EVIL DEAD IN CONCERT
Music composed by Joseph LoDuca
Music director & Violin I: Marissa Licata
Violin II: Julia Birnbaum
Viola: Nick Pauly
Cello: Ceridwen McCooey
Bass: Skyler Volpe
Percussion: Shane Corwin
November 1st, 2025
Million Dollar Theater
Los Angeles, USA
PART 1: GROOVY
When I was a child, I used to always jog past the horror section of the video store to avoid all those grotesque and creepy VHS covers looking back at me.
But as I got older and we would have huge family gatherings where my cousins and I would watch movies like ARMY OF DARKNESS upstairs while the adults had their booze and fun downstairs, I slowly became a fan of horror – and in particular, of horror comedies like EVIL DEAD 2, CHILD’S PLAY, and so on.
The EVIL DEAD series, and especially ARMY OF DARKNESS, have long been favourites of mine, so when it was announced that THE EVIL DEAD would be shown with musicians performing the soundtrack live-to-picture, I just knew I had to go.
And when I found out a few days before the LA performance that the film’s composer Joseph LoDuca would also be in attendance, all I could think was “groovy.”
PART 2: A CONCERT EXPERIENCE
THE EVIL DEAD, the cult 1981 horror film, is now a concert experience featuring a live music ensemble performing Joseph LoDuca’s legendary score live-to-picture.
The film’s score has been “reimagined” in the sense that LoDuca went back to the original score – which was in fact his first ever film score – and rewrote and reorchestrated parts of it after decades of experience working as a film composer.
The resulting work, performed live-to-picture, is a delirious symphony of chills and thrills performed by string quintet, percussion and synthesizers.
What pushes the experience to the next level is the audience: at the November 1st performance I attended there was not a smartphone in sight – all I could see there were hardcore fans enjoying the gore, the laughs, and the wild atmosphere.
PART 3: THE FIRST HALF
The November 1st performance at the deliciously gothic Million Dollar Theater opened with composer Joseph LoDuca coming out on stage to describe how he first met director Sam Raimi and actor Bruce Campbell. He also talked about how his score had been “reimagined” for this live experience.
The deathly whisper of “join us” then echoed throughout the theater as the music ensemble took us through the “Overture,” an unsettling piece featuring the score’s main theme on violin.
And with that, the film began.
The first piece highlighting LoDuca’s score comes when the group of college students pull up to the old cabin in the forest. It is here that the strings trill, echo each other, and slide to create an incredible sense of unease.
Later, I couldn’t help by smile in the scene between Ash – played to hammy perfection by Bruce Campbell – and his girlfriend Linda, and the music here plays a big part.
In this scene Ash pretends to sleep with a box containing a necklace on his lap. As Linda picks it up, Ash briefly and cheekily opens an eye to see her reaction. The music is funny at first and dominated by (pre-recorded?) guitar and live pizzicato bass. We then hear a warm love theme that is laced with darkness and tragedy and used in various guises throughout the film.
The next big set piece follows the infamous “tree” scene. I think those who have seen the film will know what I’m talking about.
After the extreme discomfort of that tree scene, we see Cheryl escaping through the forest. Mad strings and pounding percussion follow her back to the cabin. How this scene is scored is clearly different from the original soundtrack – it’s more intense and thrilling, leading to a greater payoff when she finally makes it inside the cabin.
Another scene featuring a vastly different approach to the music is when Cheryl, who has now become a “Deadite,” is trying to kill everyone in the living room. As Scott knocks her into the cellar and locks her in, we hear percussion going wild to heighten the tension and horror of the scene. The original scene was left largely unscored, with an unsettling drone sound filing the soundtrack instead.
Leading into the intermission is the scene where Scott kills Shelly, who has herself become a Deadite. For the life of me I cannot recall the music used here – I was just too busy enjoying the over-the-top splatter, hilarious on-screen reactions by Bruce Campbell, and the deafening applause from the audience as Shelly is hacked into pieces.
PART 4: THE DODGERS AND THE INTERMISSION
Through sheer luck of timing, the LA Dodgers won the World Series during the intermission of the concert.
As we erupted in cheers, someone over the PA system encouraged us to celebrate by going to the theater bar and getting wasted at the end of the night.
No complaints there!
PART 5: THE SECOND HALF
I came back a little late from the intermission to find each member of the incredible music ensemble being introduced to the audience.
