Two Nights of Darkwave in Los Angeles: Cold Cave’s Cremations and Alex Okami

Over the weekend of September 11 and 12, I attended two remarkable performances by Wesley Eisold of Cold Cave and Alex Okami in Los Angeles, experiencing Eisold’s emotional presentation of “Cremations” and Okami’s engaging live show with heartfelt moments.

thehollywoodveil
5–8 minutes

Over the weekend of September 11 and 12, I was able to catch two amazing shows from two talented musicians: Cold Cave’s Wesley Eisold and Alex Okami. Announced back in May, Eisold would be performing Cold Cave’s 2009 Cremations collection live in full for the very first time, and I knew I needed to make it out to Los Angeles to experience this. For as long as I’ve loved Cold Cave, I have somehow never seen them live. I was aware this was going to be very different from their typical set, but I felt this was even more reason to be there.

I had planned on returning to Reno the following day, but I was introduced to Okami by Hollywood Veil’s own Haley Guidry and was informed he would be performing at a show the following night. I extended my stay an additional night and began counting down the days until my flight out to LA.

Sonically, Cremations is an interesting album considering where Eisold had been before and what has since come after its release. Maybe it’s me, but I do need to be in a certain state of mind to listen to it. It’s extremely experimental and noisy, but there is so much poetic beauty found deep within that I find it an incredible body of work. Back in 2009 when I picked it up by chance (I bought it purely for the cover art), Cremations was unlike anything I had heard at the time. I think there was one other person I knew who was into it and Cold Cave in general, but outside of that, the album was a secret of mine that I held onto and listened to in isolation.

The show was to be held at the iconic Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. I got there a few hours early to explore the surrounding cemetery and take in the atmosphere. Once inside, I made my way to the merch area. I was met with a dimly lit room with spectacular chandeliers, four large Gothic chairs along the far end of the room and a large fireplace. After taking all this in, I made my way into the space where the performance was to be held. I was greeted with a massive Heartworm projection sitting below an illuminated stained-glass window, with fog already billowing out from both sides of the stage. The space itself was gorgeous and, like the merch room, set the vibe of the night perfectly.

Before getting into Cremations, we had a showcase of Heartworm poets and musicians to savor. First was Eric Paul, who read several excerpts from Providence, recently published by Heartworm Press, touching on topics like fatherhood and growing up in Providence, Rhode Island. Rosa Anschütz went onstage next and performed songs from her LP Sabbaticalto celebrate one year since the album’s release. Her set was hauntingly beautiful, packed full of emotion and drenched in melodic soundscapes and vocals. Lastly was a reading from writer and poet Violetta Leigh, whose prose was exceptional and a definite highlight of the night. I’m very much looking forward to Leigh’s new poetry book with Heartworm Press.

Soon after, Eisold got onstage and hit the first few notes that brought Cremations to life. The set went at a blistering pace, but the energy never let up. The audience was entranced, dancing, with some closing their eyes and simply taking it all in. The tracks themselves are generally on the shorter end; think of them as little glimpses into the mind of Eisold when he started layering these compositions together. Each track was accompanied by an image projected onto the back wall featuring lyrics from specific songs.

It dawned on me during this performance just how poetic and expressive Cremations is. I was absorbed by the content of the words, how they were written and their arrangement when displayed through the projector. I don’t think I truly appreciated this during my time with the album over a decade ago. The Cremations zine I picked up after the show compiles these images and words, and I have revisited them several times since the show.

The performance wasn’t just Eisold. During Heavenly Metals, a personal favorite of mine from both the album and the show, Max G. Morton joined him onstage to recite the spoken-word portions of the track, which I thought added a nice touch. Amy Lee would later join in for a few songs, playing certain sections on both guitar and keys. Other standout songs from the night were E Dreams, Hummingbirds and Love You Forever, as they were performed exceptionally well.

