It is widely understood that both Satanism and doo-wop have impacted music and surrounding cultures. Yet, recognized as quite opposing concepts, they’ve diverged into separate social worlds. However, rock duo Twin Temple makes those worlds collide, merging analog music and Satanism into a thrilling ride of performance art. The married duo, Alexandra and Zachary James, not only bewitched attendees at the Castro Theatre with a showstopping gig, but continued challenging the barriers of genre conventions and the very ideas that set those limits.
Ahead of releasing its new record, Doomed Lovers, Twin Temple’s headlining show in San Francisco perfectly balanced hypnosis and heat. Through world-building production, the venue was submerged into the duo’s inferno. Behind enormous, upside-down crosses and a gothic altar, a backdrop displayed Satan standing right in between Alexandra and Zachary. At the same time, the lighting transitioned between rich colors as searchlights soared across the walls. Those attending the concert could have thought they either entered a swanky jazz club or the afterlife itself.
Arriving entirely in black leather and ’60s fashion, the duo hoisted a performance that the audience evidently worshipped. Opening with “The Devil (Didn’t Make Me Do It),” Alexandra’s sweeping, soulful vocals glided smoothly over the lush vibrations of Zachary’s guitar. The live concert replicated the classic, nostalgic sounds of their recorded discography, but with an enthusiasm that felt much more passionate and fierce. Amidst the spunky orchestration, Twin Temple delighted the audience even more with “Possessed,” an exclusive song from the upcoming album.
The concert brought a greater emphasis to each facet that composes the duo’s music, with Zachary delivering blistering guitar solos and Alexandra showcasing her striking range. Twin Temple didn’t just intensify its sound, but the emotional weight of its lyrics as well. Quite notably, Alexandra stretched the length and volume of her vocals when exclaiming “I’m a woman” during the final song of the night, “I’m Wicked.”
With music as the scripture, live interaction was the sermon. Twin Temple frequently engaged with the audience, conversing with the crowd both sincerely and satirically. Using props such as skulls, goblets and swords, the duo emulated rituals when opening and closing the concert. Alexandra and Zachary also made material offerings to the audience, bestowing roses and guitar pics and occasionally even splashing fake blood on the front row. Paying close attention to audience members, they upheld genuine acknowledgement for fans who engaged with them. As the congregation switched between ceremony and eroticism based on the sensual tracks that they performed, the duo ensured that concertgoers felt free of judgement and intolerance.
Along with its phenomenal showmanship, Twin Temple communicated something even louder than its own performance. For the duo, it seems that hell doesn’t just burn with hellfire; it burns with the honesty, passion and experience that is commonly reduced to “sin.” Echoing the rhythms of doo-wop not only grounded their music in vintage nostalgia, but alluded to a culture of orthodoxy that has generated decades of binary ideologies. By juxtaposing doo-wop with satanic imagery and language, the duo’s individualistic expression defied the boundaries of conformity. Their visual and lyrical honesty inverted the image of social acceptance, revealing how taboo customs can still exist underneath the sanitization of tradition.
As a whole, Twin Temple’s exceptional performance at the Castro Theatre was one that was just as rare and remarkable as the music they’ve released. Their satanic doo-wop invited an exhilirating entry into freedom that sounded even better in person. Recognizing the duo’s devotion to inclusion, their visit to San Francisco felt entirely sensible for a community deeply dedicated to acceptance. Quite memorably, Alexandra provided an important reminder near the end of the concert: “Someone will throw a little bit of lemons your way, but you can always make a little bit of satanic lemonade.”