Add N To (X)
with Pony Da Look, Radio Free Luxembourg, DJ Jimi Lamort
Tuesday July 17, 2001 @ El Mocambo, Toronto

We got to the show a little early, only to have a girl who was outside the club tell us that doors were at “half-nine”. Apparently this is some sort of British term for 9:30, which we managed to deduce after a short period of confusion.

We purchased our tickets and then proceeded to stuff our faces with fast food in an attempt to kill time. Then we went into a used bookstore, where some guy was reading movie trivia questions out to his girlfriend who really looked like she could care less. We did a little bit of browsing, and I must admit, I was tempted to buy the Arsenio Hall biography, but in the end I passed on it.

By this time, a line was starting to form outside the El Mo (or rather a “queue” as the Brits like to call it), so we went back to the club and waited. When we got inside, there was already some industrial music pounding throughout the club. I assume this was DJ Jimi Lamort, doing his thing. The music kind of reminded me of the now-defunct Gord’s Place in St.Catharines from back in the day. I never was a big fan of industrial music though.

As I glanced around, I realized there was an interesting assortment of characters in attendance at this show. I hadn’t realized that Add N To (X) would attract a large goth following, but when you stop to think about it, I guess it makes sense.

The first band to take the stage was a weird one. I believe they were called “Radio Free Luxembourg”, because that is what they kept shouting at the end of every song. They spoke with fake German accents, and they had various people in strange costumes posing and moving about the stage while they played. They were definitely going for that artsy Kraftwerk kind of thing, but in a very tongue-in-cheek manner. Their music was repetitive and somewhat annoying after a while. It basically consisted of them playing a cd, and then talking over top of the music while marching to the beat. I think it was mostly a joke. They were amusing and bizarre, but thankfully they didn’t play for more than 20 minutes or so.

The club was starting to get really hot and crowded by this time. The next band was Poni Da Look, an all-girl British band. They had one drummer and the other four members played keyboards and sang. Their music had a very simple, primitive feel to it as they each tapped out simple melodies on their cheesy Casio keyboards. They attempted to sing and harmonize with each other, but a lot of times they were horribly off-key. Sometimes this was on purpose, in a Kathleen Hanna kind of way, but other times I think they may have just been a little nervous. Their set got better as it progressed and as they gained confidence, but I think they had lost most of the crowd after the first song or two. Their music probably could have benefitted from some other instruments in the mix to make it sound fuller, because it was very stripped down and boring at times.

After they left the stage, the big wait began. It seemed like forever before Add N To (X) were ready to play. I honestly cannot remember waiting longer than this for a band to set up. It was really hot and really crowded, and I felt like I was going to fall asleep before they were done setting up. Granted, Add N To (X) have a ton of equipment, and I did not envy the tech guy who was up there with a flashlight trying to get everything connected.

Finally, Add N To (X) came on, and although the long wait had made me cranky and skeptical, they won me over by the end of the first song.

I don’t own any Add N To (X) albums, but I figured that I had heard enough of their music to make most of it recognizable. As it turned out, I barely recognized any of the songs, but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the music. Everyone else around me seemed to know the material well enough, especially the tall, lanky dude beside me who kept doing this weird dance and knocking his shoulder into my jaw.

My main worries about this show were that Add N To (X) would either (a) be too noisy, or (b) have too many long jams. Well, they were in fact quite loud and noisy, and had a lot of longer jams, but this this turned out to be for the better. I don’t even know how long they played for, but they managed to always keep the energy level up and it never got boring. Having a live drummer definitely added to the overall energy of the show.

Their music has a very atmospheric feel to it, something that operates on an almost subconscious level that allows you to forget your surroundings and be drawn into the sounds they are creating.

They had a few technical difficulties during the show (which is probably inevitable with the amount of equipment they use), but they were barely noticeable. The highlights of the show were definitely the songs that involved the use of the theremin; they were clearly a lot of fun for both the band and the crowd.

I must admit, I was a little disappointed that there were no extra visual gadgets like video projections or stage props during their performance. I was especially disappointed that there was no pornography. I have heard that Add N To (X) are big advocates of porn, and I was hoping for a little bit of the in-out, if you know what I’m saying.

Still, porn or no porn, this was a great show. Add N To (X) know how to rock a hot and sweaty club like no one else. Definitely one of the best (although one of the only) shows I’ve seen this summer. Don’t pass up an opportunity to see Add N To (X) live, because they will blow your mind!!!– Sean