Dec 20

Dec 20 Concert review: Secret Shame at The Grey Eagle

You’re an addict.

When you started going to shows, it was always thrilling because it all felt so fresh and new. One or two a month was all it took. Now, you’re a tired old man, spending every other night at clubs, chasing highs that become more distant. It’s not enough to see another quartet of sweaty white guys with guitars play tired mid-tempo rock songs. You need to observe a strange experimental synth performer spray paint his face and set his junk to flames.

What is wrong with you?

For as much as I love photographing live music on a regular basis, it can at times become monotonous. Performances can be predictable and tedious, and the hundreds of photos start to look the same. So, it’s always refreshing to have an act come along and break the repetition.

I was drawn to The Grey Eagle on Dec. 12 to catch Secret Shame. The local post-punk four-piece caught my ear when it opened for Xiu Xiu at The Mothlight in 2019, and ever since, I’ve become more and more impressed by its output.

I had no idea what to expect of the opening acts. My inner old man dreaded the thought of enduring four bands on a weeknight, but I got there early anyway.

Upon arrival, I found Goth Dad (Dusty Gannon of Vision Video) on stage pumping out some classic post-punk from a laptop. Later on, returning to his DJ duties between acts, he’d sneak in Blink 182’s “Dammit” as well as the 1-2 punch of Wham!’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and George Michael’s “Careless Whisper.”

The first instrumental performer on stage was Dot Com Bubble, a masked solo act from Asheville. Once its wonky synth punk began, it was clear that the facial disguise was hardly the strangest thing going on. The mix of Casio synth guitar, cartoony synthesizer sounds, and altered vocals recalled the frenzied tunes of ADULT. and early Dan Deacon, instantly taking me back to the unpredictable Brooklyn DIY shows of the aughts.

As odd as Dot Com Bubble’s performance was, it did little to prepare anyone for The Emotron, a solo act from Georgia that Secret Shame had recently met on tour. His synthesizer was set up to the far right of the stage with some burning incense providing smoke for atmosphere, and on the floor was a ragged sheet that would provide The Grey Eagle’s stage its only protection from the barrage of snot and spit dispatched from the facial orifices of The Emotron.

Musically, it was pretty simple — just some funny, half-spoken crooning done karaoke style over a catchy electronic backdrop — but he managed to keep the crowd engaged with a bizarre performance during which he sprayed green paint onto his face and shed countless layers of clothing. Towards the end of the set, it seemed as though his willy would make an appearance. He pulled down his underwear, only to reveal another layer of underwear, repeating this act several times over until only a single thin pair remained between us and it. Rather than do what everyone had to be expecting, he grabbed a spray can, dispersed whatever it was on his groin and ignited a flame, sending his audience into an amused state of shock.

There was no way that the following band, Cave Grave, could top the spectacle of a flaming crotch, so the local metal trio kept it simple and bludgeoned us with a blazingly fast and heavy combination of death metal and grindcore. Although I tend to be drawn to more dreamy and melodic sounds, it was good to be taken out of my comfort zone for a little bit.

Headliner Secret Shame brought me right back into my comfort zone. The band was finally celebrating the release of its impressive sophomore album, Autonomy, which dropped in late October. Undoubtedly running ragged after a lengthy time on the road, the quartet found every last bit of fuel left in the tank to provide the hometown fans with an exhilarating performance. Just as it does on the album, opener “Hide” instantly set the foundation, riding a rumbling bass and lead vocalist Lena’s soaring, emotionally raw singing.

On the surface, Autonomy will draw in listeners via Secret Shame’s skillfully constructed post-punk sounds. Similar to how The Cure and The Banshees crafted dark songs with a melodic heart, the Asheville band utilizes strong hooks to make the serious subject matter of its lyrics go down easier. On Autonomy, Lena confronts her mental health struggles and anorexia like an open book. Assisted by her powerful voice, the words strike with a devastating force.

That raw emotional punch only hits harder in the live setting with the throbbing propulsion of the rhythm section and sonic textures of the guitars at max volume. The group mainly stuck to the excellent new material but they did bust out infectious 2020 single “Dissolve,” and Gannon joined them on stage to assist Lena on vocals for the band’s poppiest tune. Saved for last, set closer “Zero” provided a powerful final gasp to close out an excellent night of music.

With Asheville’s music scene suddenly having the ear of prominent music critics and major indie labels, it appears to be only a matter of time before Secret Shame starts getting the same level of attention as ascending locals Indigo DeSouza, Wednesday, and MJ Lenderman.

(Photos by Jonny Leather)