STRANGEHOUSE: SIN/Purple/Tryst/DJ Protokiller @ The Fuze Box, 05/27/2022

Byron Frayne (Vocalist for SIN: NIN tribute band):  As a youth, I responded to the teenage angst expressed by Nine Inch Nails: anger and disgust.  As I get older I find that their message really resonates- the unrest, the unjust, all the corruption and things that are wrong in our culture they really hit on, they hit it hard and raw and abrasively-all together it just works for me, it touches my heart.  I find that our show combination is very interesting, people like watching some wonderful dancing, the burlesque, and pole dancing, it’s very classy, I don’t think it gets oversexed and I have found that coupled with our band it brings people out for a good show and they really seem to dig it.  (Byron also runs STRANGE HOUSE MEDIA which presented this event).

Tryst (Burlesque Performer):  A lot of my inspiration for visuals comes from sideshows and circuses of the ’20s, that’s where it all kind of stems from.   I am mainly a musician and the burlesque for me is another form of expression and it helps to inspire me-I love to dance!

Salvador Diaz del Balle Santana (Drummer for SIN): I have been a massive, massive NIN fan since I was 13, Trent Reznor is my hero so doing this is like Oh My God I’ve been dying to be playing NIN songs with somebody.  Getting to do this is like a dream come true.  NIN at their worst beats most bands at their best for me.

Purple (Pole Poet):  I’m self-taught, I built my own pole in my apartment through a marble table and I watched Youtube.  It’s about mental strength, if you don’t have the right mind your body won’t follow it properly, you’ve gotta have the attitude you gotta go out there like the pole is your obstacle, your challenge and you’re there to conquer it.

DJ Protokiller (Jesse Leach):  There is an acrobatic prowess when it comes to pole dancing, there is an art form when it comes to burlesque, and there is also a sensualness to it that is a little more innocent than your metal rock and roll stripper thing.  There is a gentleness to some of it, as much as it is perceived to be dark and dangerous a lot of the people that do this type of art form and that are involved with this type of scene are very gentle human beings.  The type of people that come seem a lot more respectful, there are nice boundaries set when you get into this community you also get people who are into BDSM which is all about control and respect, it’s cool to see that push and pull with people.  I love being in the shadows and watching people have fun and dance it’s a totally different thing for me.  I don’t really like being in the spotlight unless I’m on stage with my band, if I’m not I just love to be in the background and support my friends and provide the soundtrack, it’s a totally different vibe. I love it, I love being in the shadows.  (Jesse is also the vocalist for Killswitch Engage, Times of Grace, and The Weapon).

Photo Gallery by Leif Zurmuhlen