Concerts at the Starlet Room, are always something special. This room is the upstairs to Harlow’s and has a full of history. Located it downtown Sacramento, California, this club is an excellent venue for everyone involved. The event on the 15th of October 2024 was Unitcode:Machine and Curse Mackey opening for Pig.
Unitcode:Machine was the first band to perform. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, this trio delivered an impressive rock set. From the very first notes, they showcased their musical prowess with intense energy that set a high standard for the evening. Their setlist was well-curated, but “Keep Above the Water” particularly stood out due to its remarkable musical and lyrical composition. The song resonated deeply, and in a good way. Additionally, they gave a shout-out to Stabbing Westward for a song they helped produce and featured on their current album, A Violent End. To close their performance, they played “I’m Done,” a fitting finale that combined a melodic vibe with an upbeat tempo, bringing the set to a strong conclusion.
Unitcode:Machine Band Members:
Eric Kristoffer – vocals
Ryan Lynch – guitar
Bradley Bills – drums
Curse Mackey performs solo, but don’t let that fool you—he’s an incredible talent. He powered through his set, playing several songs like “Submerge,” “Dead Fingers Talk,” and “Smoking Tongues,” filling the room with his vibrant sound despite just having a small keyboard and some equipment. A personal highlight of the evening was his performance of “O’ Blasphemy,” which he dedicated to all the blasphemers in the audience. The song struck all the right chords and elevated the atmosphere. His final song of the night, “Secrets of the Resurrection,” was delivered with intensity that captivated everyone. He finished strong, shredding the end of the song with impressive skill, leaving the crowd craving more. After the set, he made his way to the merch booth, where a long line eagerly awaited him. Great job, man!
When Pig took the stage, the crowd went wild. From the very first song, “Serial Killer Thriller,” they transported the audience to a different realm. They performed with style and grace, leading everyone through tracks like “Crumbs, Chaos & Lies” and “The Sick.” When they began their cover of “Juke Joint Jezebel” by KMFDM, the excitement in the crowd reached a fever pitch. Lead singer Raymond Watts connected directly with the audience, holding hands with many fans while he sang and frequently engaging with the camera. As they powered through their set, they played songs like “Mobocracy,” “Leather Pig,” and “Wrecked,” infusing little stories in between to keep things lively. They transitioned into “Hell to Pay in the USA,” and even though the last song was more mellow, the crowd was still fully engaged. Next up was “Prey & Obey,” which had the audience shouting the title with enthusiasm. Following that, they performed “Ojo Por Ojo,” “Blades,” and “Dum Dum Bullet,” before wrapping up with “Arbor Vitae,” the band’s final song.
They delivered a stellar performance, making it a perfect conclusion to the set. However, as they left the stage, the fans were screaming for an encore. A few minutes later, the band returned and delivered “The Chosen Few.” This song was electric, and it clearly resonated with the audience. The final track of the night was “Secret Skin,” a collaboration between KMFDM vs Pig, which had everyone singing along while they danced on the edge of curfew. They just made it in time, but had they gone any longer, they likely would have been cut off. It was an unforgettable show, and for those who missed it, there will be opportunities to witness them again. It truly was that good!
Pig Band Members:
Raymond Watts – vocals, keyboards, programming, guitars
En Esch – vocals, guitars, programming
Steve White – guitars, programming
Bradley Bills – drums
Setlist:
1). Serial Killer Thriller
2). Crumbs Chaos & Lies
3). The Sick
4). Juke Joint Jezebel (KMFDM cover)
5). Suffer No More
6). Mobocracy
7). Painiac (Nothing Touches Me)
8). Leather Pig
9). Wrecked
10). The Merciless Light
11). Hell to Pay in the USA
12). Prey & Obey
13). Ojo por ojo
14). Blades
15). Dum Dum Bullet
16). Arbor Vitate
Encore:
17). The Chosen Few
18). Secret Skin (KMFDM vs. PIG cover)
Follow Unitcode:Machine on social media
Follow Curse Mackey on social media
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Photographer of about 10 years, I have been shooting concerts for about 8 of those years. I started to get serious about concert photography about 6 or 7 years ago and now try to shoot as many as I can. I shoot mostly rock but, have done some country and big band stuff. I love music and since I am nowhere close to being a musician, this is a way I can be a small part of what, in the words of Henry Rollins, “gets me through the highs, the lows and everything in between”.
