened with a drum-heavy intro to “Mission District” courtesy of drummer Stephanie Bailey whose shaggy blonde hair swayed to and fro as she got her whole body into the rhythm.

Their songs are predominantly instrumental with minimal vocals that are truly just used as another instrument to create more interesting sounds. Each member seemed completely immersed in the sound and the atmosphere of the music. As they played, projected videos of slow-motion Olympic athletes, royal marches, and war footage bathed them in an eerie, moving glow. Strobe lights flashed to the slow pulse of the songs which were extended with long intros and interludes.

The Black Angels music seemed limitless. As one song blended into another, the members moved about the stage, switching instruments and places. Three of the members took a turn on the drums, different people spotlighted with echo-laden vocals throughout the set, and they all seemed to know how to play the guitar effortlessly. Between the five members, the possibilities seemed endless. It was apparent that the band does not write songs for their typical five members and their primary instrument, but just move about and experiment with the feel of the sounds and space. The Black Angels created an atmosphere that was dark, and dreamlike with infinite potential.