In a weekend dominated by local arts and music – Charm City had both Artscape and the Maryland Death Fest happening – the Ottobar hosted a hometown show of sorts as Baltimore born and raised Greg Puciato returned with The Black Queen for an incredible set. 

Over a decade ago then Dillinger Escape Plan singer Puciato formed the band with guitarist Steven Alexander and keyboardist Joshua Eustis. Two albums followed with the group’s debut, Fever Daydream seeing its 10th year anniversary this year.

The Black Queen, although a supergroup of sorts, always felt a lot more like the sum of those parts than any individual, and on this rare tour Puciato and Alexander enlisted drummer Chris Pennie (Coheed and Cambria/Dillinger Escape Plan) and bassist extraordinaire Danny Loher of Nine Inch Nails/A Perfect Circle and more recently Till Lindemann fame for an unforgettable run.

Getting to the club nearly two hours early, I noticed that there was already a short line waiting in the increasingly downcast evening. It had already been raining off and on all day and just before doors it started coming down in sheets. But that didn’t dampen the spirits of the fans in the line that snaked down the block.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Trace Amount, the project of Brooklyn, New York-based industrial artist Brandon Gallagher whose incredible, one-man show was powerful – moving into the crowd for the final number. Fellow electronic duo and fellow New Yorkers Ghost Cop also performed a brilliant set.

As the lights dimmed and the quartet took the stage, The Black Queen started with “Ice to Never” from their debut. As that initial electronic rhythm melded seamlessly into Pennie’s steady drumming. it signaled the start of what became an incredible evening.

In between songs, Puciato told the crowd how he grew up in Laurel Park along Washington Boulevard in a rough part of town and it was clear that his heart was still here in Baltimore.

The dark stage was illuminated by strobing lights arrayed across the floor of the stage amplifying the uneasy feeling particularly during songs like “Strange Quark” and “Distanced.” But in the unease was this perfectly pieced puzzle – Danny Loher’s steady, thrumming bass lines; Chris Pennie’s accenting of the pulsing electronica; and Steve Alexander’s sonic textures – with Puciato’s smooth vocal delivery riding over the top.

Listen to “Ice To Never” from the debut album, Fever Daydream, by The Black Queen:

In the midst of all the controlled chaos, there were these moments that showed how this band seemed to relish in the reaction of the crowd. Steve Alexander handing his guitar into the crowd to Puciato encouraging fans to sing along as he held the mic stand over the dance floor, this felt like a celebration as the rains continued outside.

“This band is beautiful,” Greg Puciato told the audience. “As you know me and Chris were in this band called Dillinger Escape Plan. We had the best years in that band, and we hadn’t been on stage together since 2006 until a couple of nights ago. And this is one of the best things that’s happened in my entire life.”

Seeing this show gave me hope for more shows in the future and – fingers crossed – more Black Queen material over the horizon. The Black Queen continue their US tour through June.

The setlist included:

Ice to Never
Secret Scream
The End Where We Start
That Death Cannot Touch
Maybe We Should/Non-Consent
Strange Quark
Distanced
Even Still I Want To
Thrown Into the Dark
Taman Shud
One Edge of Two
Now, When I’m This
Apocalypse Morning

Check out more photos of The Black Queen performing at the Ottobar on May 23, 2026. All photos are copyright David LaMason:

And check out photos of Ghost Cop and Trace Amount kicking things off at the Ottobar: