Secret Machines @ Union Station, 10/24/06

The lineup outside stretched nearly around the wall; it was impressive. Even Roberto, the security guard, had never seen this many white people at Union Station before “…except the white girls that come in from San Diego.”

The Secret Machines, from NYC by way of Dallas, can be breathtaking live. I’ve seen them three times, in three different locales with three different hangovers. Their trance-rockâ„¢ can take you over, if you are not paying attention. The SM brand of trance-rockâ„¢ can also force your psyche to convince itself that it (“it” or “you”? Please see someone about these voices. –Ed.) is all alone… in a great way.

They played a theater in the round, obviously having just seen Macbeth. Whatever their inspiration, each SM song is a tripartite explosion of drums, bass and guitar. Seeing it from three sides offers theater, er, concert goers a complete visual and audio experience.

The real power of The Secret Machines lies in their pulsating beats. Drummer Josh Garza, the odd man out between brothers Brandon and Ben Curtis, seems to exist in an ethereal state of semi-conscious common time He is silent through the entire set. Perhaps not unusual for a drummer, but his silence is made all the more mysterious by his Cousin It hairdo that veils his face as he pounds out every beat as if his momma was about to take it away. It’s in-your-face, you-will-remember-me drumming that is enhanced by the the Machine’s constant play of light.

After the show, our Vermont/Wilshire train stop offered the highest in safety reassurances, including an exit sign that may or may not be the way out and a passageway that may or not have gotten us killed.

Photos by Jeremy