Alice Glass & Marie Davidson
On May 29, Alice Glass (ex-Crystal Castles) headlines the first live show in The Ruins. From her very first releases, Glass established herself as a fearless performer with a wicked pop sensibility who was able to channel the dark allure of goth and industrial while reaching beyond those genre confines. A mysterious presence who intentionally obscured her public persona, Glass became a definitive rockstar to a certain generation of MySpace-pilled millennials.
Chillingly, her 2017 statement about her tenure in the band reveals layers of abuse and grooming on the part of her primary collaborator, putting their beloved discography in a darker light. Her solo work lands with a weight and power that is hard to hear outside of that experience, and her resilience. Last year’s “Remains” is a noisy hyperpop anthem that effortlessly balances the diaristic and intimate with heavy bass, stuttering, digital vocal chops and neo-trap drums.
Marie Davidson is a kindred spirit who brings a biting sense of humor to her banging, EDM-tinged industrial club tracks. This spring’s City of Clowns is her masterstroke, skewering the modern tech-saturated miasma of late capitalism with ice cold insight.
Chaos in the CBD
On the other end of the spectrum, Australia’s premier party brothers Chaos in the CBD bring an afternoon of good clean raving to the Ruins. When it comes to these two, there’s no trick question. Chaos in the CBD hits that sweet spot between tech house, classic 90s sounds, Balearic & cosmic chug, dubby rollers and the spirit of disco. It’s not flashy and it’s not techy, but it is impossible to resist. They’re celebrating the release of their album A Deeper Life, and the lead single “Love Language” is an overt nod to the sensual, soulful sound pioneered by Kerri Chandler, Ron Trent and Prescription Records. A smooth jazz-grade sax drifts unhurriedly across the top of the mix. Are Chaos in the CBD grown & sexy? Perhaps, but on a hot summer day, there’s no doubt it’ll get rowdy.
Life & Death
On June 7, DJ Tennis brings his Life & Death label to the full venue with a day-and-night takeover. Life & Death is one of the definitive melodic house & techno labels of the modern era, but Tennis is opening up the lineup to stretch beyond his trademark sound. To start: Moodymann joins him. The Detroit house icon is one of the most important and singular artists to emerge from his hometown’s legendary lineage. The last time he was in The Ruins, it was sensational. Flanked by backup dancers and liberally addressing the audience on the mic, Moodymann epitomized swaggering cool and unruffled confidence.
Tiki Disco
Don’t worry, they’re coming :)