Terror at the Opera
Detroit Free Press live preview

LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: Terror at the Opera
By Liz Hill
September 19, 2003

The Lowdown: An accordion. An electric guitar. That's it. Take everything you'd expect from a band, throw it out and you'll have an inkling of the spine-chilling splendor that is Terror at the Opera. Named with the title of Dario Argento's horror flick, the duo mixes the breathtaking and bizarre to concoct an intimate and sinister musical brew.

A Supernatural Connection: Accordion player Faith Gazic and guitarist Gretchen Gonzales were friends before they decided to play music together. When they finally sat down to jam about a year ago, "it just clicked," Gonzales says. "The very, very first time we ever played it was, to me, magical. Our styles just came together perfectly." Their styles are, to say the least, peculiar. "I've always made super creepy songs," Gazic says. "I don't know why."

Gonzales admits a similar penchant for the weird, describing the duo's eerie sounds as "nursery rhymes gone wrong."

A palpable connection between the two women is apparent to anyone who has witnessed their live shows. "I think it's partially because we're such good friends,' Gonzales says. "We are able to talk to each other telepathically."

She Plays What? Gazic had been writing songs on guitar until three years ago, when she stumbled upon an accordion at an antique shop in Eastern Market. "I was frustrated with guitar and then I saw the accordion and picked it up and played it," Gazic says. "It was exactly what I needed. It was the most beautiful thing in the world. We just found each other."

Keeping Busy: Gazic and Gonzales scatter their creativity all across the board. Gonzales has been in various bands over the years and currently plays guitar for the all-girl group Slumber Party. Gazic only plays with others informally.

"Life goes by so fast and is so short," Gazic says. "So I like to have projects with people instead of just hanging out." Gazic casually mentions her other ventures -- "collage books, clothes and band shirts," while Gonzales is less modest about her friend's talents. "Faith is a famous fashion designer," she says without sarcasm.

Live Shows: Terror at the Opera plays Saturday at the Detroit Art Space, 101 E. Baltimore, off Woodward just north of I-94. The event is a release party for two CDs from Frank Pahl. Also playing are Pahl's Scavenger Quartet and Dennis Palmer, formerly of the Derek Bailey Trio. Automatic instruments made by Pahl will also be on display. Doors open at 9 p.m. $10.