Apr 15

Apr 15 Review: Cloakroom + Malleus III + The Jesus Casino at Eulogy

At the heart of Cloakroom’s latest album, Last Leg of the Human Table, lies “Bad Larry” — an unexpectedly pop-leaning ballad that sounds like a lost ’90s alt-rock gem. It’s both the band’s most accessible song to date and, paradoxically, one of its boldest. For a group known for shoegaze-infused, face-melting blasts reminiscent of Hum and Loop, the track could be viewed as a risky departure.

Much like on the record, at its show at Eulogy on April 1, the quartet from Northwest Indiana reinforced its reputation for sonic onslaught during the opening salvo of its set before offering up a moment of melodic reprieve with its uncharacteristic single. Following the crushing, slow-burn of opener “The Pilot” and the full-throttle surge of “Ester Wind” a few songs later, “Bad Larry” was a highlight of the evening underscoring what makes Cloakroom special: its ability to subvert expectations and transcend genre confines.

Of course, it would be deceitful to say that the ethereal heaviness wasn’t the main draw, and the quartet delivered on that front, achieving grandeur on consecutive crowd-pleasers “The Unbelonging” and “Doubts.” The latter, a personal favorite from Dissolution Wave (2022), was quite possibly the most transcendent moment of the night, after which the band closed it all out with the stoner-rock-infused “Dissembler.”

Unlike many groups loosely associated with the shoegaze tag, Cloakroom ventures well beyond the genre’s signature hazy swells. Its set at Eulogy made that abundantly clear, as the ensemble continuously shifted gears without ever losing momentum.

I’d be remiss to cut this review short without mentioning opening sets by local artists The Jesus Casino and Malleus III. Over the past year or so, I’d heard reports from others that The Jesus Casino was a new band to keep an eye on. I’d really wanted to catch their set at Fleetwood’s during the opening night of last year’s AVLFest, but wasn’t willing to sacrifice missing Jessica Pratt’s performance at The Orange Peel.

From the initial moments of the alt-rock trio’s performance, I was deeply impressed. The one-named Jenna’s powerhouse lead vocals are a force to be reckoned with, and the group’s unique blend of alternative, metal, and electronics is refreshing. It’s going to be interesting to see how the band progresses as they continue to develop.

Making its live debut between the two imposing sets, Malleus III — the atmospheric drone duo of Sophie Hull (Sleep Number) and drummer Wes McCoy — held its own. It was a strong reminder that there’s a talented experimental scene thriving under the radar in Asheville.

(Photos by Jonny Leather)