Sky Cries Mary

at The Rat
by Scott Hefflon
photo by Kristin Gunst

The smell of incense fills the room. The slide projectors and film loops splash across the sheet behind the stage. The band saunters onto the stage and lays down layers of trippy, psychedelic groove. It’s more swirling mists of effect-rendered Goth ambiance than anything solid. During the mournful intro that implies sensuous swaying rather than forceful thrusting gyration, the two singers coast dreamily to the front of the stage. Flamboyant costumes aside, this male/female combination works like jumper cables. Lucid female vocals that are soft and sexy are complemented by bassy male vocals when she takes the lead, or tromped on by his screeching, goblin rage. Not dull enough to be ethereal, not pushy enough to be techno, Sky Cries Mary tap into pagan vibe and speak in tongues of psychedelia.