The carving above the doors entering the upper levels of the Theater at Ace Hotel reads 'Forever O Lord Thy Word is Settled in Heaven'. Within the looming and classically designed downtown theater, angels are to be found in flight on the walls, and the cavernous central theater has something of a cathedral feeling to its design.
It's extremely appropriate, as tonight Twin Temple are inviting those in attendance to take part in one of their unique ritual experiences.
A lot of the crowd aren't familiar with Twin Temple, Alexandra and Zachary. Who, for the last few years have brought their surprising new evolution of classic Doo Wap Surf Rock to Los Angeles venues. Perhaps the crowd aren't sure what they're in for.
When the two figures take the stage, dressed in sharp blacks before a Satanic altar featuring a skull and goblet, the crowd isn't sure how to react at first. Some are disturbed. Alexandra welcomes one and all to the ritual they'll be performing tonight, and is happy to explain a little for the uninitiated. Twin Temple proudly represent Satanism, openly rejecting racism and bigotry, and inviting all to share in their message of love, sex, and indulgence. Their music isn't what you might expect at first glance, and people are looking at one another in surprise.
Live on stage, Twin Temple do not disappoint, with an upbeat backing band featuring a saxophone player and a pair of sultry back up singers, it's quite the spectacle. Zachary is a deft hand with lead guitar, playing the sharp fingered signature style of the genre with echoes of Ramones-style rock influences, and Alexandra's voice is clear and carries the room with or without the aid of a microphone. With wickedly playful lyrics and a mellow crooning that rivals classic Nancy Sinatra, she holds a joyful control of the stage.
Supporting bands don't get a lot of attention. Usually people arrive late and talk through the supporting band to wait for the headliner to come on. Twin Temple, with their theatrical ritual dressing and passionate show, are attention grabbing. Alexandra clearly enjoys talking to the audience, involving and unnerving them equally. This is a performance that simply doesn't fade into the background, it's an experience.
Outside after the show, I heard multiple attendees discussing Twin Temple.
One girl asked her friend, "I really liked them...Am I evil now?"
Another guy I passed was in the middle of trying to explain Satanism to the group he was with, "Oh it's not about like Satan at all...it's more about, like, the perception of it..."
I think that these kind of new questions, these discussions people weren't expecting to have, are exactly what the Twin Temple are eager to coax people into asking each other, and themselves.
Twin Temple are a live show worth seeing. The Devil loves some good tunes. You may learn something about yourself, because the Devil just loves some experimentation. You may even be outraged, and of course, that's what the Devil loves the most.
