Though more commonly found in the shadows of dive bars and small to midsize venues, The Rooftop of Pier 17, an impressive terrace built on the shores of the East River, was as good a place as ever for a congregation of black clad industrial/goth/darkwave enthusiasts to gather.
As if sensing this underground uprising, the sunny skies above the Manhattan waterfront gave way to smoky clouds and a brisk autumn breeze as dusk settled in.
With flawless ambience in place, the crowd roared with excitement as the jumbotron flashed Aesthetic Perfection and the band bearing that name rushed the stage. Coming to town on their Fall Goth Tour, which included a New York date opening for Till Lindemann, vocalist Daniel Graves noted "We ain't got a lot of time so we're not gonna waste yours" before charging into a high flying, action packed set.
Coming out of the gates with the anthemic "Gods and Gold" from 2019's Into the Black, Graves unleashed his iconic rasp and soothing falsetto, showcasing his immense range as a vocalist. With over twenty years under his belt as the mastermind behind Aesthetic Perfection, Graves' stage presence was as towering as the skyscrapers to the west of the venue.
While it has been two years since the last full length album, MMXXI, from which "S E X" was brought to life as the second song in the set, Aesthetic Perfection has been anything but quiet. Releasing the single "Toxic" last year, fans had plenty of time to learn the lyrics and sing them loud, pausing only to hear guitarist Noizith rip a searing lead.
Ramping up the color of the stage lights and dialing in a bit of vampiric glee, "Summer Goth", another single released in 2023, had bodies in the motion as even the most dedicated children of the night had to move a bit to the swinging rhythms.
Dropping a new single, "Into the Void", in mid-September, the track is one of three albums on The Bad Vibes EP, with the other two songs premiering on October 4 and 11. Even at just two weeks old, fans were eager to dance to the synth heavy number and are surely eager to hear the rest of the record.
With bandmates guitarist Constance Antoinette and drummer Joe Letz performing later in the evening as part of Till Lindemann's band, Graves was joined the by dynamic duo of the aforementioned Noizith, who pulled double duty on guitar and synthesizer, and drummer extraordinaire Brooke Colucci.
Flawlessly executing song after song in a set rounded out by "Rhythm + Control" and "Love Like Lies", this incarnation of Aesthetic Perfection served up a lethal dose of digital anarchy and infectious grooves - a new standard of excellence for an already incredible band.
Between the thunderous applause of fans and the enthusiasm of those in the crowd who had just heard their new favorite band that night, the demand in New York for another visit from Aesthetic Perfection was as powerful as the band's performance.
Special thank you to Adrenaline PR
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