Show: 8MM
Date: December 14, 2012
Venue: Roxy Theater
City: West Hollywood, CA
8MM
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Dan Sinclair
The main attraction of this night’s main act at the Roxy is 8MM’s lead singer, Juliette Beavan, which she proved just as soon as the crimson curtain dropped. She stood proudly center stage, accepting all eyes on her and her glittery, sparkling red and black striped dress, which looked amazingly way too short to perform a rock show in. I can only imagine what any horny young man in the front row was feasting his eyes looking up at her. I just hope they are aware that her husband, Sean Beavan, is the dude playing lead guitar in the black cowboy hat and Johnny Cash-esque wardrobe only a few feet away. Did you know Sean has produced for the likes of Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, No Doubt, System of a Down, and Thrice? Well, you do now.
Through a smoky stage with various colored lights flashing everywhere, Juliette sways back and forth in sleek, sexy movement as she sings the night’s first song, “Kin.” The crowd loves it and applauds loudly once the song ends, and the gracious lead singer thanks them for “For coming out on a rainy night.”
The spotlight falls on Juliette as she literally shines, and the rest of the band is draped in black while she sings “Around the Sun.” She shakes her hips back and forth to husband Sean’s guitar solo. Then it’s his turn to take over the lead vocals on “The Weight of You,” as he also manages some cool slide guitar in the process. For the end of the song, husband and wife sing together as Juliette really belts it out, “Damn my lips for calling you.” With Sean at the helm, the newer songs from 8MM have a more country-ish, blues-ier sound, than the trippier, electronic rock songs I had heard from the band before. For the record, 8MM actually has a very ranging sound and can’t really be labeled as any “type” of band.
Next, someone in the crowd shouts out what’s on everybody’s mind: “I like your dress!” Juliette acknowledges that, “It’s shorter than I imagined,” then she splits the vocals with Sean on the next song, “Between the Devil and Two Black Hearts.” She’s very impressed with the crowd’s ability to sing along with the “Nah, nah, nah” parts, joking, “I was worried because New York had a lot of rhythm and this is our hometown.” This, of course, referring to their recently completed east coast tour that just ended, and how receptive the fans had been.
After “You Brought the Fire,” the band plays a few Christmas songs for the holiday season, starting off with “Christmas Time is Near.” Even those who hate holiday songs had to admit this night that Christmas has never sounded so sexy. Juliette can carol all she wants any time of the year with that hypnotizing voice of hers.
The Christmas celebration continues with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “On a Silent Night” before Juliette says, “All right, enough of that,” and the electronic arrangement and keyboard kick in for one of the crowd’s favorite songs, “Liar.” Once Sean’s guitar part comes in, the performance turns in to one of the most energetic of the night.
For the new track “The One,” Juliette runs her hand up and down Sean’s chest while singing the “Oh, oh, oh” parts that actually sound like she’s close to orgasm. Not kidding. Pretty brilliant song writing there.
The band closes the show with the very trippy, bass-heavy “Give It Up,” which also happens to be this writer’s choice for best 8MM song. Juliette plays some keyboard on this one as Sean jumps all over the stage, dancing around, rocking out much to the crowd’s delight.
As the show ends, the band looks not weary, but satisfied. Despite a grueling road trip across the middle of America, the passionate road warriors appear genuinely happy to perform for those who love them most. 8MM is one of Los Angeles’s own and L.A. is happy to have them back safe from the road to close out 2012 here at home. Here’s to more 8MM for all in 2013—cheers!