September 27, 2026

Twin Temple at La Rosa, Tucson

 (by Shay Smith)

Twin Temple, the Los Angeles duo famous for their theatrical, occult-laden "Satanic Doo-Wop", are back on the road in support of their forthcoming record, Doomed Lovers (slated for digital drop on October 9, with physical CD and vinyl following October 23). Their current leg, spanning September 9 through October 8, splits the difference between headlining intimate rooms and opening massive dates for Danzig and Jack White.

The story behind the Jack White slot carries its own dose of rock 'n' roll irony: Twin Temple landed the high-profile support position shortly after traditional country singer Charley Crockett scrubbed them from his tour. While Crockett later cited "production logistics," the move was widely seen as a reaction to Twin Temple’s overt Satanic iconography, proving once again that what frightens the mainstream only makes a band more enticing to the right audience.

On September 22, the tour rolled into Tucson, Arizona, for a headlining stop at La Rosa, and the venue choice couldn't have been more poetic. Originally built in 1940 as the Benedictine Monastery and Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, the site officially reopened as La Rosa in October 2025. The renovation managed a rare feat: preserving the soaring heights, original chapel arches, and vaulted domed ceiling while outfitting the sanctuary with a modern sound system, immersive lighting, and fully stocked bars.

Opening the night was Phoenix duo Meldamor, who brought a heavy dose of darkwave grit and synth-driven post-punk to the former chapel. Drenched in deep crimson light, vocalist Mel Parley commanded the stage in spiked and studded leather while her husband, Dave Parley, anchored the pulse from behind the kit. Their set created a dark, hypnotic atmosphere for the night, but looking around the floor, the crowd was already a show of its own. Tucson showed up in full commitment, horns mounted on headbands, immaculate 1950s vintage doo-wop attire, intricate face paint, and theatrical makeup. The energy in the room felt less like a standard concert crowd and more like a gathering of the initiated.

When Twin Temple took the stage, the transition from chapel to altar was complete. Led by married pair Alexandra James on vocals and Zachary James on guitar, the band bypassed a standard intro in favor of a full ceremonial invocation to cleanse the room and summon the Dark One. Lit in a low, ominous crimson glow, the stage center featured a formal altar stacked with inverted crosses, broadswords, human skulls, and a ceremonial chalice.

Once the opening ritual was complete, they launched straight into "The Devil (Didn't Make Me Do It)," then quickly moved ahead into "I Am a Witch" and "Sex Magick." Four songs in, they paid homage to rock's earliest rebellion with a killer cover of Link Wray & His Raymen’s iconic instrumental "Rumble," letting Zachary's guitar tone reverberate off the chapel walls.

Before starting the next number, Alexandra paused to test the room, asking the Tucson crowd if they were ready for a "Satanic Orgy." When the initial response came back a bit too polite, she teased the room for being shy before calling for a real roar. On the second ask, the floor erupted as the band swung into "Let's Have a Satanic Orgy," during which Alexandra leaned into the front rows to hand-deliver black roses to a few lucky onlookers. They followed up with "Lucifer, My Love", its tongue-in-cheek lyric, "You're a much better kisser than Jesus," striking a particularly satisfying chord inside a former Benedictine sanctuary.

At the midway mark, they offered a taste of the new record with "Haunt Me," followed by the rapid-fire pairing of "Burn Your Bible" and "Femme Fatale." Introducing "Satan's a Woman," Alexandra turned the floor into a competitive sing-along, splitting the room down the center to see which side could chant "Satan" with more conviction. After playing the two sides off each other in a battle of volume, she declared stage-left the victor, prompting Zachary to shower the winning side with a handful of guitar picks.

The main set closed with "I'm Wicked," which seamlessly segued into the swelling instrumental melody of "In Nox." With the music playing out, Alexandra and Zachary retreated back to the stage altar. Alexandra raised the ceremonial chalice, drank deeply of the crimson fluid within, and blessed the crowd before turning to Zachary. The two shared a passionate, blood-stained kiss center stage…a lingering, theatrical exclamation point that closed the ritual and left Tucson completely spellbound.

Photo Coverage:

Twin Temple

Meldamor

The FANS!