If you like your concerts loud, lascivious, and soaked in sweat, XL Live was the only place to be on June 12. Industrial legends Lords of Acid returned to Pennsylvania with a vengeance, but before the headliners could melt faces, the venue got scorched by the wild, untamed force of nature that is Little Miss Nasty. Together, the lineup delivered a genre-bending, gender-bending, high-octane night that blurred the lines between live concert, dance spectacle, and underground art party
Little Miss Nasty: A Tease, A Thrash, A Full-On Assault
Forget any preconceived notions of “opening act.” Little Miss Nasty doesn’t open a show—they detonate it.
Clad in leather, fishnets, and sheer confidence, the all-female burlesque-metal collective stomped onto stage like a biker gang with glitter in their veins. What followed was not just a performance—it was a power surge. Their dancers executed every movement with feral precision, blending choreography with raw sex appeal, set to a soundtrack of dark, grinding beats and rebellious riffs. This wasn’t titillation—it was domination.
Musically, LMN’s original tracks hit like a back-alley brawl between Nine Inch Nails and Rob Zombie, but with a fierce feminine bite. And when they dropped their cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name,” the entire crowd lost its collective mind. There was nothing subtle about their set, and thank hell for that. It was a sweaty, snarling, unrelenting blast of femme-powered fury that left the stage smoking—figuratively and maybe a little literally.
Between numbers, the performers snarled and smirked, feeding off the crowd’s rising energy like vampires at a blood rave. LMN doesn’t just perform—they consume a room, leaving behind dazed grins, scorched eyebrows, and several converted disciples. By the time they stalked off into the shadows, it was clear: they hadn’t just warmed up the audience—they’d set the bar on fire.
Carla Harvey: The New Acid Queen Has Arrived
When Lords of Acid took the stage, the atmosphere was already molten. Strobes flickered like digital seizures, synths whirred into the darkness, and then—there she was.
Carla Harvey, stepping into the iconic role of Acid Queen, didn’t walk onstage. She sauntered into a legacy, clad in black leather and radiating charisma like a solar flare. Known for her metal chops with Butcher Babies, Carla didn’t just transition genres—she transcended them. Her arrival marked a new era for Lords of Acid, one steeped in tradition but eager to evolve. And from her very first line, it was obvious: this woman was having the time of her life.
That smile? It was constant. Not a posed, stage-friendly grin, but the kind of joyful expression you wear when you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Whether belting out “Pussy” or riding the glitchy grooves of “The Crablouse,” Carla delivered each lyric with confident abandon and unmistakable delight. Her vocals were powerful, her movements electric, and her connection with the crowd was magnetic. She didn’t just front the band—she invited the entire room into her acid-drenched dreamscape.
The rest of the Lords were tight, fierce, and clearly energized by Carla’s presence. The chemistry onstage was palpable, especially during “Rough Sex” and “I Sit on Acid,” when even the venue’s rafters seemed to vibrate with dirty euphoria.
A Mid-Set Proposal (Because Why Not?)
Then came the cherry on top of this already deliciously weird sundae.
Fans took the stage. A ring was presented. A yes was shouted. Cheers erupted. The band kicked back in, louder and filthier than ever, as the newly-engaged couple were pulled into a whirling, bass-thumping celebration. You couldn’t write a more Lords of Acid moment if you tried.
Encore of Ecstasy
Carla’s joy never waned, from the first pulse to the final bow. Her debut as the new Acid Queen wasn’t just successful—it was revelatory. She honored the legacy while injecting her own fearless flair, proving that evolution doesn’t mean forgetting your roots—it means watering them with something a little more potent.
Final Verdict: Filthy, Fabulous, and Full of Fire
June 12 at XL Live wasn’t just a concert—it was a communal exorcism of the mundane. Little Miss Nasty brought the fire. Lords of Acid brought the filth. Carla Harvey brought the glow. And Harrisburg? Harrisburg showed up hungry.
If this show was any indication, the future of freaky, fierce live music is in good (and very naughty) hands.
