Twin Temple are doing the Dark Lord’s work of casting vintage charm over the “devil’s music,” with tales of Lucifer and sacrilege set to swingin’ doo-wop melodies. We saw them in Camden with Ghost, and they headlined Underground Arts in Philadelphia shortly after that. Now, two studio albums into their mission of putting “the fun in funeral” (tagline straight from their Instagram bio), they’re in the middle of a North American tour that stopped at Union Transfer this week.
The leaders of Twin Temple, Alexandra and Zachary James, had magnetic chemistry on stage, a testament to their marriage and to their love of the foundational rock n’ roll they pay homage to each night. The other star of the show was Satan herself, with horns raised high in the crow while Alexandra belted out lines like “We penned our sigil drawn on a human skull/Demonic, devotional, we sealed our little death ritual.”
The duo were all smiles throughout the show, and their glee was contagious. With catchy choruses that channel Roy Orbison and Brenda Lee, it was impossible to not dance along. To the casual listener, these songs belong a jukebox in a 1950s soda pop shop. The lyrics tell a different story. On paper, they’re sinister: Satanism is the thread that binds Twin Temple, and Alexandra and Zachary practice it on and off stage. Put to song, the words become classic anthems about individualism, equality, self-awareness and creativity.
The new album from Twin Temple, God Is Dead, is out now. Is their devilish brand of retro rock for everyone? Perhaps not, but all walks of life can get on board with their message of inclusion.
Check out photos below, including shots of Vowws, the Australian death-pop trio who opened the show. Special thanks to Digital Noise Mag for the concert coverage.
SETLIST: Twin Temple at Union Transfer, February 27th, 2024
1. Intro
2. S*x Magick
3. I’m a Witch
4. Burn Your Bible
5. Let’s Have a Satanic Orgy
6. Lucifer, My Love
7. Femme Fatale
8. Rumble (Link Wray & His Raymen cover)
9. Be a Sl*t
10. Black Magick
11. The Munsters’ Theme (Jack Marshall cover)
12. Spellbreaker
13. I’m Wicked
14. The Devil (Didn’t Make Me Do It)
15. Satan’s a Woman
16. God Is Dead
17. Outro
