The band of Brooklyn punks known as the World/Inferno Friendship society are known for their intense live spectacle, enigmatic band members and rogueish attitude that blends DIY punk ideology with the whimsical frivolity of pre-war Europe.
If this sounds strange, then their latest offering, a concept album on the life and times of Hungarian-born actor Peter Lorre, must sound even stranger. But strange is never enough for the band, who designed a stage show to go along with their live renditions of the album of the same name. And so, the World/Inferno Friendship Society made the nights of many fans crammed into New York City's Webster Hall one freezing January night.
Addicted To Bad Ideas
A large white sheet was draped across the stage as the band was setting up their instruments. Shadowy figures walked around the stage while the floor (and balcony) filled up with fans. Above the stage, several large screens played Peter Lorre's iconic movie "M." Backwards. As fans began to reminisce and consume vast amounts of alcohol, the atmosphere became frenzied. Fans chanted for the band to come out and finally the lights dimmed.
The band began the set (like the album) with "Peter Lorre Overture." Amidst the intertwining melodies, band members waltzed together, still merely silhouettes behind a lit sheet. When the song reached its climax, the distortion came on and the band ripped through the sheet, creating a frenzy in the pit. The stage was cluttered with members and instruments and furniture props, but that didn't stop the band from making use of every inch of it.
The bits of stage show were very tongue-in-cheek. Frontman Jack Terricloth impersonates Lorre, actors forget their lines (while acknowledge the script), and much more silliness. The screens above the stage showed the band playing live, the band lounging and smoking, and shots of Peter Lorre's movies. During "Heart Attack '64" the screens displayed Peter Lorre walking along railroad tracks under a cloudy sky. It complemented the song perfectly, and was a singular moment.
Highlights included the anthemic "Thumb Cinema," the furious "Everybody Comes to Rick's," and the album closer "Heart Attack '64."
Encore
Free from his obligation to impersonate Lorre, Terricloth and the band came back onstage to play some fan favorites. He grinned and proclaimed that there was no better way to begin the encore than with “The Models and the Mannequins.” The crowd went crazy as the band launched into the rousing drum intro, augmented by what sounded like double bass pedaling. It was a perfect example of just how much heavier the band is live.
The tracks played during the encore were all older and, given the recording quality of some older songs, it was a treat to hear them beefed up and harder. “Just the Best Party,” summed up the feelings of that night. The spectacular “Velocity of Love” and the very appropriate closer “So Long to the Circus” made for a perfecting ending to a night of mischief, danger, and Peter Lorre.
Set List
- Peter Lorre Overture
- With A Good Criminal Heart
- “M” Is For Morphine
- Fiend In Wien
- And Embarked On A Life Of Poverty
- Ich Erinnere Mich An Die Weimarer Republik
- I Don’t Act, I Just Make Faces
- Everybody Goes To Rick’s
- Cathy Catherine
- Thumb Cinema
- Addicted To Bad Ideas
- Heart Attack ‘64
Encore
- The Models And The Mannequins
- Cats Are Not Lucky Creatures
- Tarot Americaine
- Just The Best Party
- Me v. Angry Mob
- The Velocity Of Love
- So Long To The Circus
Nicholas Fehertoi - Nicholas Fehertoi is a student at The College of New Jersey, where he is majoring in psychology and minoring in journalism.
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