​Holy SHIT what a festival. It’s been nearly 6 weeks now and I think I’ve finally recovered enough to put my thoughts to word and provide my in-depth insight and perspective.
But who cares about that, really? If you were there, you already know how amazing it was. If you WEREN’T, then you simply have to go next year. It’s amazing what Mechanismus has been able to put together two years in a row, and as long as people keep coming, we can keep doing this. 
So – in lieu of providing a rundown and review, I opted to offer my unique perspective on the festival as a half-insider, half-outsider; I was part of the crew this year, travelling from Spokane to spend a week balls-deep in industrial madness. The following is a recreation of the week from the Doktor’s perspective: notes taken during the week were only moderately edited. As you’ll soon be able to tell, things got pretty loopy towards the end..
So, on that note, off we go! 
LET’S START THE BLOG!




Day Zero – Monday, June 24th

• Arrived in Seattle at 11 PM after driving straight from work. If you’ve ever driven to/from Spokane – it mostly sucks. I’ve probably done it 85 times and could only tell you like 4 landmarks along the way. 
• We begin with Ketel One & a Korean revenge flick. This is gonna be a good week.
• Jokes are made about how no one makes money in industrial music and how hilarious/not hilarious it would be if a headliner had to pull out because they couldn’t get the time off work. 
• 6 shots later we’re finally not freaking out about things could somehow completely go to shit. Here we go!

 
Day One – Tuesday, June 25th

• Bloody Mary’s & bank transfers. All the sexy parts about running a festival 
• I had the honor of kicking off the daytime Mercury DJ sessions for the Mechanismus festival attendees. I hope both of you enjoyed my set. 
• I had actually never attended the Mercury - the  lack of windows means sunlight. It was a pretty cool place where it always felt like nighttime. 
• What is not cool is parking in Seattle (cue the DUHs). I’d rather have diarrhea. It would be the last time I parked anywhere but the crash pad for the rest of the week.
• Also filed under not cool: Dj rig/laptop waited until exactly 5 pm to take a shit (end of set). Fucking technology. Sorry, Memmaker song – they never got to know you. Maybe it was destroyed by the Doom Ray. #amateur
• Pulling up to the venue & seeing a massive congregation of black. The dude instantly knew where he was dropping me off (well he obviously did because he was a Lyft driver but that’s not my point).
• Initial thoughts and musings pre-show: Claus Larsen is becoming the festival mascot. Rexx Arkana is going out of his way to document this thing. NO WELL VODKA THIS WEEK DONT FORGET YOU ASSHOLE. Lots of non locals here - excellent.
• SHOWTIME – and I am AMPED (and it was the most awake I would be for seven days) - Particle Son bringing the local energy! Gotta turn up for the PNW stuff! 
  
• Double Eyelid was cool but they would have fit a lot better on night #3 with the diverse lineup there. Doesn't always work out that way though..

• Adoration Destroyed owned (destroyed?) night #1 with a Billie Eilish cover. 
• I bought my 93rd black t shirt & Shiv-R gave me a free pin. Thanks Pete!
• Impromptu ‘God Mod’ set was something we may never see again. Props on doing something different in front of a crowd that’s likely seen them dozens of times
• Hate Dept has still got it after 20+ years of shows. Seibold is gonna be a busy guy this week 
• Shiv R brings the oontz while I ran his merch table. Sold a vinyl. Felt like a hero. Pete/Shiv-R is also very tall & standing between him and Omega Brain made me feel like Zero2Nick does most of the time. Fuck I need to listen to more Shiv-R. So good. His accent is adorable also. 
• “Apparently Hocico is missing” – Quote of the night so far. We found them - it’s cool.
• Why is the day so long all of a sudden – and why is this merch table so goddamn janky?
• Few things are cooler than people in bands dancing and showing love for the other bands. Everyone was a fan first. Pete you tall beautiful man, you. 
• The place was starting to slow down – 6 straight bands is a lot – but Hocico woke everyone the FUCK up. Holy shit – this was my first time seeing these dudes. The energy was killer.
• Two people were cybergoth rave dancing so hard that another guy was filming THEM instead of Erk & Rasco. 
• And then they played Twist the Thorn and I lost my shit. 
• One fifth of vodka was enough...for one fifth of the festival
• Time to sleep…

