It’s a good day today in K-town. The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting (but not, as far as i know, on Twitter), and I’m sitting comfortably in my new house with some chilled pink lemonade while listening to some Russian Circles.

Speaking of Russian Circles– we were finally graced with their presence this past Thursday! Despite a setback this past winter with a show cancellation due to inclement weather, they returned to us– and this time the clouds mercifully left us alone (thank you clouds). And I was able to experience this event thanks to a generous monetary gift from The Daddy. Now I will be able to relay for you all that went down Thursday night.

Opening up the night was Grand Rapids natives, Charles the Osprey. While I’m not a huge fan of their music, I am still able to appreciate the technical prowess of both the drummer and the guitarist. It never ceases to amaze me how 2 guys can create a sound that matches or exceeds that of a full band. If you’re interested in progressive or math rock like Cheer-Accident or The Fall of Troy, and you enjoy discussing time signatures or finger tapping techniques with your friends,  you may like these guys.

Next up was The Life and Times of Kansas City, Missouri. They were quite honestly my favorite band of the night. I am an avowed sucker for big, spacey ambient rock and these guys completely delivered. The only thing I was slightly frustrated with was that the right vocal monitor was crackling like crazy during their set so it was really distracting when I wanted to hear the entire band. I hope the Strutt will get it fixed soon. Nevertheless, I was really impressed with these guys. So if you like music to watch the stars to, music like The Appleseed Cast or maybe even Swervedriver, please check these guys out.

And of course, the band we had all been waiting to see at the Strutt since January, Russian Circles, closed out the night. There’s something so gratifying listening to music like this. You’re getting the full package. There’s ambiance and a lot of clashing cymbals, but you can precisely hear every note being played. This is what makes Russian Circles stand out amongst their post-rock peers. I also have to give a huge kudos to The Strutt’s sound guy, Mark, for helping re-create their huge sound in such a small venue. If you’re a fan of Caspian or Pelican, you’re going to absolutely love this band. I sincerely hope we can be graced with their presence again– I’ll be in the front row.

Be sure to check out our calendar for all the goodies coming up in the next few months- I’ll be at Kalamashoegazer on Saturday enjoying myself some good shoegaze music. See you there!

Hello my dears. It’s been such a long time since I have conversed with you all!

In the midst of all the excitement surrounding Soviet round shapes and ospreys named Charles (AMAZING SHOW by the way- a review is on its way), I wanted to bring your attention to a show we had last Saturday night at the No Fun House with Native, Former Thieves, and Kalamazoo’s own The Reptilian. If you weren’t there, I’m dearly sorry you had to miss out on this glorious occasion. Not only did you miss the ladies in the apartments next to us unintelligibly squawking about God knows what (with hilarious results!), but most importantly, you missed some great music! I can’t say I personally missed you though, since if everyone in Kalamazoo showed up, there would have been far less parking in an already tight squeeze with nearly 90 people in attendance fore these bands according to our dear doorman, Saxsquatch.

Kicking off the night with style was Former Thieves from Cedar Falls, Iowa. These guys are what the kids these days call, “legit.” They’re genuinely nice guys, and they play some kick-ass music. If you’re a fan of Touché Amoré or Thursday (circa Waiting), you may be interested in checking these guys out.The album art itself is worth a look.

Next up was Native of Northern Indiana. It’s been interesting to watch how this band has grown up from playing tiny basements to headlining larger venues in just a few short years. I remember seeing them at Rocketstar (RIP) a few years back playing to maybe 20 people. Despite the low attendance their show still managed to have as much frenetic enthusiasm as if they were playing to 200 people. And people have taken note- they were signed to Sargent House in 2008. If you’re a fan of Minus the Bear or At the Drive-In, you may be interested in checking their music out. However, their recording do not do their live shows justice so if you see Native is playing in your area- go to the show and (this goes without saying) support your scene!

And of course, our boys, The Reptilian rounded out the night with a fantastic set. I can’t say much more than that I love these boys dearly, and I don’t think I’ve met a band that works as hard as they do to get their music out there. I sincerely hope that more success comes for these guys because they deserve every bit of it. Check them out if you know what’s good for you!

Now i’m going to go enjoy myself some Ceremony and read a book when i should be studying. Ciao for now.

Sunday was a good day to be at the Corner Record shop. 3 touring bands and one excellent local outfit came together to make everyone’s shopping experience a bit better – and a lot louder.

Opening the bill was Kalamazoo’s own Philly Crawlers. 4-piece pop rock with just enough strange harmonies and interesting lyrics to keep things fresh. This was an excellent performance, high-powered and entertaining as always, and a great way to open for the touring talent. Also, according to various mumblings through the crowd, it seems the Crawlers may have a record out very soon here, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for that.

next up to bat was the boys from Athens, OH: She Bears. An excellent and hard-working indie-rock band, She Bears have been on the road for over a month touring, and this was their last date on that rather hectic schedule. I’m glad they could spend it in Kalamazoo, as their show is extremely entertaining, with them playing one absolutely polished tune after the other. It’s no wonder they were just signed to Deep Elm Records. check  ’em out their music, and check ’em out live if you ever get the chance. You will not be disappointed.

The third group was InBirdsEye from Northern Indiana, and they rocked. Technical guitar parts, inventive drum parts, and a throbbing bass made for the perfect vehicle for InBirdsEye’s intriguing lyrics to ride. If these guys come around (and I’m sure they will), make sure you catch them, as they are a most excellent group.

The final presence of the night were math-rockers all the way out of Calgary, Canada: This City Defects. They set up all their gear, turned off all the lights in the joint, and started making some vaguely musical sounds. Soon the racket had grown into something that was very nearly overpowering, and then the silhouette of the lead guitar player bent down, a light flashed on, and suddenly it was madness.

Anyone who has any interest in math-rock either as a listener or a player needs to check these guys out. They were clean, fast, and veritably terrifying both as individual players, and as a band as a whole. Fortunately, they’ve got an open day on their tour, and they’ll be destroying the Strutt tonight with Lincoln County War and the Savina Brothers.. Check it out. Trust me.