By Birdie
Bonnie-Vie.net July 22, 2009
I mentioned I’d had the chance to go to the Triple Door for the Scarlet Room + Vagabond Opera show and take photos. The entire night sang of the twisted and sweet, with a hint of Old World cabaret…
The band is like a fantastic mechanical doll; churning out a whirl of circus and cabaret melodies, with a stage presence that is larger than life. With dark music-box-style keys, Alexsandra Weil - the group’s vocalist and pianist - weaves elaborate stories, written by Scarlet Room’s drummer, Eloise Govedare.
Aleksandra is a sight to behold on stage. Long dark hair swinging, it’s apparent how passionate she is about the music. Eloise shines from the back of the low-lit stage. Never missing a beat or breaking a sweat, her drums patter through like a quickened heartbeat…
Guitarists Michael Muir and Kris Darr are the perfect compliment to Aleksandra’s keys and connect the dots of Eloise’s beats. Their sound fills the cracks and crevices between elaborately complex lyrics, and begs the audience to listen a little closer.
While their melodies float from heavy riffs to lighter strings, each word floats through the crowd like a puff of smoke - evoking images of their signature cabaret-rock-musical style.
The entire effect makes the listener feel as if they’ve possibly just fallen through the looking glass… that deck of cards could spring to life and march right out the door; this painting is definitely watching you as you cross the room.
Scarlet Room was the perfect compliment to Vagabond Opera’s Bohemian “Old World Yiddish” gypsy theatrics. In the decadent setting of the Triple Door, this show was a night of hanging melodies and dark, eclectic, cabaret fun.