Cigarettes After Sex Provide a Noir Experience Like No Other

Written & Captured By | Morgan Argabrite

The line around Denver’s Mission Ballroom wrapped around the building, down sidewalk, and into the street. There were people of all ages, most of the guests in line were there with friends, parents, or partners. Everyone was taking selfies as the water misters the venue provided desperately tried to keep their patrons cool.

Cigarettes After Sex came to Colorado, for the first night of two completely sold-out shows at one of the largest venues in the states capital.

See more photos of Cigarettes After Sex HERE

The noir-themed ambient-pop band set their show to operate a certain way. With no opening act scheduled, Cigarettes After Sex started the show out by playing black-and-white themed movie clips. They appeared to have shot these themselves, and projected them onto a massive black velvet curtain that hung across the stage. Ambient music played while these clips were playing, and when it was showtime, the film reel appeared to sputter to a stop, shrouding the stage in darkness.

As the velvet curtains parted, bright white spotlights shot to the center of the stage. Fog appeared from all sides of the stage, and was collecting strongest directly in the center where the curtains had spread. The first member of the band broke through the fog, walking on stage with a guitar and heading to the right side of the stage. After a brief pause, to which the audience exploded in cheers, the drummer walked out onto the stage, taking his place stage left, at his drum set. The crowd went wild once again. The moment everyone was waiting for had arrived. Greg Gonzalez, the singer of Cigarettes After Sex, broke through the final bit of mist and took his place center stage.

The music they played was soft, and ethereal. There were hauntingly beautiful, almost androgynous vocals, layered with a melodic guitar and a soothing drum rhythm to match. Every song the audience sang along to, swaying in the cool, massive ballroom.

See more photos of Cigarettes After Sex HERE

While the music was amazing, their show was just as incredible. One look at the bands social media and you can see that they love the black-and-white theme, and their music absolutely matches that. But their stage design was simple, using smoke and spotlights to create the illusion of darkness, of night, while still illuminating the musicians. During a beautiful love song, the curtains spread wider, showcasing a sky made of bright, sparkling lights. A clouded moon hung in the middle, with each star designed to sparkle along with the music. For some of the songs, the sky went black, only to come out with brighter stars for the following song.

As they finished their set, using the small amounts of talk they provided to simply thank the audience and showcase their appreciation, the crowd went wild, showing them exactly why it was so easy to completely sell out two back-t0-back shows.

 

Photos By | Morgan Argabrite