 
Day 3 – Wednesday, June 26th

• NOPE. Joke’s on you, motherfucker. Clearly I can NOT sleep past 8am no matter what. This is gonna kill me by the end of the week.
• I keep forgetting to eat – forgot dinner two straight days. Vodka is not a meal, despite it being potato based
• I already can’t hear shit. THANKS MEXICAN AGGROTECH. 
• Bloody Mary’s and bank transfers - Round 2. The sexy side of festival life just got sexier - this time with BACON!
• I'm going to look weird today. Wearing red pants day in a sea of black. Sea of Black - is this a band name already? 
• Switched to cheap vodka for the day. We are making good choices. This is what poverty tastes like but this is where we are with the festival budget. 
• Random though - Industrial- 3 bands for the price of 1 – PERFECT for festivals. Just add session drummers and Mike Wimer 
• Round table discussion of the movie ‘Hereditary’. Highly recommended all around by a handful of industrial music making types. 
• Things you pick up on hanging around pre-show: WASTE discussing the Bachelorette. Fucking Luke.
• Remembered to eat today. Sushi alone. Sad but necessary. 
• OK HERE WE GO WAKE MY BITCH ASS UP! 
• Chrome Corpse - fucking KILLED it with their old school EBM vibes and they barely look old enough to enter the venue. They were also the only 4 people in the Highline not wearing black. Very impressed.
• “Is it a blown speaker or distortion?” #industrialquestions
• Standalone truly did stand alone – Siebold is a one man army and this project sounded NOTHING like Hate Dept. I felt cool because I’d bought the album months ago & knew the songs and it was only AT THIS EXACT MOMENT I realized they were on this lineup. Immediately felt less cool
• Recon brought some great energy, which was a nice lubricant for the noisy assault that would be bestowed upon us over the next several hours.
• ESA hits like a fucking defibrillator. Goddamn. At one point a speaker tweaked out & I thought I went deaf. Jamie Blacker grows 3 fucking feet on that stage. That Beast indeed. Bravo.
• W.A.S.T.E. wins for best backing video so far. I can not even explain the absurdity ... cats-  violence - fails - Batman - contortionists - breakdancing - JCVD – TERMINATOR -  Beavis & Butthead - and this fucker was 40+ minutes. They also killed it.  
• Quote of the day - “I like Americans but your country’s fucked”  - Jamie Blacker
• Random thought – I feel as if 90% of the industrial scene is cat people. 
• Manufactura was another band I was very unfamiliar with and they were DOPE! Apparently, Carlos/Manufuactura was a huge influence on Jamie/ESA and they had collaborated on remixes and tracks and had a huge mutual respect for each other for years, but had never met in person until this festival. Just kept in contact across the pond. It’s these stories that remind you that there are two sides to these festivals: fans who get to appreciate a bunch of amazing bands in once place, and the artists who rarely see their influences, friends, and collaborators all in one place. It just makes you feel cozy, y’know?
• OK back to the festival – System Syn – it’s been too long, friends. Thank you for gracing us with your presence. Picked up Dry Blood Blu-ray (Clint Carney’s horror flick). Will watch & review here later. 
• That’s it? I get to sleep now? 

 
Day 3 – Thursday, June 27th

• Slept until 9. Not really a win when you go to bed at 3:30. Been sleeping with earplugs in (both makeshift & real) and an aesthetic perfection t shirt wrapped around my head as a light blocker. I probably look terrifying and also will burn alive if there’s a fire alarm going off. 
• The rest of the house was awoken by someone playing “Careless Whisper” on a fucking clarinet outside the window. Just the sexy opening part. Jesus Christ.
• Played airport shuttle for System Syn. Even they were a little star struck by Claus Larsen. A true legend in the scene and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. 
• Trying to stay away. I now know how touring musicians end up on all sorts of drugs.
• By the end of this festival someone is going to forget their pants.
• Venue arrival - TONS of merch tonight. Buy EVERYTHING! That’s how most bands make their money. It’s super important if you appreciate what they do. PSA from ESA.
• Pre-sound check bad venue stories - Apparently Ego Likeness played on a tour with a stop that had NO venue. That’s a new one. 
• Quote of the day: “With one e-mail I could destroy you” - Steven Archer. The scene is too close-knit and connected for you to be able to get away with being a shitty promoter.
• Also - venues - clean the mics! Advice from the day 3 industrial collective. 
• “Remember the number 800”. I still remember it, Ali. Still don’t know why I had to. 
• 4:30 pm – day 3 - shockingly the first time I dropped my phone this whole week. Right before that Zero2Nick dropped his laptop. Clearly we’ve all collectively begun to go mad. 
• Apparently Mechanismus started 11 years ago at ReBar which Ali referred to as the “Roger Moore years”. Y’know...they were ok but also forgettable. I loved that. 
• Used the venue printer to print a lovely photoshop of Matt/Caustic as Thanos. Printer didn’t work. Now it’s not printing anything. #blamecaustic
• File this under sexy industrial promoter pillow talk: I need to check the spreadsheet. Try not to get all hot & bothered.
• “Dude I am so fatigued” - Steven Siebold. Yeah man of course you are. IF ANYONE SHOULD BE.
• Found a camouflage snapback left in the men’s bathroom that I can almost 100% guarantee belongs to no one in this festival (especially since Funker Vogt isn’t here yet)
• FUNKER VOGT IS HERE OMG 
• I suck at Street Fighter II - Dhalsim is bullshit 
• Claus Larsen thought I was 28. I am not. 
• Oh shit – bands are performing! Let’s listen!
• Contaminated Intellgence was bad ass until something glitched out and stopped the tunes dead. Shit happens, boys – you guys were owning it!
• Project 44 brought a whole different flavor to the stage – including the legendary Charles fucking Levi on bass. The lineup on this night is EXTREMELY diverse. Not a single band sounded like another! We go from old school industrial rock, to classic synthpop-y awesomeness (Iris), to the amazing dynamic duo of Donna & Steven (Ego Likeness), then to somewhere incredibly different in the bizarre darkness that is Android Lust. *chef’s kiss* 
• Sold $70 worth of ESA merch. He was not here nor was he performing. You’re welcome Mr. Blacker. 
• Klute just dropped “Tequila Slammer” as I was going to buy booze at the QFC - fuck my timing. AND THE QFC WAS CLOSED. At least I caught “Japanese Bodies”
• It’s probably good that the store was closed. Maybe I should sober up and try to sleep.

