Failure: Rest and Resuscitation Done Right

Failure w/ The New Regime
The Showbox, Seattle, WA
08.28.15

Eighteen years is a lifetime for some bands, the entire span of a career. And yet, for L.A. space-rockers Failure, eighteen years was just a break. While they may have been on the underdog side of the 90’s grunge-era popularity game, Failure has somehow managed to maintain and even build a fan base during their hiatus. At their Showbox show, the crowd was as expected, most in their 30s and 40s, plenty of flannel, all heads nodding along to the band that has managed to sound like they never took a day off.

While they released their latest album The Heart is a Monster just this June, Failure split the set pretty evenly between new tracks and old, leaning heavily on their 1996 opus Fantastic Planet. Three large video displays – one behind each band member – provided the only real visual treat of the show while the band pretty much just stayed in place, playing their instruments. So at least they played them well. Their live show does a terrific job of recreating their sonically layered recordings, distorted guitars, and Ken Andrews’ vocals as dissonant and melancholy as you could ask for. Failure has created a pretty seamless sound both bridging the eighteen-year gap and the record to live show divide with impressive skill and precision.

The New Regime, solo project of Ilan Rubin – drummer for the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves and more – opened the show with signature sonic experiments. While Rubin plays every instrument on his recordings himself, he is joined live by two band members who help fill out the stage with his eclectic material. From classic to retro, electronic to rock, Rubin’s sound juxtaposes so many influences that you’d think it difficult to reconcile, but somehow he manages to create a pleasing mashup that spotlights his masterful musicianship.

Failure Set List:
Segue 4
Hot Traveler
A.M. Amnesia
Another Space Song
Wet Gravity
Atom City Queen
Bernie
Counterfeit Sky
Saturday Saviour
Sergeant Politeness
Segue 1
Mullholland Dr.
Smoking Umbrellas
Macaque
Solaris
The Nurse Who Loved Me
Encore:
Stuck On You
Otherwhere
Heliotropic