A great freakin’ show: RIG, NOÏ, Paul Lai, A Lovely Sort Of Death & Dizparity pics from Oracle


Sometimes things just come together and—pow!—super fun times.

That was the vibe at Oracle Tavern for the RIG, NOÏ, A Lovely Sort Of Death, Paul Lai and Dizparity show last night. A hearty “thank you” from me to everyone who helped make this show possible! The performances were excellent, as was the hang.

I was promoting this as “celebrate twenty years in Los Angeles with me,” and it indeed felt like a party.

READ: Twenty years ago I became an Angeleno

Lots of old—and new—L.A. friends and faces. I’m so grateful to be a part of the music communities in Southern California.

Enjoy the photos below—and don’t miss the final Carnage of 2022. Skip to the end of the post for details, or…

Check the Shows page for the full concert details

Rock on!

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Couldn’t have had this show without Daniel, who helped at the door, & Bill Badgley, who pitched the concept & did the initial wrangling. Thanks, guys! Photo: Sean Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Paul Lai from Upsilon Acrux plugs in—& takes off! Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Preparing for guitar bliss… Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

I gotta say, I’ve heard a lot of “guitar noise” in my time but what Paul did was not at all what I was expecting. The sounds were beautiful—very “om” and uplifting, at other times hyper-choppy like being repeatedly shocked by a Taser hooked to Giorgio Moroder’s sequencer. Can’t say I minded. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

I wasn’t the only one who was surprised—and pleased by such an engaging soundscape. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Sez Paul: “I wanted to make something pretty, then fuck it up, and then make it pretty again.” Or something like that. I may have gotten the quote wrong but the goal was achieved. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

I really liked A Lovely Sort Of Death. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

The gathered take it all in… Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Nice crowd this night. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

ALSD: Heavy/punishing, grandsons-of-the-Stooges punk, sure. But surprisingly atmospheric at the same time, stylish, had David Lynchian noir-ish groove—a fresh take on some sounds we all love. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Ray singing & drumming for ALSD. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Moises all smiles. ALSD sounded amazing! Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Ray & Billy. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

I could not get into the room for the highly anticipated debut of NOÏ. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

This is actually my third attempt to worm my way up to the front for NOÏ, a few songs into the set after some folks had shifted around. It was so packed! Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

NOÏ (L-R): Victor Mackey, Ferdie, Bill Badgley. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

I really dug the wild guitar contrasted with some extra low & smooth basslines. Loved that NOÏ wasn’t trying to crush my brain every single second. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Bill lettin’ loose. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Rock force has been achieved—lift off! Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Ferdie was the hero keeping the whole thing percolating along. Great new band, NOÏ. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Po Cheng Yeh aka Dizparity from Taipei, Taiwan. TBH, the music he was laying down was better than us yahoos deserved. Dizparity is some soulful, slick shit that sometimes got ultra scary—I love it! Po really made the night special, and I’m grateful for that. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

RIG’s setlist & tools of the trade (megaphone, old school landline phone receiver). I love that they have a song called “Syphilis Diller.” Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

RIG (L-R): Marc Palacios, Christian Moreno. Not visible: double drummers Ferdie & the always excellent Phillip Haut. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

RIG’s frontman Craig Ibarra waits for his cue to jump in. He’s gonna kill me but he looks a little like Fred Armisen waiting to do a bit. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Christian lays it down, ’90s Pedro style: sludge-o-rama. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Everyone was loving RIG from the start. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Craig Ibarra jumps in… Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

RIG’s set really took me back. The last time I saw them was on Earth Day 1993 in Bloomington, Indiana, before they even had one drummer (RIG originally used a drum machine). So, yeah, it had been awhile! Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Really impressive to hear RIG in person after all these years, with two drummers & so much confidence. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Gettin’ wild on the phone mic. Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

Dizparity sometimes sounds like drum ‘n bass sexy good times… Photo: Carnage.

RIG NOÏ A Lovely Sort Of Death Paul Lai Upsilon Acrux Dizparity Oracle Tavern Sean Carnage Fridays November 11 2022

…Other times it’s like John Carpenter soundtrack meets Autechre / Gabber hellscape! Thank you thank you for all you do, Po. Your music is highly inspirational. Photo: Carnage.

Don’t miss the final Sean Carnage Friday of 2022:

Tricky Youth Wryngwyrm SAZA Vitamin Wig C Solar Wimp Oracle Tavern Sean Cranage Fridays December 9 2022 L Coats

Image: L Coats. 

Friday 12.09.22
Sean Carnage presents
Tricky Youth
Wryngwyrm
SAZA formerly Sauber Zauber
Vitamin Wig C
Solar Wimp final show!

Starts 8pm / $10 / 21+

1640 N. Spring, Los Angeles 90012

Follow me on IG for updates

Read more about the bands from this great night:

Filmmaker Bill Badgley talks Rebel Dread—& debuts a sick new band, NOÏ

San Pedro’s “Super loud & annoying” RIG is back to bug you

Pretty sure this is a drug reference: ‘A Lovely Sort Of Death’

Conquering any & all fears: Paul Lai’s solo guitar

Dizparity’s Po Cheng Yeh takes a journey through synths & emotions

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