CHAT PILE W/ PUREST FORM
Chat Pile is a noise rock band from Oklahoma City (or at least that area, as far as I can tell). Their name apparently comes from the byproduct of Zinc mining in the area. I guess it’s poisonous, but they still find uses for it or something. That’s not what we’re talking about here though. Last night, Chat Pile played at one of my favorite venues in LA called Zebulon. Zebulon is that perfect mix of bar and venue that is so hard to come by. They have a cozy, dark front bar that always looks like it’s filled with regulars—and if you’ve ever frequented dive bars in major cities you know exactly who I’m talking about. Good people (probably). Beyond the front bar is a super sick, if a bit small, stage area with another bar and a concave roof like a some kind of hangar. Outside the building is a narrow, but comfortable smoking area that is accessible from both the front bar and the stage area. If you love to smoke when you drink, you know who you are, this is a fucking Godsend. What I’m saying is, that Zebulon is really a very home-y kind of venue—very comfortable and not pretentious. As far as I can tell Zebulon is also a very queer-friendly space hosting a monthly queer oriented variety show hosted by Dynasty Handbag called Weirdo Night. I’ve been, and if you love art and performance and gay shit, it’s fucking amazing. It’s the kind of thing I imagine you can’t find outside of a sanctuary city, and it makes me feel prety good about making my way out here.
Opening for Chat Pile was a band I hadn’t heard before called Purest Form. I absolutely loved their set and their presence. They’re a 2/3rds female trio making highly danceable industrial hardcore (my description) and they fucking rip. They played backing tracks for the drums and synths, which went over very well with the small crowd. The tracks kept them on a good clip to keep the energy high, and they had plenty of room to thrash around the stage without a drummer. Screaming angry, dystopian lyrics at a small crowd in a dimly lit bar is exactly what I want to do. I can’t tell you how inspired I was by this experience. I’m working on re-entering the live music world and my sound is extremely similar to what Purest Form are doing—electronically produced industrial hardcore, minus the live instruments. As I was getting lost in the energy and plotting my own version of this exact scenario, they kicked off a cover of maybe my favorite song of all time—Breathe by The Prodigy. I don’t care how popular it is, that song changed me as a person growing up and will always be the pinnacle of achievement in music for me. To be honest, it started off a little bumpy, but by the time she was screaming “BREATHE WITH ME!” I was in love. Becoming successful enough to actual maintain a career in the music world is nearly impossible, but I hope they can figure it out—I’d love to open for them one day.
The reason I bought tickets however, was Chat Pile. When I first heard Chat Pile, I was dreaming of a muscical project with a friend of mine wherein I would produce electronic tracks, and he would act out emotional monologues over the music. Like spoken word, but think of your favorite monologue from a film over dark, throbbing industrial pulses. So when I heard Chat Pile doing they’re signature spoken word-over-sludgey noise rock thang, I immediately sent it to my aforementioned friend for a listen and followed them ever since. You might be thinking of some overly dramatic, pretentious performance art, but that is not at all what this is. In fact, there is something so amazingly unpretentious about what they’re doing that it feels extremely accessible to someone like me. It sounds like lower middle class southern (what do you call Oklahoma and Texas…its’not exactly southern it’s kinda its own thing, but anyway) dude emotionally speaking out loud about the things that are bothering him about the world. If you listen to one song, I suggest you start with “Why” on their 2022 album God’s Country. Here is a sample of the lyrics:
Why do people havе to live outside?
In tents, undеr bridges
Living with nothing and horribly suffering
Why?
Why do people have to live outside?
We have the resources
We have the means
It seems so simple, but that is the beauty. There is no reason to hide the point when you’re talking about something so utterly ridiculous—a situation that is absolutely solvable, but because we have been convinced to live only for ourselves, we will never be willing to do what it takes to make life livable for all humans. I get so emotional when I hear him screaming, asking why we, as a society, are so far gone that we gladly watch our fellow humans suffer and die outside because the thought of creating a society that cares for all of its inhabitants is somehow too much. We could solve all of our problems if only we weren’t convinced by the people with power to be suspicious of anyone who is not ourselves.
Chat Pile was amazing to see live, and Zebulon was the perfect venue for them. They give off working class vibes, and Zebulon definitely feels like a working class “third place”. The stage is barely raised, giving you that feeling of being at a DIY show in high school in a sweaty church basement. Between songs, the singer was really nerding out about films, particularly old horror movies. He is apparently a super knowledgable film nerd, but not the film school kind of nerd. He’s the guy that knows exactly where Child’s Play 2 was shot and the name of the boyfriend in Halloween 3. Since the show was in LA he had a lot to talk about, going on about all the movie locations he just had to see while they are in town. It made the show feel very special, and I knew I was in the right place last night.
If you haven’t been to Zebulon, go immediately. Catch a show, or Weirdo Night, or just sit at the bar with a whiskey and take in the Atwater/East Silverlake vibes. I promise you’ll love it (unless you’re some kind of piece of shit). If you haven’t listened to Chat Pile put it on in the car on the way to Zebulon. Bump God’s Country or Remove Your Skin Please. It will definitely get you in the mood for that perfect dive bar/venue experience. I think you’ll like it if you’re into noise, hardcore, sludge—that kind of thing. It’s very accessible for heavy music. Lastly, give Purest Form a listen on the way home if you want to keep the party going. I don’t think they have a recording of their cover of Breathe, but I also really love everything I’ve heard, so maybe start with “Broke” or the Burn EP. If you’re into that heavy industrial club sound updated for 2025, like a new Youth Code, you’ll absolutely love Purest Form.
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