 
Day 4 – Friday, June 28th

• Nope. 8 AM. I feel like the goddamn Undertaker - sitting up off the floor from death itself. I’d be sleeping in but I have to go to the airport for a band pickup #blamecaustic
• Picked up Caustic from the airport. Nothing has gone terribly wrong so far during this festival but now that Caustic is here all bets are off. We reminisced about the show he played in Spokane in front of like 11 people and Sensual Batman. Good times.
• Entire bank statement for days is Lyfts Liquor and Lunches. That will be my version of Beers Steers & Queers 
• All the main Mechanismus soldiers are present at the venue at 2 pm...and honorary soldier Claus. No casualties of war yet. This is a victory in itself. 
• I’ve taken more shits at the Highline then I ever wanted to ever. Side note: I ate there 3 times before I knew it was a vegan joint. That’s a compliment 
• I can’t even function today. I should not be in charge of shit today but HERE WE GO
• One of the guys in Funker Vogt smells nice – they’re just hanging around the venue. This is a cool life.
• Steven Archer is trying to set the record for most festival bands played in… He’s up to three so far with more to go. Dude just bleeds music and art. It’s very inspiring.
• Caustic has been here for 3 hours & the venue has not burst into flames. So there’s that.
• Quote of the Day: “I have my wallet” – Ali, to the SITD guys. Ask him about it sometime.
• All systems are go for day 4 – we are officially half-way done (and half-way dead)
• DV8R kicked ass. I love when these local bands go out there and use these opportunities to bring their all 
• Circuito Cerrado was also one I have not heard much of. I will now. Thanks guys!
• CONTINUES! Where the fuck have I been?!!?!! Fan for life now. Got a hand slap from DJ Seraphim for not knowing about them. He also explained to me that it’s not a Continues show unless he destroys something (which he did) 
• Uh oh – here comes Caustic. I SAY EAT SHIT YOU SAY FUCK YOU - this would be a weird time to walk in and discover industrial music (especially since Matt has an album called Industrial Music). 
• OH MY GOD DAMN FUCKING GOD WORST CASE SCENARIO IN THE BEST POSSIBLE CONTEXT - Dan is punk as fuck and I was ready for him to throw a trash can into the audience. Babyland for life.
• Wait. STROMKERN cover?!? WAIT - WITH the actual singer from Stromkern???!!!?? Well played, gentlemen. Night fucking Riders indeed. What lovely surprises we had tonight. Leave it to Caustic to have people talking about all the NOT CAUSTIC songs.
• There are way more people wearing sunglasses tonight than any other night for some reason.
• I:Scintilla were great and super nice people. No funny stuff here. Just a great job. 
• SITD literally took me to ascension. Bring me back my Genesis...and my goddamn energy. Holy shit it had been too long – I forgot how much I love their music. New album is phenomenal & highly recommended
• Which left me literally on one heart Legend-of-Zelda-style for Suicide Commando. Who slayed it like only they can. I thourhughly enjoyed it from my chair in the merch area. BIND TORTURE AND CHILL
• The venue was an oven tonight - it’s as if SC was like ‘see you in Hell’ and then actually brought Hell with them.
• Post-show drunken musings. Started to get even weirder after venue shutdown as Brain Nick and Dan from Continues discussed the Criterion Collection of the Classic “Over the Top” starring Sylvester Stallone. I don’t know even remember how or why that happened. BTW the Criterion Collection of this film does not exist. Drunkenly asked for a selfie with Johan Van Roy. He obliged me. I look thoroughly wrecked in the photo.
• After 5 grown ass men shoved ourselves into Zero2Nicks shoe car (including James the light guy – an unsung MVP of this whole week), we made several industrial clown car jokes and shared in a good humor before 2 more shots and zzzz

