TVD Live Shots:
Bauhaus with Azam
Ali at the Hollywood Palladium, 12/01

As the dust settled, I took a moment to soak in what I had just witnessed and walked back to my car speechless. This show was brilliant on so many levels and highlighted the sheer genius of Daniel Ash, Peter Murphy, Kevin Haskins, and David J. For fans in attendance, the performance on Sunday night was magic of a type that won’t be replicated any time soon.

I’m not sure there are many other bands who have been more influential for other bands than Bauhaus. Formed in 1978, Bauhaus were true pioneers of gothic rock and set the stage for all who came afterward. Nine Inch Nails, Korn, and Tool (just to name a few) have cited Bauhaus as a significant influence upon their music, and this will come as no surprise to those who have followed the band since its inception. Their style was unlike anything in music then or now, and they continue to push the envelope 40+ years later.

On Sunday night, Bauhaus once again sold out the Hollywood Palladium for what was sure to be a show for the ages. Opening the evening was Azam Ali, and although I had never heard her music prior, I definitely wanted to hear more after her set concluded. Azam’s voice was beautifully haunting and the perfect fit for the evening. Her cover of the Cocteau Twins’ “Shallow Then Hollow” was spectacular and demonstrated that all covers need not sound like covers—Azam made it her own and shined in the process.

Scanning the Hollywood Palladium prior to the show, it was abundantly clear that the venue would soon be packed to the rafters as the night got underway. The preshow music was a cacophony of industrial sounds that seemed to get louder as the show inched closer. Then, at 9:15, lights dimmed and a fog hovered over the stage as Peter Murphy and company took full control of the fabled venue. We were off and running with John Cale’s “Rosegarden Funeral of Sores” from 1980.

Over the next 2 hours, Bauhaus electrified the crowd with a 19-song set that left nothing to the imagination and satisfied even the most die-hard fan. Favorites from the evening included “Stigmata Marytr,” “Dark Entries,” and certainly “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” although I’m sure others might beg to differ. The mega-set ended with two encores of simply covers—Iggy Pop, T. Rex, David Bowie, and Brian Eno. These were special and a perfect way to conclude one unbelievable show.

AZAM ALI

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