October 8, 1996

Gravity Kills fills Deep Ellum Live

By Emily Muscarella

he dingy venue of Deep Ellum Live pulsed from the energy and volume produced by Gravity Kills and Republica Saturday night.

Opening act Love in Reverse took the stage first and was of little consequence. Their only interesting song was the catchy Super Car. The lead singer's grandiose stage antics (throwing down the microphone stand and holding up his guitar as a beacon for all to worship) proved the band had yet to learn the meaning of modesty.

Republica was next on the bill, using their techno-pop to pump the audience's energy level to the sky.

Lead singer Saffron slinked to the microphone, her feline eyes skimming over the audience. Immediately, Republica ripped into their electric set, opening with Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Highlights of the set were Bloke with Saffron egging on the crowd by chanting, "I'm gonna take you on, I'm gonna take you on ..." coming across as the less vulgar female counterpart to the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten and the familiar Ready to Go.

The best thing about Republica is the fact that they sound so good live. Synthesizer heavy music is difficult to manage on-stage, but the band plugged on, delivering a clean set.

Saffron's powerful vocals commanded the venue. Flanked by a guitarist, drummer and two synth players, Saffron purred to the boys and rallied the girls.

After they left the stage, the diverse audience (everything from metalheads to rivetheads, slightly country to full-fledged goth were in attendance) was yearned for Gravity Kills.

We didn't have to wait long. Just past 11 p.m., Gravity Kills took the stage launching into Blame.

It was apparent from the beginning that their show would be slick, well-orchestrated and loud.

Gravity Kills' most popular song, Guilty was third on their playlist, and Jeff Scheel, their lead singer who hails from Plano, introduced it as a "song about not being able to sleep at night."

My personal favorite of the night was Scheel's abbreviated rendition of Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus perhaps alluding to the British band as a personal influence. The Depeche Mode cover segued into Here, the last song written during studio time for Gravity Kills.

Ironically, during the pumping song Goodbye, the energy sank. The crowd became distracted-a hole opened for four to five listless moshers, one of whom fell down and was kicked in the face (yea! let that be a lesson to all moshers everywhere).

But the level rose again and by the conclusion of their set, Gravity Kills left us feeling full and satisfied. No encore was asked for or needed. The evening ended on a strong, loud, thumping, synthesized note.

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