Show: VNV Nation
Date: March 15, 2012
Venue: The Mayan Theatre
City: Los Angeles, CA
VNV Nation
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Michelle Oberg
In this age of music, where sounds from the past have re-emerged with the same force and fan appreciation they did 20 years ago, artists like VNV Nation continue to tour while making music that has subtle to no stylistic changes. The synthpop/industrial genre has been present for decades, and thanks to the aforementioned artist, seeing it at the Mayan Theatre was a spectacle that, personally, I have never seen before.
As trance blared through the PA system, the costume clad, all-black-everything adorners flipped their hair like out of an episode of South Park stereotyping the goth scene and danced as if they had just dropped 10 hits of acid. Upon walking into the venue, the fish-out-of-water feeling was evident, but the scene was welcoming to say the least. The headliners took to the stage and screams of a somewhat commanding nature drew the polar opposite of raving clubbers to a bit of the darker side. The crowd roars as you’re left trying to comprehend what you just heard: patrons reacting as if the had just seen God.
There were tattoos, tank girls and guys wearing larger-than-life headphones although they were at a live show. The girl-to-guy ratio seemed to be about 10:3. The mezzanine was quite the sight, as the staircase-style seating arrangement doubled as a secondary stage, and it wasn’t for the artist: patrons acted out what were like scenes from Glee, dancing as if previously choreographed, and executing it flawlessly.
Refreshingly, VNV Nation brings out the best in people through their music. Everyone in attendance looks and seems to be acting real—their true selves. Instrumental, futuristic tunes play on an organ as lights go up on the stage with a countdown appearing on the LED light panels stationed in the background. Flashes of red zeros are displayed across the screens as the cue for a night of live dance music and feel good vibes.
Two key players, a singer and electronic percussionist is all it takes for the ensemble to entertain. Vocalist Ronan Harris speaks his vocals and never sings a note. His voice resembles that of an MMA announcer: it’s loud, penetrating and dominating. Live dance music with an attempt at carrying out synthesized vocals is not an easy feat, but VNV makes it appear as easy as riding a bicycle. Between the instrumental beats, denying the rhythm coursing through your veins and urge to dance is nearly impossible.
Amidst the dance-beats a slower song, “Dark Angel,” showcases their additional talents. It’s sweet, but not poppy and has a movie score-esque vibe. They create every type of sound imaginable: tribal beats, goth metal, love songs, worship music and so much more. A simple stage design has lighting to fill all voids keeping it small but perfect.
Between songs, which barely have a transition, VNV Nation keeps the continuous beats entertaining for non-stop partying. The vocal effects were fun and the energy from the frontman radiated throughout the venue. Whether you’re a clubber, dancer or just appreciator of music, this is a show that should not be missed. There are no rules, judgments (except from yours truly, in the sincerest way possible) or reason why all the positive attributes of VNV Nation wouldn’t make this one-of-a-kind artistry. For more information and tour dates, check out their website at http://www.vnvnation.com/