Friday of this year’s block party was all about two bands for me and two bands only – Absolute Monarchs and the always impressive, always scintillating, and always crushingly beautiful Helms Alee. The trio held down headlining duties in the Cha Cha Lounge while as many folks as possible were jammed into the room. I stood front row, nose to nose with Helms bassist Dana James and to my right none other than Narrows frontman and brother to Helms vocalist/guitarist Ben-- Dave Verellen. Now I have seen Helms Alee more times than I can remember but for some reason this particular show has permeated my being more than other recent shows. Maybe it was the boozy atmosphere of the block party, maybe the intimate nature of the Cha Cha as a makeshift venue, or was it the always superb thunder courtesy of drummer Hozoji Matheson-Margullis. Something was certainly in the body odor and cheap swill drenched air that fine evening because Helms Alee was just plain fucking phenomenal and the show a sure highlight among many of my previous live experiences.
Helms Alee played some “newish” material to which I have not had the pleasure of learning the song titles just yet. This one in particular is a short two minutes, but damn is it a sonic mind fuck even in its abridged state. Enjoy!
Words, Photos, Video by Nik Christofferson
Good shit Nik. I'm putting Helms Alee at the top of my "to see" list.
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