[kj] LA Tonight

[T.B.]

For all the reports of inconsistent gigs on the North American leg this
tour, I am supremely happy to report tonight's show at The Fonda in LA was
excellent, probably the best show I seen them do, period.
 
The opening band Czar was predictably terrible, a 3rd rate Lamb Of God
downtuned cookie monster vox style band that was only surprising in
demonstrating how loud and bottom-end heavy the Fonda's excellent sound
system was.  Killing Joke came on at about 10:20 opening with Requiem and
right away I was impressed with the sound, by far sonically the best I've
ever heard this band sound with a solid, tight low end yet Geordie's guitar
right up there in the mix.  The band seemed in excellent spirits and even
persistent monitor and amp mic problems with Geordies rig didn't slow the
band down at all.  Jaz' vox were strong the entire show and Youth was
especially animated the entire night.  And I can't imagine seeing a show
with someone subbing for Big Paul - he is so impressive every show I've seen
him with the band.
 
The pacing was perfect and probably the two biggest high points was the
magnificent performance of Sun Goes Down (the look on  Jaz's face when he
realized they nailed it by the end of the song was priceless) followed by a
storming "Eighties" (they seem to play it faster every tour) and  a great
version of TDARS in the middle of the encore.
 
We pretty much got every song they've been playing the last two months
(except Follow The Leaders) including both  Chop-Chop and Empire Song as
well Corporate Elect and European Superstate (which sounded much better than
the 2010 show I saw).  We also got a 5 song encore prefaced with a mention
of Raven's passing leading into Love Like Blood as well as The Death And
Resurrection Show.  I really thought we might get one more song out of them
after closer Pssyche.
 
As lackluster both the band and audience was at the depressingly half-full
Wiltern Theater at the end of 2010 the last time they played here, tonight
at the much smaller and better suited Fonda Theater had much better energy
from both the band and the audience, especially up front.  They didn't sell
tickets to the balcony which was closed off but the floor was pretty packed.
 
T.B.
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