Spear of Destiny at the Red Party at Mercury Lounge

Kirk Brandon

Kirk Brandon's music career started in 1978 in London, England, singing in a punk group called the Pack. He then formed the post-punk/new wave band Theatre of Hate in 1980, which achieved some commercial success in 1982. Theatre of Hate disbanded in 1983, and six months later Brandon formed the more mainstream Spear of Destiny. Spear of Destiny built a reputation as a strong live band, but in 1987 Brandon put the band on hold; he developed reactive arthritis and could not walk, an affliction from which he still carries a limp. The band enjoyed some commercial success but then split. Since the early 1990s, Brandon has toured with various musicians under his own name and under both Theatre of Hate and Spear of Destiny. In the early 2000s, he also joined the short-lived supergroup Dead Men Walking. Spear of Destiny presently consists of vocalist/guitarist Brandon, guitarist Adrian Portas (formerly of Dollface, New Model Army, Sex Gang Children), keyboardist Steve Allan Jones (formerly of the Alarm) bassist Craig Adams (formerly of Sisters of Mercy, the Mission, the Cult, the Alarm, Theatre of Hate), and drummer Phil Martini (formerly of the Quireboys, Tokyo Dragons). Spear of Destiny released its 14th and most recent album, Tontine, on April 6, 2018.

Spear of Destiny tonight performed a rare New York performance at the Red Party, a monthly goth-rock and post punk party at Mercury Lounge. Spear of Destiny's set spanned the band's higher profile 1980s plus many later songs, seamlessly recalling the growth era when punk graduated into a more sophisticated rock sound. The music was fast and aggressive, yet carefully crafted around the lyrics and melody. Brandon's vocal delivery was strongest when he sounded angry, particularly when it rode on Portas' stinging guitar leads. The band would not necessarily be typified as a guitar band, yet the clear, melodic riffs and solos ignited the charge under Brandon's vocals. Spear of Destiny still performs to a cult following; it deserves a wider audience.

Setlist:

1. MK Ultra
2. Young Men
3. Medievalists
4. Strangers in Our Town
5. Second Life
6. Enigma
7. The Wheel
8. Come Back
9. The Price
10. Solution
11. Land of Shame
12. Grapes of Wrath
13. World Service
14. Pumpkin Man