Tuesday night felt like an unofficial Houston ‘goth night’ as fans gathered at The Heights Theater to witness the ultimate goth power couple — Kat Von D and Prayers. The floor was packed with people dressed head-to-toe in black, sporting spiked combat boots and, of course, plenty of tattoos. Known widely as one of the most talented female tattoo artists, Kat has also made waves with her makeup line, her reality TV show, and now her band.
Her creative output is truly inspiring, and she deserves more recognition than she often receives. I’ve listened to her music a few times (I know, I know — I need to catch up), but I hadn’t heard Prayers yet. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but if Kat admires him from an artistic perspective, I figured I would, too. So here I was, also dressed in all black, ready to be a part of this goth party on this ordinary Tuesday night..
Rafael Reyes — also known as Leafar Seyer, or obviously Prayers… took the stage with two muscular, tattooed, shirtless men entering before him, standing guard by his side. At first, I thought they were part of the band, but they remained in the same spots, holding their positions for the entire set. With swords crossed in an X in front of their faces, they added a unique, theatrical vibe to the performance, definitely something I haven’t seen before. Prayers is often named as the “King Goth Cholo,” which also was title of his latest album, and that persona was fully embodied on that stage.
His music mixed goth elements with touches of punk and a heavy synthwave influence, creating a powerful, distinctive sound. It took me a little while to get into the groove, but overall, it was a solid set. Prayers performed songs like “Chologoth,” “Gothic Summer,” “Black Leather,” and “Perfect For You,” pouring his energy into the fans in front of him. As he closed his set, he hyped up his wife, who was next to take the stage, and it was one of the sweetest moments I’ve seen in a while. I absolutely love their love for each other and the craft they both get to share together. 1,000,000% goals.
It was finally time to see the lovely Kat Von D, and you could feel the excitement in the air. I spoke with someone in the crowd who had flown in from out of state just to be part of this show, which spoke volumes about the sincerity of her fan base. When she took the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers, and she blushed instantly — clearly moved and grateful to be there in front of her fans. The lights were dim as she appeared to be tucked between a balance of shadows, highlighting her in the most perfect way. Alongside Kat was her keyboardist and right-hand woman, Sammi Doll — and together, they sounded incredible. Every sound that echoed from the stage was perfectly tuned, delivering a flawless take on ’80s gothic synthwave and creating a brilliantly cinematic feel. It’s hard to put into words, but this was one of those performances where the live sound surpassed the recorded version…and I don’t say that often.
Kat’s vocals were hauntingly beautiful, leaving the crowd blissfully enraptured. She performed many of her past songs as well as new tracks from her recently released album, My Side of the Mountain. “Vampire Love” was a clear crowd favorite, with nearly everyone on the floor singing along. Throughout her set, Kat repeatedly thanked her fans, her husband, her crew, and the staff working that night, showing just how genuine and caring she is. Her love for her craft and her fans shines through in her live performances. I 100% recommend catching one of her shows if she comes to your town…it was an unforgettable experience, and the whole atmosphere was incredible.
GALLERY: Kat Von D and PRAYERS at The Heights Theater in Houston (November 5, 2024)
