Editorial Department

Crystal Castles at Kia's Soul Collective

November 9th, 2009 by

by Mui-Hai Chu

Photographs by Alisa Nizhniy

I remember the first time I saw Crystal Castles. They had just been booked at this small venue in a town I've never even heard of--Mountainview--but never played there because within a matter of one month, had boosted themselves into a much larger venue in San Francisco, and played a show that shocked and forced an energy into the Bay Area hipster crowd that usually defaults into a crossed-arms stance, nodding heads slightly with a continual glare of weariness. Alice Glass, CC's singer, had such extreme energy and climbed into the crowd, bringing everyone to dance around her. One could really feel the development of a monster, in a good way. Now, two years later.

Still with their signature Mario Brothers video game-like beats and sounds, they've only gotten better and crazier. Now they do something that is even more interesting, or brings to mind an interesting idea, put into motion. They abound with the same energy, though stronger and more focused to create a furor of frenzy. As Alice climbs over the barrier between the stage and the audience, ever needing to feel the contact between herself and her audience, she seems to embody an idea of celebrity or messiah, but sarcastically almost, since it's done to such extreme. Everyone who can get their hands on her tiny, fragile-looking body, does so and there's just moments where she disappears, engulfed completely by her fans, and all one hears are her screams into the microphone. She brings with her also, a huge light which she clutches the entire time and shines into the eyes of the crowd, as if this were a blinding light of God's. Maybe this is looking too much into the whole affair; maybe this was just a really freaking awesome show.

Neon Indian, who came on before Crystal Castles also put on a fantastic show. Great musicians, great songs, great energy. Definitely worthy of checking out again when they come back into Los Angeles later this month at The Echo.

Lastly, and most importantly, special thanks to Kia's Soul Collective, who put on this amazing free event at Siren Studios as well as a whole weekend full of other free good times that hopefully some of you got to enjoy.

crystal castles