When it was all over, “Cremations” filled the back wall as Eisold thanked everyone for coming. I could tell how much this meant to him, and I’m glad that an additional Los Angeles performance was added the night prior. Before the house lights came on, Eisold brought members of Cold Cave onstage to perform Confetti, followed by a cover to close out the night. Sunflowers in hand, it was a triumphant performance by Eisold.

The next night, I trekked out to The Paramount for Alex Okami. This year has been an exceptional one for darkwave music. Earlier in the year, Fevr, Occults, Xray5, Holy Water, Vic Vapors and Deceits had all come through Reno, and I was excited to check out a relatively new artist in the post-punk and darkwave scene, even if Okami’s first EP arrived back in 2020. Okami has a knack for songwriting, which particularly comes through in his latest single, Permanent Disease, and paired with his energetic live performances, I had a feeling this was going to be good.

For his latest fall tour, instead of performing solo, Okami was joined by Markus Castro of Post Crucifixion on guitar and Manuel Perez of Corbeau Hangs on keys. This freed up Okami to command the stage and engage the audience. As a photographer, Okami was enjoyable to shoot. The poses, facial expressions and movements all made for an entertaining and fun experience. As a frontman, Okami is more than capable of elevating his project to the next level. Having the backing musicians added a different dimension to his sound. The music came alive, and it was palpable among everyone in attendance.

Over the course of the set, Okami pointed out that his parents had made the drive over from Phoenix to see the opening night of his tour. It was a touching moment, but during the last song, a cover of Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence, it got even more emotional. Okami got offstage and into the crowd to embrace his dad, thanking him for always supporting and helping him on his journey as a musician and getting him to where he is today. It was absolutely touching and beautiful to see. I cannot recommend Alex Okami enough after seeing this set.

Over the course of my two nights in LA, I listened to some incredible music by exceptionally talented musicians. I witnessed Cremations come to life, a passion project for Wesley Eisold that was executed perfectly. The show itself was unlike anything I had seen before, not only a celebration of Cold Cave but of Heartworm Press, featuring several talented musicians and poets from its roster.

Alex Okami is an exciting artist, and watching him perform a jaw-dropping set was pure bliss. This weekend will live long in my memory and is one I won’t soon forget.

Cold Cave / Heartworm

A man with glasses and a beard enthusiastically reading from a notebook while standing at a microphone, with a colorful background.
A performer in a black jacket with decorative details, standing thoughtfully beside a microphone in a dimly lit setting.
Singer performing on stage with a microphone, surrounded by dramatic lighting and smoke.
A musician performing on stage in black and white, with a microphone and a vase of flowers visible in the foreground.
A vocalist performing on stage with a microphone, captured in black and white. The performer has long hair and wears a dark outfit adorned with feathers. Their expression is focused and emotive.
A female performer singing into a microphone on stage, with a minimalist setup including a flower arrangement and electronic equipment, illuminated by soft purple lighting.
A woman with long black hair reads from a piece of paper while standing at a microphone, wearing a black dress and accessories.
A musician performing on stage at sunset, wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt, with a microphone and various electronic equipment on the table.
A DJ performing on stage with a minimalist setup, surrounded by flowers, against a backdrop displaying the text 'future and it's no place for.'
A DJ performing on stage with long hair blowing in the air, wearing a patterned top, with a vase of flowers and equipment on the table. In the background, a projected abstract image.
A musician performing on stage with long hair, wearing a patterned shirt, surrounded by electronic equipment and a microphone, in a dimly lit environment with a decorative vase and lamp.
Two musicians performing on stage with a modern setup, featuring a lamp and equipment, against a backdrop of abstract light patterns.
A musician performing at a live event, with a projector screen displaying abstract visuals in the background. The performer, wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt, is focused on a turntable, amidst a table decorated with a lamp and a small bouquet of flowers.
A musician performing on stage, wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt, passionately singing into a microphone with sound equipment and a lamp on the table.
Musician performing with a keyboard instrument while wearing sunglasses, with a microphone and various electronic equipment on a table, set against an artistic background.
A DJ performing live on stage, wearing a patterned shirt, with a microphone and equipment in front of them, while a projected screen in the background displays text.
A black and white image of two musicians performing on stage, focused on their electronic instruments, with text projections in the background.
A silhouette of a musician performing with a microphone, surrounded by a sound system and a flower vase, against a stark, textured backdrop.
A black and white image of a DJ performing on stage with the word 'CREMATIONS' illuminated behind them, featuring a microphone and a small lamp on the table, along with a vase of flowers.
A singer performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a patterned shirt, while a blurred figure stands behind them. Projected text in the background includes poetic phrases.
A musician performing on stage, wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt, singing into a microphone with a blurred projection in the background featuring text.
A singer wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt performs on stage, microphone in hand, with a blurred background displaying text.
A guitarist performing on stage shrouded in smoke, with soft lighting creating a dramatic silhouette.
A performer raises a bouquet of sunflowers while singing into a microphone, with a foggy stage backdrop and a hand of an audience member reaching out.
A musician performing on stage in front of large illuminated letters 'C C', surrounded by flowers and equipment.
A silhouette of a performer singing into a microphone on stage, with large letters 'CC' illuminated in the background. A flower arrangement and electronic equipment are visible in the foreground, set against dramatic lighting.
A heart-shaped projection with the word 'WORM' in bold letters against a dark background.

