This Saturday, July 28, industrial band I:Scintilla returns home to Champaign-Urbana to headline at the HighDive. IDG Productions is presenting the show, and Chicago’s GoFight and local DJ SorceryKid are the opening acts.
Due to some carelessness on my part, this concert only hit my radar when the poster showed up on my Facebook newsfeed. “What’s this,” I thought. “Who is this lovely lady and why is she giving me the finger? I’ve done nothing to her.” It turns out that I:Scintilla is an amazing, post-industrial band from Champaign, and once I listened to their music, I was an instant fan.
I:Scintilla has been playing and recording since 2003. From 2004 to 2007, they were based in C-U, and a vital part of the local music scene here. I spoke with the band’s guitarist and programmer, Jim Cookas over email recently, and he told me that I:Scintilla “played 40+ C-U shows” during that time. After being signed to underground, alternative label Alfa Matrix in 2007, they moved to Chicago, and have been touring ever since: “We have played C-U a few times since moving away, but our upcoming show will be our first in the area since November 2009.”
IDG Productions’ co-founder, Randall Ellison describes I:Scintilla as “a crossover electronic rock and industrial metal band.” That description is perfect, as their songs range from dark, industrial rock, such as “Ammunition,” to catchy, electronic dance music like “Dying & Falling.” Lead vocalist, Brittany Bindrim possesses a lovely, lyrical voice that has more strength to it than is at first apparent. Auf der Maur would sound like this if she sang electronic music. “Capsella,” especially, showcases Bindrim’s ability for soaring vocal depth. The video for “Swimmers Can Drown” highlights everything this band can do. The talent and showmanship that these musicians have — instrumentation, vocals, personality, expression — are all evident:
I:Scintilla’s lyrics are interesting as well. I confess that I’ve not yet listened to their entire catalog, but from what I have heard, I’ve appreciated that, while they can belt out relentless, hard, even cruel lyrics like those in “Ammunition”:
I’ll learn to use the flames
Keep feeding the inferno
Burning you inside
Burning up your mind
I won’t feed your guilt
I won’t feed your greed
I won’t feed your anger
Who’s laughing now?
…they’re also willing (and just as able) to sing more exposed, vulnerable lyrics:
We make it up as we go along
We all want something that lasts forever
Anyone could have it wrong
We all want something to last forever (“Dying & Falling”)
I:Scintilla’s 2010 album Dying and Falling was very positively reviewed by COMA Music Magazine, and Cookas assured me that we can expect to hear “several songs” from it. Even more exciting, though, is that they will also play “two brand new songs for the first time” at Saturday’s show. Cookas revealed that I:Scintilla will be releasing two EPs by the end of the year:
The first (and nearly completed) one is a collection of acoustic songs (old ones, new ones, and covers). The second is an EP of more club-friendly, stompy songs and remixes. We’re also working on new songs and a score for an independent documentary. The next full-length album is due to come out in Spring 2013.
Not being familiar with I:Scintilla’s second opening act, GoFight (above), I asked Cookas to send his thoughts. GoFight is the new project from former Die Warzau singer/founder Jim Marcus, with whom I am also not familiar. It turns out that during the late 80s and early 90s, while I was planning my escape from the cultural wasteland that is Shreveport, Louisiana, Die Warzau was busy being a “highly successful and influential band.” They:
- Contributed their song “I’ve Got to Make Sense” to Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign
- Signed to The Cure’s record label Fiction
- Toured with Nine Inch Nails in 1991
- Worked with George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic on several records
What I also learned from Cookas is that this is GoFight’s very first show: “We’re excited to be touring the east coast and Midwest with them in the coming months.” Cookas also said that Marcus’ new band is “fantastic and Jim’s voice is incredible,” and I very much agree. GoFight is some of the best electroscuzz I’ve heard, ever. Their song “Go” … it’s impossible not to want to dance while listening to it. I know that I might be way off saying this, but they sometimes remind me of The Faint (especially, “We Are the Enemy”). Coming from me, that’s a compliment.
And Jim Marcus seems like he’d be the best teacher in the world.
C-U’s own DJ SorceryKid (right) is the night’s first opener, and you can learn everything you need to know about him here.
This is an early show (7:00–10:00 p.m.), and dubstep DJs will play afterwards until 2:00 a.m. However, there are plans for an after party at Mike ‘N Molly’s to see Carnivàle Debauche ($5 cover). So the show might start early, but the party continues well into the wee hours of the morning.
I:Scintilla has performed over 40 concerts in Champaign-Urbana and this will be my first. From all appearances, this band puts on a fantastic live show. We’re in for a great night.
Check out I:Scintilla with GoFight and DJ SorceryKid at the HighDive this Saturday, July 28th. Show starts at 7 p.m and cover is $7.
Photo of I:Scintilla used with permission; photos of GoFight and DJ SorceryKid from their Facebook pages.