Two years ago, in early June, Peter Murphy had a show scheduled at El Corazon in Seattle. I was looking forward to the concert, but it was one of those rare Seattle days where the temperature was in the 90s. I remember sitting at home on the sofa with my girlfriend thinking that I was way too miserable to stand cramped in a boiling hot club and we eventually bailed on the concert.

Of the show, I heard that he previewed some new songs from a forthcoming LP, which were said to be heavier than anything that he had done in years. Well, Monday night, March 7th, Murphy was back in town for the first show of a US tour and the previously mentioned album, now titled Ninth, is set to be released on June 7.

The highlight of the evening may very well have been the first song, "Low Room," a mysteriously dark song from 1992's Holy Smoke. This version was a little bit heavier and slightly less jangly, but did not disappoint - as I have always wanted to hear the track performed live. I am not sure what musicians comprised Murphy's band except for the always impressive Mark Twaite (The Mission, Tricky, Gary Numan, Peter Murphy) on lead guitar. Rounding out the group were a bassist, second guitarist, and drummer.