The Black Angels' Death Song

In only a few seconds, The Black Angels can transform a standard music venue like Luna Lounge, into the trenches of warfare. And oddly enough, on Easter Sunday, they did just that, with swampy guitars, primal beats, and reverb heavy vocals that would be fitting as a soundtrack to Platoon or Apocalypse Now. Playing songs with titles like "First Vietnamese War" and Bloodhounds on My Trail" only further enhances the dark, brooding imagery of their '60s psychedelic influenced tunes. With only one album under their belt, the band seized the stage like veterans, dragging fans along through the murky depths of their 2006 debut album, Passover. Just as fans felt it was safe to leave, The Black Angels emerged back onto the stage for two more songs, finishing it all off with a perfect cover of Stooges classic, "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

The Black Angels

Fittingly, Brooklyn's Vietnam brought their beards and druggy 60s' rock revival sound to the stage ahead of The Black Angels. The highlight of their set coming from the stripped down ballad "Toby." The biggest surprise of the evening came from openers, The Cave Singers, whose washboard playing and a soulful folk evoked a rustic backwoods feel, not often associated with their Seattle home.

The Black Angels fend off the Easter bunny.

From Brooklyn, Vietnam

3 beards, 1 stache. Vietnam.

Seattle folkers, Cave Singers

All photos by Jonny-Leather