KMFDM with Terrorfakt and DJ? Acucrack Nov. 2nd 2004 By Luis M. Soler

The night was November 2nd, 2004. The machine of American politics had ground its way inexorably to this day, with all its electioneering, mudslinging, name-calling, pontifications, and manipulations, and somewhere two men waited to take their places in history. For months this population divided had been reminded, cajoled, harassed and frightened into its civic duty to elect a new leader, and at last the votes had been cast; only the outcome remained to be seen. An uneasy anticipation hung in the air, and though now we stare grimly to our future, that night there was still time to hope, to worry, and to revel in the possibilities.

A good looking crowd filtered down into the depths of B.B.’s, most adhering to a rather militant dress code – all black, vinyl, leather, piercings, and plenty of t-shirts sporting anti-establishment messages (some even homemade). Consisting of a cross section of Goths, metalheads, darkwave fanatics, old school KMFDM fans and a smattering of club kids, there was little doubt that this crowd didn’t generally support our Commander-in-Chief and those that did kept quiet about it. And while it was undeniable that the election loomed large in everyone’s mind, the added promise of an evening of debauchery with KMFDM and crew made for a mob giddy with anticipation.

The first wave of assault came from local power noise/ industrial act Terrorfakt, a trio of laptop/ hardware DJs who claim to have formed as a direct result of the 9/11 tragedy. Emerging to a lengthy “meat-is-murder” sample, these guys began bludgeoning the crowd with their particular brand of techno-industrial noise, which at times was reminiscent of the work found on the Digital Hardcore or Ant-Zen labels (in other words, imagine violent mental patients with access to a drum machine, a synth and some crank).

Terrorfakt’s visuals, taking a page from Throbbing Gristle’s playbook, were a constant unfurling of sepia toned nightmares that would make even Freddy Kruger wince- animal experimentation, executions, autopsy photos and planes crashing into the Twin Towers. Needless to say, it was not show for the kiddies (or the lighthearted, at that). The crowd response ranged from dancing to, unfortunately, blank stares. Many in the crowd seemed a little confused or put off, but there was no doubt, though, that Terrorfakt made an impact. For those who like such groups as Merzbow or Noisex, go to http://www.terrorfakt.com for more on this group and check out their latest CD, Cold Steel World, on Metropolis Records.

After the barrage of disquieting images coupled with meat-tenderizing noise, we were given a brief respite as things switched gears and the stage was set up for DJ? Acucrack, a breakbeat/trance duo out of Chicago. Jason Novak and Jamie Duffy are better known for their work with Acumen Nation, an industrial rock act in a similar vein as KMFDM, but with DJ? Acucrack, they’ve proven that they won’t be pigeonholed. Combining speed-demon breakbeats with frenetic mcing, these guys put on an energy-fueled show of techstep/jungle coupled with the requisite psychedelic imagery. What sets this group apart is their willingness to step out of the genre, deftly mixing trance and house elements into their sound, over which Duffy’s hectic raps fell right into place, keeping the set fresh and fun. Fans in the audience definitely made themselves known, dancing and screaming as tracks like “Optimizer” and “Selector vs. Acucrack” emerged from the mix, and the vibe harkened back to that halcyon time in the early 90’s when warehouse parties were still kinda fun.

For further info go to http://www.cracknation.com and keep an eye out for Mako vs. Geist, they’re latest release available on Underground Inc.

At long last, it was time for the final putsch, the real shock and awe. Eschewing their usual electronica setup for a straight up, old fashioned punk rock show, KMFDM hit the stage to a roar from the crowd that was part cheer, part battle cry. Emerging to a bombastic piece of classic music, the group launched into their set with a ferocity that your don’t see from too many acts whose careers span 20 (now 21- Happy Birthday!) years. I’m sure the new lineup helped with that, and even Sascha K., the only remaining founder in the group, admits that “…it’s definitely the strongest incarnation of KMFDM, I think” (Detroit MetroTimes , Nov. 3 2004) Guitarists Jules Hodgeson and Steve White began to grind out KMFDM’s particular brand of metal/ dance/ electronica (which they’ve dubbed “the Ultra Heavy Beat”- though they are often credited with being godfathers of the industrial rock sound, Sascha K. and co. willfully shy away from that label) as Andy Selway abused his drums, Lucia Cifarelli stomped around the stage, and Sascha stared out at his adoring legions.

Tearing through newer material such as “Blackball”, “DIY”, and “Strum und Drang”, as well as old favorites like “A Drug Against War”, “Flesh”, and “UAIOE”, the crowd pumped their fists and shouted their love through every chorus, and periodically small moshpits formed. Wall to wall, B.B.’s was going nuts with breathless abandon that I’m sure it’s intimate confines rarely witnesses. At one point, Sascha made a little joke at our expense, declaring that he’d received word that G.W. had snagged the election. The crowd gave a resoundingly negative response, at which point Sascha admitted to his attempt to inject some humor into the evening. Of course, if he’d only known…

The precision dual attack of Lucia’s sultry/screamy vocals and Sascha’s sleazy delivery, coupled with Selway, Hodgeson, and White’s machine-like playing and the electronic beats and samples layered over it all made for not just an amazing set, but also a fitting tribute to this seminal group’s 20th year. After their encore (“Waste”, which hasn’t been played live in some years) KMFDM left the stage with a proud declaration of “We’re a noisy bunch of bastards,” no doubt already laying down the strategy for their next aural assault. In fact, a new album is in the works, so if they’re your thing, check out http://www.kmfdm.com for info on the band and http://www.theultraheavybeat.com for specific info on the album, tentatively entitled FUBAR. There’s also a 20th Anniversary DVD out now. If you are interested in Ms. Cifarelli’s solo work, go to http://www.luciamusic.com for more on From the Land of Volcanoes.

When all was said and done, it was good to be reminded that artists like KMFDM, whose leftist politics permeate just about everything they do, can still produce albums and stage amazing performances on their own terms. In today’s world, where many are afraid to speak against the majority for fear of being branded an anti-patriot, artists need to be more vocal with their opinions, if only to remind us to exercise and protect our right to be heard. Join me next time here at Live @ B.B. King’s, where I’ll be showcasing more of what this great venue has to offer. See ya then!