All the way from Belarus, Eastern Europe, post-punk band Molchat Doma graced the stage of The Concourse Project in Austin, Texas.
The band was founded in 2017 in the capital of Belarus, Minsk, but now is based in Los Angeles, California. Molchat Doma is a perfect blend of new wave, synth-pop, and post-punk. Their sound is entirely recognizable and a staple in the goth ethos. Molchat Doma translates to “Houses Are Silent.” The group is made up of Egor Shkutko (vocals), Roman Komogortsev (guitar/synthesizer/drums), and Pavel Kozlov (bass/synthesizer).
Earlier this year, the crew released three live recorded singles at Panorama Hotel in Strbske Pleso, Slovakia. Their 2018 album Этажи, pronounced Etazhi and meaning “Floors,” features the Panorama Hotel on the cover of the album. All four of their albums feature a unique architectural structure. Their most recent album, released last September, Belaya Polosa features a graphic not of a building but a 1940s architectural concept to be built in Rome that was never carried through.
Opening for the trio was the Los Angeles band, Sextile. Performing this chilly night in Austin and making up Sextile were musicians Brady Keehn (vocals/guitar/electronics), Melissa Scaduto (electronics/guitar), and Lia Braswell (drums). Their band name stems from the astrological term, meaning “a harmonious aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies are about 60 degrees apart.” In 2015, they released their debut punk album, A Thousand Hands.
Starting at an hour after doors, at 8 PM, Sextile kicked off the night. Melissa stormed the stage waving a giant flag with the band’s name on it. They sang songs such as “Hazing” and “Disco,” both from their 2018 EP 3. Towards the end of the set, Melissa announced the next song was a new song, “S is For.” Their forty-five-minute set was not nearly enough time to get the full Sextile experience. They connected with fans and truly made the night unforgettable. At the end of the set, Melissa waved another flag that said “Abortion Rights Now.”
After the descending riffs and occult-inspired set of the Sextile, Molchat Doma took to the stage. They played songs such as “Ты Же Не Знаешь Кто Я” (Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh Kto Ya) from their latest album and “Дома молчат” (Doma Molchat) from their 2017 debut album, С Крыш Наших Домов. They also performed their famous, thanks to TikTok, “Судно (Борис Рижий),” (Sudno (Boris Ryzhy), translated to “Bedpan (Boris Ryzhy)”). The cold and gloomy vibe of the songs did not match the amazed energy in the room. The dystopian sound resonated through the venue. The trio captivated the building with their droning voice and mysterious stage presence. Their tour will continue into March, ending at Los Angeles’s Hollywood Palladium.
