AFI at Marquee Theatre

AFI are leaders, not followers. A collective in a perpetual state of creative evolution as fluid as the evocative figures contorting on the cover of Bodies, their newest collection of songs. The record is a snapshot of unrelenting artists in motion, unconcerned with compromise or outside demands.

The band initially summoned a steady subcultural groundswell in the mid-90s, devoid of careerist ambitions. The band first made music as teenaged misfits in an obscure Northern California town, steadily assembling a dense catalog over the years marked by its diversity and authenticity.

The platinum success of Sing the Sorrow blazed a path for a generation of hardcore-punk weaned bands to similarly crossover. 2006’s Decemberunderground upended expectations again and earned AFI a second platinum plaque. Crash Love was another adventurous turn, with expansive and almost optimistic-sounding melodies, glistening with emotion. The haunting Burials arrived four years later, debuting in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The self-titled follow-up, commonly referred to as “the Blood Album,” became AFI’s second-highest charting album since their inception, debuting at No. 5 in 2017.

Known for their androgynous image, prominent use of reverb-laden guitar work, and forlorn vocals akin to the style of early Killing Joke, Drab Majesty are an alternative neo-goth project from Los Angeles, California. Led by singer/songwriter Andrew Clinco (aka Deb DeMure), Drab Majesty came about after Clinco decided to focus his creative energy on his own work, primarily geared toward particular aural and visual aesthetics. Following their emergence in 2011, the group gained critical acclaim in 2015 with their DAIS Records debut Careless, and 2017 follow-up The Demonstration.

Raised in a musical household during the early 2000s, Clinco became more interested in making music after discovering abandoned vinyl in the bins of the local thrift stores around Hollywood. He developed a taste for the culturally defining sounds of acts from previous decades such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry, and Felt. Clinco also found time to build up his own musical abilities by teaching himself to play his father’s guitar and attending regular church visits with his grandmother, where the expansive range of the church choir and the naturally cavernous acoustics of the church would later influence his eclectic vocal style.

Over time, Clinco began to experiment with various instruments and styles, and eventually found his first niche in handling drum duties for post-rock outfit Marriages and neo-goth darkwave band Black Mare. After having established himself on the gig circuit and extensive recordings with both bands, Clinco felt he needed to delve deeper into his own creativity and inner consciousness by developing a multi-angled project of his own. Interested in creating something that traversed visual arts as well as aural textures in which he could become “a vessel” for outside influences flowing inwardly through him, the idea ultimately resulted in the character of Deb DeMure and the world of Drab Majesty. Opting for a blend of ’80s-esque new wave with jangly, reverberated guitars and ethereal synth leads, DeMure amassed a number of songs, and Drab Majesty put out the independent release Uranian Dances in 2012 in a limited run of 100 cassette tapes. The effort was later picked up and re-pressed by Lollipop Records.

Drab Majesty then went on to sign with DAIS Records and release the full-length effort Careless in late 2015. The record was a success, with many critics praising its use of nostalgic sound and its crystalline production techniques. Drab Majesty then went out on the road to promote the record, in support of acts such as Clan of Xymox, the Black Queen, and DAIS labelmates King Dude and Youth Code. It was around this time that DeMure added keyboardist Alex Nicolaou (aka Mona D) to the band. These numerous live appearances, both in the U.S. and overseas, began to expose the project to a wider audience, earning them an ever-increasing fan base.

It wasn’t long until Drab Majesty’s followers were demanding another full-length release. They got what they wanted with The Demonstration, issued in early 2017. The effort featured the project’s signature sound alongside more prominent use of synthesizers, effects, and post-punk-influenced guitar work. They spent the following year writing and recording their third LP. Modern Mirror arrived in May 2019. ~ Rob Wacey, Rovi