Orgy & Powerman 5000 Stun Amityville, NY 1-13-17 w/ Knee High Fox & Death Valley High

Starting off 2017 on a high note, the first ever Set to Stun Tour is making its way across the country right now. A co-headlining venture between Orgy and Powerman 5000, the current leg of the tour is set to run just over a month and across fifteen states – from Massachusetts to Washington – as well as two stops in Canada. In addition, a second leg, with additional dates, is currently being discussed.

These facts laid out, some nights, the stars all seem to align perfectly, and the Set to Stun Tour’s visit to Long Island, New York might very well have been one of those evenings. With a full moon looming over the town of Amityville, best known for its infamous Horror House, on a dreaded Friday the 13th in January of 2017, it was a night the freaks were sure to be out in full force. A familiar stomping ground for the bands involved, the festivities took place at Revolution Bar & Music Hall, with local support from Panzie before touring billed acts Knee High Fox and Death Valley High.

It has been four long years away from Long Island for the aforementioned Panzie. The New York City group came together in 2008 when Guitarists and life-long friends DC Gonzalez and Jonnie Rockit decided to join forces for a new musical project that incorporated their motley influences, from classics like Motörhead and The Cult to the more electronic-tinged offerings of Coal Chamber and Marilyn Manson. As their fan base grew, so did the band’s lineup, which now includes Vocalist Jasin Cadic, Bassist Kevin Jones, and Drummer John Servo Di Salvo of KMFDM fame. Together, the quartet perform hard-hitting, take no prisoners Rock-n-Roll such as on their 2013 release, Love & Blood.

In great spirits, they took to the stage ready to rock out original tracks such as bass-heavy headbanger “All American” and rockin’ “Dance.” New track, the funky “Take Off Your Mask,” proved the perfect opportunity to promote their merchandise booth, where masks were available for purchase. Their blend of Hard Rock and classic grooves was a hit with the crowd, and if the Amityville gig is any sign of things to come, Long Island Rock fans will not tolerate another four years of Panzie’s absence. 

Clearly pumped up for more, the crowd did not let the energy wane between acts as they danced to the music blasting through the PA system, awaiting Los Angeles, California’s Knee High Fox. For Chrissy Fox (vocals), Simon Nagel (vass), Neal Tiemann (guitar), and Oscar Silva (drums), it has been a busy five years since forming in 2012. Referring to themselves as an “Electronic Rock Freakshow” on their Facebook page, the band combine their love of Horror films with a sexual tinge and create crazy, loud Rock-n-Roll. Touring with the likes of Marilyn Manson, (hed) p.e. , and Theory of a Deadman; and while they have previously toured with Powerman 5000, they now can add Orgy to that lineup.  

Hyper charged, their set was tight, unapologetic, and in-your-face. They commanded the crowd, dishing out sleazy Alt-Rocker “Valentine” and the flirty “Lolita.” Before closing out, Fox led the crowd through a chant of “Light as a feather, stiff as a board” until their effort met with Silva’s approval. From there, as the last chords emanated from the stage, the band thanked the crowd to a strong ovation. Quite a blast to see live, Knee High Fox’s 2015 album, Obey the Cross, as well as their other music, is all available via iTunes. 

Up next was the Cinematic Rock instrumentation of Doom Pop/Death Disco of Northern California’s Death Valley High. Having recently toured with such greats as Killing Joke and Mindless Self Indulgence, this Gothic Rock band has also shared stages with Filter, ††† (Crosses), and Vampires Everywhere!. Previously touring with Orgy on their Pop Killers Tour in 2016, they remain heavily active in support of 2016’s CVLT [AS FVK].

Masters of the Death Disco, Reyka Osborn (vocals), Daniel Ka$$hu (guitar), Huffy Hafera (bass), and Adam Bannister (drums) have recently been touted as the “New Face of Goth Rock” by Outburn Magazine. Putting CVLT [AS FVK] at the center of attention, they bursted out with tracks such as the heavy “Sunshine Cleaners” and dancey “Psalm Bitch.” From there, the darkly Pop “Warm Bodies” revved the audience up even more. Closing with “DVH – The Movie,” infectious on the mic, Osborn led the packed venue into chanting “Death Valley High!” Lively, potent, and fun, Death Valley High delivered another solid live performance. 

