This past weekend took new C=T writer, Uncle Harry and myself to Rhinoceropolis. Uncle Harry moved to town recently and was moved to write the review after witnessing the jaw-dropping performance from Terrible Records’ act, Class Actress. A lot of people ask about Rhino that haven’t been that don’t live here in Denver or perhaps out of town, and Uncle Harry gives a great description that couldn’t be more accurate. (Photos by Julio Enriquez)
Class Actress-Careful What You Say [mp3]
Rhinoceropolis is inconspicuous amidst its surroundings, this repurposed warehouse is imbued in an odd combination of communal punk living and artistic expression. Part music venue, part art gallery and part domicile to a collective of residents, it reminded me of an early 80s post-punk haven where Dead Kennedy and Circle Jerk fans abandoned street life for a palace of imaginative enterprise. The residents are thoughtful and creative folks that did not hesitate to offer a warm remark, a piece of hospitality or conversation about music that I had never heard of or political thought of a fascinatingly liberal position. While Rhinoceropolis offered a mystique that could only be accurately portrayed as its own character in a great American counter-culture novel, the musical offerings that night provides the heart of this discussion. Finishing an ice-cold New Belgium 2 Below beverage, my senses shifted from taste to sight and from discussion to purposeful audible attention. As I walked from the well lit art gallery and living quarters into a dark, smoke imbued room teaming with people, energy and excitement, new and oddly familiar sounds filled the room with audible euphoria. My ears perked in delight as they took in the electro-synth pop sounds of Class Actress. This electronic trio from Brooklyn, New York was exactly that, electric. As her bandmate (producer Mark Richardson) mixed the melodically gothy tones that flashed me back to the gorgeously dark alternative of Depeche Mode, Human League etc. singer/songwriter , Elizabeth Harper, hypnotized the audience with a voice that was purely angelic resplendence. If her words entranced the audience audibly, her vibrant stage presence enraptured our visual awareness. Her songs seamlessly intertwine sugary pop (Harper herself credits Madonna as a major musical influence) with 80s alternative into a modern twist she endearingly dubs goth-prep. Having adored bands from the that era who perfected combining the enthusiastic verb of pop into the beautifully black tones of goth (The Cure and New Order) I erupted into pure elation as Class Actress broke out into “Let Me Take You Out” with distinct undertones of New Order’s “Age of Consent”. The set was proverbially short and sweet, ended all too soon and we all await with bated breath for their full length album to be coming soon.-U.H.
oh uncle harry… u sound so professional.. why dont u uhhh…. take a show??? cman? put it on my tab? dont ever stop looking away??? hey hey hey hey relllaaaaaaaxxxxx???????
Class Actress was the only decent show that night at Rhino… Vitamins were decent but should definitely look to Swirlies as the band they border on mimicking, the other acts I’m not really able to remember.
Do you have any more pics from the night? Judging from your vantage point I apparently was 4 inches away from you.
I wish I got more photos. Unfortunately the lighting and my camera didn’t cooperate a whole lot.