By EmoRoadTrip and photos by Cheryl B
There are some bands you go see because you know you’re going to get a good show. And then there are bands like Twin Temple, where you’re not entirely sure what you’re walking into—but you know it’s probably going to be entertaining.
Twin Temple brought their brand of satanic doo-wop, rock ‘n’ roll and theatricality to the stage, and from the moment the show started, it was clear this wasn’t going to be an ordinary night.
I had never been to a show at Area 15’s The Portal before, and was pleasantly surprised on how easy it was to get in and out and free parking is always a bonus. The venue and security were all very ADA friendly and I was able to find a great vantage point to view the stage.
The night kicked off with Midnight Cowgirls, an all-female country rock band from Los Angeles. They are the complete package: great songs, killer musicianship, and they totally kicked my ass! Vocalist Blaise Dahl was a standout with a powerful voice and great stage presence. It’s easy to see how they have gained opening slots for The Stray Cats, Eagles of Death Metal, and Jack White. Standout tracks were “(Ain’t My First) Rodeo and a tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton with “9 to 5”. I see big things in the future for these ladies!
Next up was Frankie and the Witch Fingers and they didn’t so much take the stage as completely take it over. Their set was a swirling collision of psychedelic rock, garage-punk energy and hypnotic grooves, with the kind of intensity that made standing still feel like an unreasonable option. Frankie and the Witch Fingers clearly have a following, and their fans were loving every second of it. They were also one of the loudest bands I’ve heard in a really LONG time. Not “loud for a rock band”—I mean genuinely, physically loud. But somehow it worked. The crowd was completely into them, and it was pretty obvious that this was a band their fans had been waiting to see.
I made my way up front and was promptly baptized by Alexandra (vocals) and Zachary James (guitars) as they began their satanic invocation by throwing “unholy water” onto the crowd, while asking us to “burn down ignorance in all forms.” I kind of loved that.
Opening with “The Devil (Didn’t Make Me Do It)”, Alexandra James immediately captivated the crowd with her incredible vocals. There are obvious echoes of Ronnie Spector and the girl groups of the 1960s in her voice, while it would be almost too easy to compare her to Amy Winehouse. There is, however, just a touch of Amy in her influences—and the combination gives her voice a character that is distinctly her own.
Every Twin Temple song carries a satanic theme, but the lyrics are clever enough that the concept never felt one-dimensional. Zachary James and the backing band were incredibly tight, with musicianship that drew heavily from the doo-wop groups of the 1950s and ’60s. Alexandra’s vocals were flawless throughout, with “Sex Magick” and “I’m Wicked” standing out as particular highlights.
Alexandra also has a commanding stage presence. There’s something undeniably sexy about the way she performs, but it never feels overtly sexual or forced. She knows exactly how to hold an audience’s attention without having to work too hard for it.
They also performed “Haunt Me,” a song from their upcoming album, Doomed Lovers. Whether the satanic imagery is a genuine part of the band’s identity or simply an elaborate gimmick is probably beside the point. Either way, it works. Twin Temple are incredibly entertaining—and dare I say, mesmerizing?
You can catch Twin Temple on tour on the West Coast through early October (I’m sure with more dates to follow with the release of their new album).
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