LAST PERF TONIGHT! “Wake Not The Dead” at King King, Hollywood – Los Angeles Rock Goth Opera review

Gloomy, moody, spooky—in the best possible way, Wake Not The Dead is a sexy and dazzling new rock ’n’ roll Goth Opera currently playing at King King nightclub in Hollywood.

***Final performance TONIGHT – Thurs, July 25th***

Loosely based on a Gothic vampire novel written by Johann Ludwig Tieck in 1800, the rock-infused opera features some brooding performances from a talented cast, whose voices and demeanor are well suited to the ancient and tragic tale of love lost and regained—at a hideous cost!  Produced by Mario Melendez and directed by Justin Zsebe, the dialogue is high-flown and deliciously antiquated (lots of ‘dosts’ ‘thous’ and ‘hither’) and has pleasing echoes of Bram Stoker and Coppola’s Dracula, Nosferatu, as well as Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

The show is sprinkled throughout with numerous familiar (and some obscure) pop and rock songs and Goth anthems, mostly dating from the 70s and 80s. The lively song list includes a robust version of Siouxsie And The Banshees haunting hit track Spellbound, Black Sabbath’s The Wizard, tunes by Bauhaus, Danzig and The Cramps, as well as—inexplicably—the two 70s hits from (The) Sweet. I was surprised to hear The Damned’s Jetboy Jetgirl, which is actually a remake of the international punk pop hit Ça plane pour moi from Plastic Bertrand from 1977.

The rocking show also features some tortured and shredding riffs from Scott Landes and Eric Griffin (both on guitar), backed by Gordon Bash on bass and keys, Natasha Cox on piano and keyboards, and Steve Kefalas pounding away on drums. The band is hot!

Last night’s extravaganza came to life with this blend of a live band, live vocals, pole dancing (sexy – not trashy) and some superb tissue aerial work from the trio of gravity-defying Vampires.
Above all, it’s a fun and entertaining show!

Song List:

Fox On The Run – Sweet

Death On Two Legs – Queen

Night Of The Vampire – Roky Erickson & The Aliens

Spellbound – Siouxsie And The Banshees

Shenna’s In A Goth Gang – The Cramps

Trust In Me – Aka The Python Song – Siouxsie And The Banshees

Spirit – Bauhaus

Mother – Danzig

The Wizard – Black Sabbath

Jetboy Jetgirl – The Damned

Mr. Crowely – Ozzy Osbourne

Ballroom Blitz – Sweet

Babies On Fire – Brian Eno

We Are The Dead – David Bowie

Cast List:

LuLu Brud‐ Camilla
Joseph Dixon‐ Henry
Maya Kramer‐ Antoinette Krystaal Rain‐ Elizabeth
Sam Ortiz‐ Rochester
Jane Rose‐ Andora
Jhey Castles‐ Samantha
Sacha Senisch‐ Agatha
Dylan Vox‐ Dazzler
Jarel Mascarinas‐ Werewolf/Elvis Austin Horton‐ Wizard

WAKE NOT THE DEAD A Rock and Roll Vampire Opera

King King
6555 Hollywood Blvd
90028

21 & over

Purchase TICKETS here.

$20.00 – $225.00

NB – *All ticket prices will rise by $10.00 on the night, if any are available for door purchase*

Performances:

July 22, 24 & 25, 2013

Door 8PM | Show 9PM

 ***Final performance TONIGHT – Thurs, July 25th***