Jena ArdellMoral Defect
5-21-12
Overheard in the crowd: “That was the sickest cover of “In Da Club” I've ever heard!”
At Howl at the Moon last night, local group Moral Defect delivered energetic hip-hop rock infused with heavy metal solos and funk guitar. A mixed crowd of friends and fans sang along to their older jams and bobbed their heads in synchrony during new, unreleased songs.
Pengus Khan and Joe Rockerfella of Moral Defect.; Credit: Jena Ardell
Throughout the show, lead singer Jason T. Walters (formerly of Tears of Joy) used a plethora of foot pedals to create vocal effects in songs like “Loss for Words” and “Program Director.” Their one cover was 50 Cent's “In Da Club”; not singing along was impossible.
A lot of their lyrics included drug and alcohol references, but Walters reached a little deeper on songs like “Wake Up:”
You keeping up with the Kardashians
People get their brains bashed in
Smashed in, politicians cash in
Children starve to death but your ass is overweight
While you're eating fast food they've got nothing on their plate…
We fight wars that nobody voted for
Kids in uniforms on their first and second tour
When it comes to creating a tight sound, these four guys have it down, but when it comes to creating alter-egos, not so much. Walters is also known as Preacher Pengus Khan, and then there's guitarist Kevin “Kitten” Saboe, bassist Joe Rockerfella and drummer Kyrt Diamond. Though the band is only six months old, its members have been on the scene for years.
Preacher Pengus Khan; Credit: Jena Ardell
Some of their best songs, like “Friendz” and “Loss for Words” haven't been released on an LP yet. The band is currently working with director Eric Senchuk to create a music video.
Kitten Saboe; Credit: Jena Ardell
Personal Bias: I'm a sucker for passionate bands who give off a vibe of “we-eat-sleep-live this dream, even if we can't eat sometimes.”
The crowd: Disgruntled Lakers fans and 20- and 30-somethings eager to support a local band.
Random Notebook dump: All of the guys in the band pronounce their band name as Moral D'fect, not De-fect.
Below: More photos and the set list
Kyrt Diamond; Credit: Jena Ardell
Credit: Jena Ardell
Set list:
Bitch Made
Loss For Words
Need To Get High
Warning
Baked Magoo
Truth Be Told
Friendz
Wake Up
Freeway
If Ya Don't Mind
In Da Club
Mickey
Program Director
Channel
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