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Home  Archive music profiles What The Hell Is Goth, Anyway? (Pt. 2)
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What The Hell Is Goth, Anyway? (Pt. 2) |
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Written by Amy Bidz
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Friday, 16 December 2005 |
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“Music is the one thing that ties everything together.
Without it, there wouldn’t be much keeping it all in place,” said local
goth musician Styk.
The local gothic community is bolstered by two different Web sites and
a Yahoo group forum devoted to keeping its members involved.
Information on everything scene-related can be found at
www.stlouisgothic.com and www.stlgothic.com.
The local
scene has several fashion designers, each with his or her own area of
expertise, from corsetry to leather bondage gear to clubwear to period
clothing. Designers put on gothic fashion shows and sell their wares
over the Internet, in stores, and at national conventions. These
include: Lady Maeve’s Custom Corsetry, Sestra Koza’s Leather Fashions,
Matt Worsdell, Rose Mortem, and Silks of Newe Making.
But, ultimately, the music is where it counts. Music is the lifeblood
of the scene. “Music is the one thing that ties everything together.
Without it, there wouldn’t be much keeping it all in place,” said local
goth musician Styk.
“Not only is music utilized as a
vehicle of expression, it also helps bind a society together, inciting
a common modus operandi. We exist in an environment where individuals
and groups define their identities by and with the music they indulge
in,” said Tripper.
Old and new, favorite acts repeatedly
listed by those interviewed include: Alien Sex Fiend, Apoptygma
Berzerk, Assemblage 23, Bauhaus, Bella Morte, Bowie, Cannibal Corpse,
Christian Death, Cocteau Twins, Cradle of Filth, Cruxshadows, The Cure,
KMFDM, London After Midnight, Love & Rockets, Marilyn Manson,
Mission UK, Peter Murphy, Nosferatu, Gary Numan, Razed in Black,
Seraphim Shock, Siouxsie, Sisters of Mercy, Skinny Puppy, Speciman, Son
of William, Sopor Aeternus, Stykfactor, Visions of Passion &
Torture, the Wake, and Wumpscut.
A startling amount of
variety is represented in this list. The artists mentioned span
obscurity to mainstream exposure, not to mention the globe. The list
touches threads of subgenres of new wave, industrial, darkwave, metal,
synthpop, deathrock, and punk.
Artists rely on DJs to
spin their music to gain exposure and on venues to provide club nights
for spinning and opportunities to perform live. The number of DJs
spinning goth music in St. Louis can be counted on two hands. The
Complex hosts a club night called the Den every Wednesday for the
21-and-over goth scene.
The Galaxy has hosted
thousands of goth events over the years, sometimes even opening its
doors to all-ages shows. KWUR hosts a goth radio show called Lily’s
Crypt every Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The South Grand Coffee
House supports goth music on Friday nights. Also, the occasional show
with appeal to a goth audience can be found at the Creepy Crawl.
Still, most goths feel strongly that the scene needs more club support,
more bands and stronger attendance at events. “I really feel for
all-agers. PostMortem and Berzerker have done a lot for the scene. I
would like to see more events on weekends, and more events that people
under 21 can attend,” said VanTassel.
“We need more
numbers by having the support of the minor crowd, but most of our
events are 21-plus. Even more so, we need for the people that complain
about nothing to do, to support the nights that we do have. I would
like to see new goth nights and more variety of goth events to attend.
We have hit a dry spell lately. I would like to see more goth bands
tour through the area. We don’t have many venues that will support us
and bring these bands in except Berzerker; thankfully,” said Salour.
Berzerker Studios’ Zoo Room is an open palette for bands to promote
themselves and promoters to showcase bands. But individuals must take
initiative and responsibility for creating nights in order to make it
happen.
St. Louis currently has several original bands
and artists falling in the realm of the subversive. These include, but
are by no means limited to, 6, the Coil of Sihn, Fleshmerchant,
Groantechno, Harkonin, Lackhalo, Rock God Superstar, Shinma, Son of
William, Stykfactor, Subsurface, Thee State Machine, Tripelexir, Tory
Z. Starbuck, and Visions of Passion & Torture. Stykfactor is a
local project which mixes synthpop with traditional goth vocals.
Stykfactor have an upcoming four-song EP called Sparkle Fade due out in
March and are planning an upcoming show, possibly in April. Tripelexir
is another local goth project which began in 1998 with Jeff Lawrence,
Zap Tripper, and Barbara Strange. Tripelexir have two full-length
albums, completed their latest recording in February, and have other
darkwave projects in the works, one called Krankhaus and another called
the Devil.
When asked about obstacles befalling these
projects, the answer is all too familiar. “A shortage of venues and a
lack of forums make it difficult, if not impossible, to broaden the
focus and spread the gospel,” said Tripper.
This is an
issue that can be resolved. The solution, according to Tripper, is
simple. “Spend less time searching for oneself and more energy creating
oneself. Want opportunity to knock? Build a door,” he said.
Amy Bidz is co-owner of Berzerker Studios and Berzerker Records, Inc., manages Son of William, and is Spence’s wife.
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