Claus Larsen is a man of many projects. There’s Klutæ, for which he released the new album, Godsent, in early May and appeared at Seattle festival Mechanismus later that month. Am Tierpark,  his Italo disco-influenced synthpop duo with John R. Mirland, released the album Shameless last year and the two musicians also have a punk band, Gusten, with a forthcoming album that’s near completion. Then there’s Larsen’s flagship solo project, Leæther Strip, which has been ongoing since 1989. It’s Leæther Strip that brought a capacity crowd to downtown Los Angeles’s Slipper Clutch on the final Saturday night in May. 

While Larsen released his latest Leæther Strip album, Fucking Perfect, in February, L.A.’s industrial heads are here for the classics. Tonight’s set is centered around Leæther Strip’s 1990s catalog and Larsen is pummeling the crowd harsh, EBM beats, his intense vocal delivery and a barrage of samples. Inside the small, upstairs venue, people squeeze as close to the stage as possible. 

“I love doing these shows because you see the faces. They recognize what they were into in the ‘90s and instantly, smiles,” says Larsen earlier in the evening, when we meet right after soundcheck. “They’re the reason I’m still able to do this, because I built up my audience back in the ‘90s and they’re still hanging on and supporting.”

Continue reading “I’m Still a Punk”: Claus Larsen of Leæther Strip on Horror Novels, Cover Songs and Connecting with Fans →