Death From Above 1979 At The Novo In Los Angeles, CA
Written and Captured By | Tyler Middendorf
It was a night of unapologetic energy, thundering bass, and raw emotion as Death From Above 1979 shared the stage with San Francisco’s rising post-punk quartet, Spiritual Cramp, at The Novo in Los Angeles on January 25, 2025. The evening felt like an exhilarating collision of worlds—one rooted in the high-octane punk energy of the early 2000s, the other in the gritty, emotionally charged rock of today.
Spiritual Cramp opened the show with a blistering set that set the tone for the entire night. The band’s ferocity was palpable as they stormed through tracks like “Part of the Problem” and “So Gone,” pulling the crowd into their orbit with infectious hooks and a razor-sharp punk edge. Led by frontman Alex Bender, whose presence felt equal parts confrontational and charismatic, Spiritual Cramp’s music crackled with urgency. Their mix of post-punk, new wave, and gothic rock vibes was dark at times, but there was an undeniable sense of joy in their chaos.
As the crowd got lost in the urgency of the band’s rhythms, it became clear that Spiritual Cramp was no mere opening act; they were an integral part of the evening’s energy, winning over the crowd with each riff and each scream.
The changeover was quick, and before long, the stage was set for Death From Above 1979. As soon as Jesse F. Keeler (bass, synth) and Sebastian Grainger (drums, vocals) walked onstage, the entire room buzzed with anticipation. From the first thundering notes of “Turn It Out,” the duo wasted no time cranking up the intensity.
The chemistry between Keeler and Grainger has always been the heart of their live performances, and it was in full force here. Keeler’s thunderous bass lines meshed with Grainger’s explosive drumming to create a sound that was somehow both enormous and stripped-down. The crowd immediately responded, headbanging and dancing, as the duo tore through a set from their 2004 studio album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine. The crowd’s energy was unmatched, with a palpable sense of community that seemed to link everyone in the room together, united in their shared love for the band’s gritty, irresistible grooves.
Visually, the show was minimalist but striking, with stark lighting that highlighted the band’s high-voltage performance. Keeler’s synth textures added a layer of eerie atmosphere that contrasted beautifully with Grainger’s visceral drumming, and the two of them seemed locked into a rhythm that felt like it could explode at any moment. The crowd was completely enveloped by the sound, with no one standing still—just a sea of bodies moving in sync with the music. By the time the night closed with “Dead Womb,” the crowd was exhausted but still hungry for more. Death From Above 1979 had brought their signature intensity, but it was the combination of their raw power and the electrifying set from Spiritual Cramp that made this show truly unforgettable. Both bands delivered performances that were as emotionally charged as they were loud, reminding everyone in the room why live music can feel so primal, so real. If you were there, you witnessed something truly special. If you missed it, well, let’s hope these two bands cross paths again soon…