With only the two headliners left, the venue was now tightly packed and ready for more. Rock-n-Roll veterans, Powerman 5000 have been a solid headlining act for years. In fact, their most recent release, 2014’s Builders of the Future, might be more than just a cool album title, but a motto for this band of atmospheric Electronic Metal pioneers. Shifting styles throughout the years, but always growing, Spider One has kept Powerman 5000 relative through several lineup changes. Now accompanied by Ty Oliver and Ryan Hernandez on guitar, Murv Douglas on bass, and DJ Rattan on drums, the band’s current lineup is pushing Powerman 5000 to a new level.

With smoke machines and futuristic sound-waves filling the air, Powerman 5000 were setting the mood for a night of body movement and sing-alongs. Outfitted with green laser pointers on their guitars, the band entered the stage area and aimed their instruments toward the crowd amidst loud cheers. Rattan quickly joined his mates, complete with lasers on his drumset. Paving the way for Spider One, the bleached hair frontman took center stage, kicking off with “Super Villain.” Without skipping a beat, they segued into more recent track,”Invade, Destroy, Repeat.” The latter, a faster-paced, heavier piece, proved to be a hit as everyone moved around and shouted out the words. 

Continuing on, they offered up both old favorites and newer tracks, covering the vast span of the band’s seventeen-year career. In addition, they played the new, unreleased song, titled “Cult Leader,” inviting Chrissy of Knee High Fox onstage. A cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” followed before the band picked the pace back up and dove into the mega-hits “Bombshell” off the unreleased 2001 album, Anyone for Doomsday?, and “Supernova Goes Pop,” off 1999’s groundbreaking Tonight the Stars Revolt!.

Taking a moment in between songs to poll the crowd, Spider One inquired about the biggest band to come out of New York. Many fans called out for the likes of KISS and Twisted Sister, but Hernandez and Douglas sought out and aimed their lasers at the crowd member screaming for The Ramones. Quite fitting, it was the perfect intro into a cover of “I Wanna Be Sedated” before they concluded with arguably their biggest hit, “When Worlds Collide.” From the live show attire to their atmospheric brand of Rock music, everything about Powerman 5000, all these years later, screams out of this world. 

With both Orgy and Long Islanders sharing a mutual excitement for their return to Revolution, a buzz was flowing through the club. Electronic, Alternative, Industrial, Rock-n-Roll, whatever one wishes to label the band, Jay Gordon & Co. are perseverant survivors. On their latest EP, 2015’s Talk Sick, they showcase their signature blend of anthemic Rock sensibilities with hook-filled, electronic twists. In a 2016 interview with CrypticRock, Gordon confessed, “I feel there is a lot of life left in Orgy. I’m really excited about the tweaks that have been made and the new members, and I actually have chemistry with them and it shows on the record.” An inspiring statement, with the Set to Stun Tour and plans of a follow-up release, the future is bright for the established Orgy. 

With a lineup that has now been familiarized with the Orgy faithful, Guitarists Carlton Bost (of Deadsy fame) and Creighton Emrick, Bassist Nic Speck, and Drummer Bobby Amaro join Gordon, keeping Orgy strong. Without further ado, taking to the stage with an agenda, Orgy launched with “Talk Sick.” While many in the crowd sang along, the cheers grew louder when they followed with 1998’s “Dissention.” Additional hits spanning the breadth of their two decade-plus career followed, including notable 2000’s “Opticon” and “Fiction (Dreams In Digital),” “Suckerface,” as well as newer cut, “Gface.”

Looking to keep everyone on their toes, much like Powerman 5000 before them, Orgy also debuted a new, unreleased song entitled “Army To Your Party.” A fresh and exciting sound for the band, it only creates more anticipation for forthcoming new music. Taking that heightened adrenaline to the next level, they went into another favorite, “Stitches,” before Gordon took to the dance floor, venturing through a sea of ecstatic fans, for their finale of iconic New Order cover “Blue Monday.” Ironically, it was this exact cover that originally introduced many of the fans in attendance to the group. Humbled, Gordon welcomed any fan willing to sing-along to the microphone while members from all of the previous acts graced the stage for a motley sing-along, ending the evening with an explosive bang. 

The Set to Stun Tour keeps well on its promises, it is a show guaranteed to blow fans away from beginning to end. The tour marks only the very beginning of a what looks to be a successful 2017 for all involved, and clearly both Orgy and Powerman 5000 already have some new music in-the-works. At the tour’s conclusion in early February, Powerman 5000 will hook up with (hed) p.e. for more touring in The States, while Orgy heads to Europe with Death Valley High in support.