The Murder and the Harlot: Basement Shows Have ‘Completely Different Vibe’
In the digital age, a lot of the homegrown elements of underground shows have been lost. Handmade flyers announcing upcoming gigs and exclusively word-of-mouth information about other up-and-coming bands you heard on the local college radio station's metal show have been replaced by Twitter and Facebook posts.
New Jersey's the Murder and the Harlot are dedicated to resurrecting that old vibe where it's about the band before the T-shirt. No, seriously. They will play anywhere, for any promoter, at any location. They've played garages, basements, a barn on a farm and even a storage unit.
"Playing in a storage unit/basement show brings a completely different vibe than your typical 'venue' vibe," bassist James Music told Noisecreep. "Personally, it's a nice change of pace. It's more intimate and just straight up raw. The fact you can get in someone's face and just tear their ears off is just brilliant. The music becomes more genuine and personable. I think heavier bands enjoy this vibe just for the sole fact of letting loose and not giving a f---. That defines music to me."
The Murder and the Harlot don't care where they play, as long as they play, which is an attitude bands coming up in the '80s and '90s were keen on. "I like to approach each venue without thinking who will or won't be there, 'cause let's be real, there's always let downs," Music said. "You're not always going to get a packed show. I realize that, especially in the early stages that we're in right now.
"We're a new band. I'm not expecting sold-out shows. All I can expect is to entertain the s--- out of whoever is watching. We've got a solid plan. Our mindset is simply just to rock out and just let everything go. If I'm out of breath, I know I'm doing something right."
The band has released 'These Hands Wrote the Bastard in Me,' which Music says has "a lot of texture, melody and dynamics to it." However, all that texture, melody and dynamics on a record doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you can't carry it off live.
"The fact that you can blatantly determine how entertaining a band is by simply letting your soul loose and just crush it on stage, blows my mind," Music admitted. "In the end, it's all about the live show. There's so many tight bands out there, but how fun is a live show if no one is rocking out. I'd rather just sit in a corner and listen to the record with headphones on."
The Murder and the Harlot -- who describe themselves as "progressive hard rock" or "modal jazz-like thrash metal" and say that it's "good old-fashioned heavy s--- with a healthy dose of pop sensibilities" -- have battle scars to prove how intense and worthy of your cash their live show is.
"A live show defines and separates the 'badass' bands to the typical 'everyday' band. I'd like to say we're pretty badass. I'm looking at my guitarist right now, and he's got a golf ball under his eye, from simply freaking out on stage," Music said. The band thinks a lot of energy and positivity has been lost in the underground metal scene since about 2005. He said, "Those were the days. It felt like kids cared about the music more. It seems like it's died everywhere. There's just too many cliché bands and everything's watered down and just boring.
"I've heard it all before. All I can say is give us a listen. Actually, come out and watch us. We won't let you down."
More From Noisecreep
