Orgy Rocks With a Purpose at Roxy’s Gothic Band Party

Great gothic rock is really more about dramatic exercises than demonic exorcism. For all their creepy trappings, the best gothic rock outfits are popsters at heart (the Cure), tongue-in-cheek imps (Alien Sex Fiend) or art-damaged punks (Bauhaus).

In that spirit, L.A.’s Orgy packed its debut album with plenty of dark sentiments, gripping grooves and sassy affectations. The songs are derivative, but at least the group was savvy enough to borrow from the best: Ministry, Depeche Mode and New Order.

When Orgy took the stage at the Roxy on Friday, those canny similarities were less prominent, thanks to the quintet’s edgy energy and self-assured stage presence. Without garish costumes or shock-rock stunts, the musicians played with conviction, often whipping the songs up to a feverish pitch, especially when Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst joined during “Revival” for some rant-and-response vocals with singer Jay Gordon. The snappy set focused on material from the band’s “Candyass” album, including a raucous version of New Order’s “Blue Monday.”

Orgy highlighted Friday’s four-band bill (which also included Professional Murder Music and Hero), though it didn’t close. A scrappy goth sextet called Dead Girl Corp. was in the unenviable position of performing for the dwindling throng of Orgy fans, a task it tackled with chaotic charisma.