Balks, Black Bolt, and The Mall Goth Moths Keep It Strictly Local
You were in the wrong place if you weren’t standing in front of The Neurolux’s crowned stage this past Saturday night. Heavy hitters Balks, The Mall Goth Moths, and Black Bolt reminded downtown Boise why sometimes the party is locals only.
Kat Colt, Bri Moore, and Klaus performing with The Mall Goth Moths at The Neurolux in downtown Boise, Idaho
Opening their set with a spoken word legend of their origins, The Mall Goth Moths are an electrifying blend of ‘70s goth rock, psychedelic, and punk. Lead singer and guitarist Kat Colt is the cosmic love child of Alice Cooper and Ann Wilson. With a powerful yet sultry delivery, she casts a witchy spell over the audience. Along with a cover of The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” the perfect showcase for bassist Bri Moore, the band introduced their new single, “Pleasure Palace.” Sticking to their signature goth sound, the single dips into ‘80s metal territory with booming drums and thunderstruck guitar riffs. The group closed their set with a medley of “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals and “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. While both songs have been covered nearly to death, The Mall Goth Moths managed to put a dark new spin on them.
Steve, Kyle, Dustin, and Justin performing with Black Bolt at The Neurolux in Downtown Boise, Idaho.
Never ones to pass up a bit, Black Bolt hit the stage dressed in their best Western attire, a tongue-in-cheek call out to the big-name country artist performing a few miles away. The band's combination of SoCal hard-core and late ‘80s alternative creates a melodically hard-hitting sound. Lead singer Dustin’s gravel-toned voice adds extra weightiness to the band’s already poignant lyrics. The songs “American Carnage” and “The List” were highlights of the set, as was their new single “Rat Behavior.” In addition, the band’s cover of Blur’s classic “Song 2” was a fun, crowd-pleasing shoutout to their tendency toward Brit-pop-style guitar riffs.
Nick O’Leary and Dan Kogel performing with Balks at The Neurolux in downtown Boise, Idaho.
Closing out the night was local punk standout, Balks. With a charisma that expands far beyond its three members, there is an undeniable change in pressure every time Balks takes the stage. The band approached their set with the traditional punk mindset “get in, get out, and leave nothing behind.” Balks played nearly all of their debut album, Bad Manners, including the singles “Kevin You Are What The French Call” and “Dead Tongues.” The band’s no-holds-barred delivery and lead singer Nick O’Leary’s openly vulnerable lyrics have placed them at the top of Idaho’s punk scene. The sweaty set they delivered Saturday night further proved why they deserve to be there.
