In Name and Blood

Following the first song of their set (one of two they were performing at the Theatre of Living Arts Friday night), Murder City Devils front man Spencer Moody apologized for getting too wild during the song and flubbing the lyrics. "We can do this two ways," the bespectacled singer told the crowd. "I can either sing the songs right or do them all fucked up," the latter of which was met by a roar of approval from the crowd. And he did proceed to sing the songs all fucked up. Since Murder City Devils' songs are pretty repetitive in general, it really doesn't matter if he sings the first verse twice, or if the verses are out of order. What does matter is that after the best part of a decade since their last show in Philly, the Devils fully threw themselves into their material and played their asses off. Seven people on stage, all giving 100%, you would never know that they were playing a second show at midnight. Not once did they hold back, or save a little energy for the later show. Moody destroyed his glasses about half way through and performed with only one lens for the balance. "People ask where Murder City is," he howled, "I said it's in my, it's in my heart!" The song immediately followed, Moody sang to the crowd, "If you're not gonna dance, what the fuck did you come here for?" With little stage banter, the Devils destroyed tracks from each of their albums with "Midnight Service at the Mutter Museum" and "Bear Away" from 2001's Thema EP being particular standouts. They closed with a mind-numbingly loud cover of the Birthday Party's "Several Sins," leaving their instruments on stage pouring out feedback until it was abruptly cut off. Many fans stood around hoping for one more helping, but security was quick to begin clearing the floor to prepare for the midnight show. "See you soon," promised the band. Unless they were talking to the superfans who were coming back in at midnight, we are probably not going to see MCD for quite some time and that's ok. The Devils were always in danger of incinerating at any minute when they were a full time band. So on the rare occasions when they show their horns, that buildup of emotion is heaved from the stage to the dance floor, and everyone is left panting and wanting more, but none the less satisfied that you just witnessed something great, though fleeting.