Photography and Review by Carlos Detres

Dim red lights cast the shadow of shoegaze-leaning Violens over the crowd that had gathered in the East Village cavern also known as Mercury Lounge. It’s literally a black box inside where sound is trapped into its surrounding black walls. It’s where labels like Warner Brothers go to showcase prospective talent. So despite its isolated appearance, the venue is more corporate than it appears but despite these leanings, bands like Violens play there without the need of any of the Big Four. Verging on new releases, the band came to Mercury Lounge, played their asses off, and set the guitars down for the night, leaving the rest of us in a vibrating state of musical satiation. Their music playing in our ears, so loudly that when the Nite Jewel played, some of us had to leave. As much as this venue caters to the larger, bigger name labels, there are many nights to hear and see a band of this caliber play.