Linda later becomes a Deadite and Ash must make the tough decision to kill her. That warm but tragic love theme returns, passionately building in the strings until it abruptly stops when she returns to human form.
She soon turns back into a Deadite so Ash knocks her out and takes her to the shed where he intends to dismember her with that chainsaw that would later become iconic in EVIL DEAD 2. As he’s about to cut into her, their love theme returns and he decides not to go through with it.
He instead carries her outside to bury her as a darkly beautiful theme arranged for string quintet tugs on our heartstrings.
Linda awakes and tries to kill Ash as mad strings dominate until he kills her for good.
Ash is now the last man standing and goes on a hunt for the remaining Deadites in the cabin.
Deep in the basement, blood is pouring out of pipes and electrical sockets as an old ragtime piece is played on a record player. The double bass here was certainly live – as for the piano part, I believe it was pre-recorded (please correct me if I am wrong!)
Back upstairs, Ash leans against the door and starts to load the shotgun with that signature look of blood and grit on his face – Ash, the hero we know from the sequels, is born.
He then reaches into his pocket to look at the necklace he gifted Linda while a fragment of that heartbreaking love theme on strings returns.
Attacks from multiple Deadites follow as the strings and percussion descend into madness.
Ash throws the “Book of the Dead” into the fireplace, causing the Deadites to rapidly decompose as blood and puss flow out of their bodies for the very last time.
Ash has survived and the audience goes wild with applause!
PART 6: THE AFTERMATH
Caked in blood, Ash stumbles out of the cabin as a stark and solemn piano piece plays. With the sun rising in background, the strings begin to play a dark lament that features a stunningly beautiful solo for cello.
This is markedly different from how the scene was originally scored – that music was much more positive and hopeful in tone.
The entity in the forest then returns to take on Ash one more time.
We then fade to black as the end credits roll with a reprise of the earlier ragtime piece and the audience going crazy with applause.
The music ensemble then took their bows, pointing to LoDuca who had been sitting with the audience during the whole performance.
And that brought the concert to a deeply satisfying and blood-filled end.
Groovy indeed.
PART 7: MEETING JOE LoDUCA… TWICE!
I was extremely fortunate to meet and chat with composer Joseph LoDuca at the concert… twice!
Before the concert began I found him standing near the front of the stage talking to a friend. At first I wasn’t sure it was him, but on closer inspection, I realized it WAS him!
I politely approached and asked if he was indeed THE Joseph LoDuca. After receiving confirmation, I asked if he would be conducting the night’s performance to which he replied, “unfortunately, no.” I then requested a selfie to which he happily obliged:
It was only when I got back to my seat and checked the photo that I realised the photo was out of focus!
Determined to get a proper pic (and also cheekily ask him to sign my ARMY OF DARKNESS poster that I had purchased only hours earlier at AMOEBA in Hollywood), I thought I would chance my arm to meet LoDuca again after the concert.
Well, the Gods were smiling on me and I had my second chance:
When I asked if he could sign something for me, he surprisingly responded with, “but I have nothing to sign!” Even if I hadn’t brought that ARMY poster with me, I would have been perfectly happy if he had just signed the back of a scrappy receipt from the supermarket – I mean, this was Joseph LoDuca!
As he signed my ARMY poster and we continued to chat, I was taken aback by how softly spoken and friendly he is – it’s simply inconceivable that this is the same guy that has written such terrifying music for the screen!
PART 8: THE HORROR EXPERIENCE
To enhance the overall experience of EVIL DEAD IN CONCERT, the Million Dollar Theater created an exclusive installation in the basement of the theater called “The Cellar: An Underground Evil Dead Horror Experience.” They also put up an EVIL DEAD standee in the theater lobby:
This installation had sets and props inspired by the film as well as scare actors that would roam through the basement. It wasn’t particularly scary, but it was certainly good fun:
Huge props to the stranger that stepped in to be my “driver” – your facial expression in the above photo is priceless!
PART 9: CONCERT MERCH AND VIP PACKAGE
A fair bit of merch was available including t-shirts, hoodies, decal sets, magnets and more!
All I could afford was a keychain and fun “Book of the Dead” magnet that opens up:
For those that paid for the VIP package, they received an EVIL DEAD IN CONCERT tote bag, a commemorative VIP ticket, a VIP card with lanyard, and a tour poster signed by the band:
Groovy!
PART 10: OVER TO YOU
Did you go to this concert too? How did you like it?
And what did you think of my report? Feel free to comment below or reach out to me directly in the “Contact Me” section.