Alex Okami

A performer passionately singing into a microphone on stage, wearing stylish clothing and holding the mic stand, with blurred instruments in the background.
A performer passionately singing into a microphone on stage, with a hand extended and wearing a stylish outfit including fishnet sleeves.
A singer performing on stage, holding a microphone passionately while wearing a stylish outfit with fishnet sleeves and jewelry.
A singer performing on stage, passionately holding a microphone and dressed in stylish attire with accessories, exuding energy and emotion during a live music event.
A performer passionately singing into a microphone on stage, wearing a black outfit with mesh sleeves and accessories, set against a blue lighting backdrop.
A black and white image of a male singer performing on stage, wearing a patterned shirt and holding a microphone stand. The background features a logo that reads 'AKAMI'.
A male singer passionately performing on stage with a microphone, while a male musician plays electronic instruments in the background, illuminated by stage lights.
A musician performing on stage, holding a microphone with a dramatic expression. They are dressed in a stylish outfit featuring a fishnet top and a tailored vest, surrounded by blue stage lights.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage under blue lighting.
A black and white image of a crowd at a music event, focusing on a performer with their back to the camera as they engage with an audience. The attendees, including men and women, are visibly enjoying the performance and interacting with each other.
A live performance with a male singer passionately gesturing on stage, accompanied by a guitarist and a keyboardist, under colorful stage lights with a backdrop displaying the name 'ALEX OKAMO'.
A singer performing on stage with arms raised, set against a backdrop of stage lights. Another musician with a guitar is partially visible in the background.
A performer singing passionately into a microphone in front of an engaged crowd at a lively concert, captured in black and white.
A performer with dark hair and a stylish outfit, raising hands in a dramatic pose, standing in front of a microphone, captured in black and white.
A passionate male vocalist singing into a microphone, with an intense expression, wearing a black vest and a patterned shirt. The image is in black and white.
A performer on stage pointing towards the audience while holding a microphone, dressed in a black outfit with fishnet sleeves, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
Singer performing passionately on stage, holding a microphone, dressed in a stylish black outfit with intricate details.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, captured in motion, with a focus on the guitar and hands, set against a blurred background.
A musician performing with a keyboard on stage, captured in black and white. They have curly hair, glasses, and are focused on their performance.
A male performer passionately singing on stage, wearing a stylish black outfit with intricate patterns. He has curly hair and is adorned with accessories, expressing intense emotion during a live performance.

Words and photos by Robert Khoury

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