Convert to IAMX: June 4th Show a Religious Experience
Photo by Vanessa Leonardo
Veteran and new fans underwent a religious experience June 4th, 2009 when IAMX stormed the stage at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City with an incredible performance tantamount to conversion.
Haunting images of puppets, Asian faces, among other equally random images, danced behind the band while Chris Corner, sporting a feather Mohawk hat, belted out his emotional lyrics, putting the crowd in a hypnotic trance. He was accompanied by Janine Gezang on keyboards, Tom Marsh and Dean Rosenzweig on bass and drums.
They performed favorites such as “Think of England” and “The Stupid, The Proud,” and “Nature of Living.” All on the new album Kingdom of Welcome Addiction available on the IAMX website.
The band, adorned in gothic make up and black clothes, incited the crowd to scream and sing along. Not one person could help but sing along. “You must demand, they must oblige” was much the air of the room. The crowd was happy to oblige to the hype.
What was even more surprising was the crowd of very different people, some dressed in a gothic style like the band, some preppy and plain, all came together in support of the IAMX united by the strong and passionate voice of Chris Corner.
His unique sound penetrated the mass because its emotionality, lyrical rawness, and fusion of electronica and melody. The electronica element acts as an amplifier to his voice as well as his performance. Equally impressive was Janine Gezang’s performance on the keyboards because of her overall energy and skill. After an hour-long set, the crowd was not yet done with them. The cheers lasted for almost five minutes until the band came out for a two-song encore.
The music of IAMX has promises to be a fresh voice that can convert music altogether.
