World War Five

So I went out last night, to see a local band I like called Sophe Lux. They played at a place called Mississippi Studios, in “North Portland”

The entrance to Mississippi Studios is hidden - I followed some other people through a bar called Mississippi Station, into a courtyard, into another courtyard, past a silver airstream trailer, under a tent, and up some stairs into the very intimate venue.

There was a tiny bar, serving beer, wine, and pizza. (No liquor, sadly. I had to settle for sour grapes.)

There was a raised area, I guess you could call it a balcony of sorts, crammed with chairs. The bigger lower area, which was the size of a large living room, was also crammed with chairs all the way to the “stage”. There was a band there, and they started playing just minutes after I arrived. I was amazed at the sound- excellent sound. Nice, if simple lighting.

I’d never heard of the opening band before. Andy Combs and the Moth. Very good, very eclectic. I look forward to seeing them again.

When it came time for Sophe Lux to take the stage, I was a bit worried. I didn’t recognize any of them. Had I come to the right place? Was this the same band that I had seen before? I’ve seen Sophe Lux before, a couple of times, but it has been a while (perhaps I’m going senile?)

The band was fronted by three women the previous times I had seen the band, and so it was last night - but the only one who looked familiar to me was the lead singer. And now there were three guys behind them - instead of one - and none of them looked familiar. As the white-uniformed performers took to the stage, my unease grew…

I needn’t have worried however - Sophe Lux was every bit as amazing as before, if not more so. The orchestration of the songs were even more complex and layered than I remembered from past performances. The three ladies fronting the band were so charismatic I really don’t recall much about the gentlemen backing them up. The sound system and music mixing was spot-on perfect. It was a great show, and I feel privileged to have seen it.

I really, really like this band. (But then I’m a sucker for rock operas about futuristic robots that have been programmed to think they are Marie Antoinette becoming self-aware and having existential crises.)

I’m looking forward to seeing where this band goes next.

Tags: blog //