Psycho Las Vegas, 2022: Year Of No Light (Under the Radar Band Favorites)
There were many well known acts at Psycho Las Vegas last month that drew the big crowds – names such as Suicidal Tendencies, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Emperor and festival closer Mercyful Fate. There were also several bands flying under the radar at the many smaller stages at Resorts World Las Vegas; bands that were every bit as impressive as the bigger acts.
Here are a few of my favorites:
YEAR OF NO LIGHT
On the last day of the festival, as I was totally nerding out to finally catch festival closer Mercyful Fate in the evening, I was strongly urged to go see post-rock, doom, black metal and psychedelic (yes, all those things) French band Year Of No Light, who were playing a noon set at the Rose Ballroom stage.
Year Of No Light
They formed in Bordeaux, France in 2001 and released their first album, “Nord” in 2006. In 2008, they underwent a significant line-up change, replacing their vocalist with a third guitarist and a second drummer to become an instrumental sextet.
Their set was dramatic and moody, an assault of guitars, drums and synthesizers (heavy!), as is their most recent album (which I gave a listen to upon my return from Vegas) the highly anticipated “Consolamentum“. Happy I was literally dragged out of bed to catch them live (in Vegas, 12pm is pretty early to start your day), check them out should you find them coming to a city or festival near you…
SPACEFACE
Maybe my favorite set of the smaller bands was delivered by Spaceface, a self-described “Retro Futurist Dream Rock” outfit. They can be best described by the band themselves (from their website): “The groovy bunch harnesses the transcendent pulse of the spacetime continuum into catchy songs that whirl and twirl”. Truth in advertising.
STINKING LIZAVETA
Philadelphia based “Doom Jazz” power trio Stinking Lizaveta rocked the Famous Foods stage at Resorts World Las Vegas – anchored by badass 60+ year old drummer Cheshire Agusta.
LIARS
I wouldn’t place lo-fi, post-punk, electro-pop outfit Liars in the same “small band” category as Space Face or Lovelorn (below) but despite their cult following (not to mention being formed in Brooklyn), they were an unknown entity to me. However, bizarro (and barefoot) frontman Angus Andrew and Co. did provide one of the festival’s many pleasant surprises…
MOTORBÄBE
Surely, Lemmy was looking up from his throne in hell and smiling as the ultimate heavy metal female Motörhead cover band Motorbäbe, kicked ass all over the joint…
LOVELORN
Husband & wife duo of Anna & Patrick Troxell, aka Lovelorn, delivered self proclaimed “drug pop” in a very spirited set at Resorts World’s RedTail stage…
BRIDGE CITY SINNERS
One of the more popular bands of Psycho’s smaller band lineup were Portland, Oregon’s Neo-Folk outfit Bridge City Sinners. Definitely “not your grandparents’ folk music”, they put on a spirited show led by colorful lead singer Libby Lux…
LEATHER LUNG
I’m gonna go ahead and let Decibel Magazine describe Leather Lung: “If you like your top shelf sludge metal infused with a bit of swing, groove, and melody, Leather Lung is here to make not only your day, but probably the rest of your otherwise miserable goddamn year.” That just about sums up this bunch here. They rocked. Nuff said.
BLACK SABBITCH
Ass-kicking all-female Black Sabbath cover band Black Sabbitch have quickly become a festival favorite, “nailing every note of the legendary group’s familiar repertoire — but were captivating to an almost distracting level” (LA Times). I unreservedly concur…
So there you have it, a few under the radar bands to give a listen to and catch live should they be coming to a city or festival near you. You’re welcome.
All photographs taken with the Sony A7RIII using the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AF, Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 and Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 lenses