 
Day 5 – Saturday, June 29th

• Fuck! How am I still waking up at 8 after 5 days of this absurdity? Doesn’t matter. I’m surviving. I’ve made it this far, god damn it. ONE DAY TO GO!
• Quick side note - So many moving parts made this happen. Things most people don’t ever see. Massive thank you to all. Volunteers, sound techs, the Highline staff….everyone. 
• It’s finally time – Today is the day. LET’S GO TO WAR!!
• Played airport shuttle for Brian Graupner & his fiancée. (the secret’s already out so I can talk openly now) Talked primarily in video game speak to them. I try to adapt to the preferred communication style of my passengers. 
• Best. Sound check. EVER. - ARE SPACE BUGS REAL CHECKKKKK OOOOOOOOOO growllllll ARE SPACE BUGS REAL NOOOOOO screeeeeaaaaammm to a room of Seattle pride weekend patrons who simply eating food and are completely unaware of what’s going on. Many moved to the balcony after this. Are we still blaming Caustic? 
• Funker is doing soundcheck and it’s already better than sex. 
• Rexx Arkana is putting this festival over HARD with the Statik TV stuff. So awesome to be able to share this with those who weren’t there to make next year’s even more anticipated. Yes there will be a next year but don’t tell Ali yet he’s not ready. 
• I feel completely fucking useless at this point but I did lend Rexx & Dracos my black sheet so I did contribute. Yes I carry a black sheet around with me.
• It’s going to be 1 billion goddamn degrees in here tonight and Funker is going to destroy us all. #ThisIsHowIDie
• I’m like a human version of the movie “Speed” at this point. If I stop I die.
• Here we go! Riotlegion kicking us off. These dudes have been here all week to I can barely wipe my ass right now and they’re up performing. Bravo.
• Kounter Meshure was awesome! Full circle from meeting Los at last year’s fest when he played with Decoded Feedback and gave us his single. New album is killer!
• Mystery Band – MASTER TROLL LEVEL ACHIEVED CAUSTICLES DOING A 4 SONG WUMPSCUT SET. Levels they went through to achieve this caper:
• sound checking Space Bugs and then not playing it
• Brian avoiding any reference on all social media  
• Sneaking into the venue
• Committing to an entire 25 minutes of ultra serious Wumpscut lyrics for the whole entire show without breaking the vibe
• Masks on stage
• Wearing hot ass monk cloaks the entirety of the performance
• Matt in particular keeping a straight face the whole time 

 

• The crowd met the troll kings with a mix of joy, laughter, and disappointment. Exactly what you’d expect from those guys. 
• Quote of the day – “That’s pretty much all on brand for me” – Brian Graupner of the WUMPsticles. 
• I was on 5% battery life most of the night (me, not the phone) but Worms of the Earth brought the rhythmic tribal noise and I dug it pretty hard. That’s the best review I can give right now
• Full disclosure – FGFC820 & C-Lekktor kicked ass but I barely remember it. I am extremely thankful to Rexx & his crew so I can watch these videos later and remember how awesome it was.
• Funker Vogt , who capped this thing of masterfully. Holy fucking crap. They lead the charge towards the final battle. One hilarious note – they came out for an encore because the crowd was riding their final wave of energy, but they performed every song they prepared. So they just did “Feel the Pain” again…and everyone loved it again. 
• 5 days, 35 bands, and these guys tied it up in a bow & sent us to the battlefield to die. But we lived! We went to war!
• Now - LETS GO TO BED! *dies inside Pickle Rick sleeping bag*

 
Epilogue – Day 6 – Sunday, June 30th

• Still can NOT sleep past 9. I have been trying to smash my internal clock into oblivion all week. Instead I just smashed MYSELF into oblivion.
• If anyone reading this has ever met Ali’s cat...I have been silently judged by her for 6 days now. Shocked she hasn’t tried to smother me to death yet
• Today is afterparty day – this would be a good time to sleep it off and take a day at home but GUESS WHAT I AM NOT AT HOME so here we go again!
• Had to do some venue cleanup – who the fuck put all these stairs in the Highline?
• Went to the Mercury. Had dinner with Rexx Arkana. Hung with bands and friends new & old. Listened to some amazing DJs despite having minimal energy, hearing, or capacity to give a shit about anything. Hating myself but loving every goddamn second of it. 
• How can I ever return to a normal life after this? 

 
Met a ton of cool people, made some new friends, reconnected with the Seattle crew, interacted with several great artists, and partied with 35 bands. Holy shit. What a week. Fantastic memories. I cannot imagine a life without industrial music. So much love and noise. Let’s do it again! 
 
We definitely went to war. And we survived. Somehow. It was an honor serving with you all. Thanks for reading & see all of you survivors next year!