Monthly Archives: March 2011

3/31 – D. Rider, Unitard, Astro Bats, at Louie’s TONIGHT

You should do yourself a favor and watch/listen to the above music video before moving any further into this article.

Okay?  A bit nauseous?  Alienated?  Excited!?!  Yes, Chicago’s D. Rider bring off-kilter riffs and disturbed grooves to the table for a meal that may very well be the most filling blend of bizarre and infectious that you’ve had in some time.  Featuring former members of classic deconstructionist group U.S. Maple, D. Rider returns to Kalamazoo for the first time since they toured with AIDS Wolf last fall.

Also on the bill are Astro Bats out of Grand Rapids, with their minimalist rock/jazz noise that recalls early improv-heavy post-rock bands like The Dead C and Les Rallizes Denudes. Check out their track Into The Sun

Kalamazoo’s pride and joy, Unitard, will also play one of their unique sets, always a guaranteed high quality occasion.  One DITKalamazoo member describes them as “the most intelligent noise band you’ll ever see.”  Fitting, for sure!

This show is happening tonight, Thursday, March 31st, at the ol’ Louie’s Trophy House at 440 E. North Street just a shot over from downtown Kalamazoo.  Entry is $6 and show kicks off promptly at 10 p.m.

3/30 – Louie’s is hosting a Post Shoegaze Math Rock-a-thon Kalamazoo, And you’re invited

Louie’s is ’bout to be off the chain, ya’ll! Local favorite Glowfriends will be performing with HMS, Victory! and Good News (in lieu of the unfortunate cancellation of Evelyn) on the 30th, and, as always, you are encouraged to come out to Louie’s and subject your ears to the sweet, sweet beautiful musical magic of some fine Kalamazoo artists.

What’s that? What do I hear from the crowd of enthusiastic listeners chomping at the bit for more information about this show? YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW THE TIME!? Well I’m not going to tell you. You’ll just have to hang out at Louie’s until you see the limos show up. Just kidding, it starts at 8:30.

Be there or be square, y’all.

3/29 – Rubblebucket, Ty Beat, and The Strutt: A Winning Combination

Do you like afro-cuban, electro-pop dance music with a horn section? Well if one or any of those things appeal to you, then you should probably be at the Strutt tonight when Rubblebucket gets down and dirty.  These guys are loud, rowdy, energetic, and an absolute blast – I know I had fun when they came through the Strutt last year.

Plus, opening for these bad boys and girls is TY BEAT, a Michigan electronic player that kicks the jams and kicks them well. This will be a show to remember, or at least get down at.

They’re baaack!

The good ol’ boys from the Reptilian have returned to us safely from a 3 week tour and are ready to wrap it up with a BOOM at the Strutt tonight!

Also on the bill: Empire! Empire!, who also just returned from tour, Pan, Kalamazoo’s favourite prog punk rockers, and Binary Marketing Show, a New York duo bringing an interesting brand of indie pop to the table. This is not a lineup to miss, kids.

Doors @ 8, bands @ 9. All ages. $9. Come hang out!

FREE Regional Artists Compilation Droppin’ Soon!

We here at DIT would like to announce a very special event taking place Friday, April 1st at a venue known as… THE INTERNET. Yup, that thing that you’re staring deep and intently into as you read this. 6 p.m. on that date shall see the digital release of a regional  compilation dubbed “EVERYONE’S A CRITIC”.

Ian Howell of Kalamazoo’s Inflatable Best Friend has gathered up some of his favorite bands and given them the opportunity for wider exposure on this mighty fine and diverse release. What better way to get the music into the ears of the masses than a free release via the IntraWeb?

“I wanted to get really cool bands that I had heard involved with each other and create a stronger sense of community in the midwestern musical world,” says Howell, 17. He describes this as the genesis of a label he is looking to start, Obvious Records.

“It makes me really frustrated to see bands competing with each other,” adds Howell. “It’s really in everyone’s best interest to be as nice as possible to fellow artists. We have to help each other out and “Do it Together”.”

So that’s 6 p.m., yah’ll, Friday, April 1st, right from the comfy confines of your computer room. You can stream the album in the meantime.

Saxsquatch and Bridge Band cross at Louie’s TONIGHT 3/19

It’s another Saturday night, and you want to get out of the confines of your home and the mess that surrounds you and haunts you (not to assume things about our readers). Look no further than Louie’s Trophy House at 440 E. North Street in Kalamazoo, where the wacko-jazz of Saxsquatch and Bridge Band will be featured from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. It’s a mere $3 to enter, and Louie’s new pizza will be available. I’ve consumed it! It’s tasty! The music AND the pizza…

3/19 – Fletcher Collective Folk Festivities!

Tonight, for those that enjoy getting down on Folk music, the Fletcher Collective is the place to be! Once in a blue moon the fine folks at Fletcher see fit to throw a show, and they always prove to be a great time. This time, I’m sure, will be no exception.

Coming in from AA-Way is the Appleseed Collective, a rag-tag old-timey Ragtime outfit. These guys come complete with a violin and washboard player, and some excellent excellent vocals.

Grand Rapids has two of their fine outfits on loan tonight as well. Soil in the Sun will be cranking their airy, rather experimental folk music. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve heard, and their live show comes highly recommended. It’s some cool tunes for sure.

Also out of GR, the relatively new group Patchwork will be performing. Sing-songy, happpy-go-lucky folk music for the masses. Come out and support these guys while they play and grow.

And finally, local yokels The Almanac Shouters will be bringing their punk-inspired folk music to the fore. They’ll yell at you, you can yell at them, and everybody will be yelling. Good times will be had by all. Plus, the Shouters just put out a new album. Grab you a copy or two!

Courtesy Suck it, Alex.

Jacuzzi Boys/Tiny Rhythm/Amoebas at Louie’s TONIGHT

If you’re lookin’ to get down ‘n’ dirty on a Friday night (that would be tonight), the melodic and sonically adventurous punks Jacuzzi Boys from Miami, Florida are dropping into Kalamazoo at Louie’s Trophy House with support from high-octane Grand Rapids punk rockers The Amoebas and Kalamazoo rock ‘n’ rowdy Tiny Rhythm.

Louie’s is located at 440 East North Street in Kalamazoo. Doors at 9 p.m., show begins at 10. Ages 18+ welcome, and $8 at the door.

3/17 – Get Down, Get Funky, Give WIDR Yo’ Money

You like dancing? We at DIT certainly do. That’s why the most of us will be at The Strutt tonight, dancing away this St. Pattie’s like it’s going out of style. WIDR will be there too, as an extension of the ever-popular anual WIDR WEEK that’s occurring right now. They’ll be spinning the jams (House, Classic hip-hop, and Dubstep) and squeezing out the maximum amount of booty-shakeage sanction-able by law.

They’ll be taking 3 bucks at the door, all of which goes to fund WIDR and it’s various shenanigans (such as broadcasting commercial-free music 24 hours a day or throwing sweet music festivals). Plus, The Strutt is putting on some pretty excellent specials for the evening – $3.50 pints of ANY DRAFT. If that’s not a dangerously good deal, I don’t know what is.

18 and up for tonight’s festivities, sorry those of you that don’t meat the age requirement. For everyone though, be careful out tonight. Let’s have ahhhselfs a safe and swingin’ St. Patrick’s Celebration!

CLIPART

Who likes free music? We like free music.

Last summer, I spent almost every Wednesday in the studio, with different friends of mine, with one important goal: To write and record music in one sitting, just to see what would happen.

Turns out, a lot of that music turned out in a big way (with no help from me, I might add). There are a lot of excellent musical talents in Kalamazoo, and I’m fortunate enough to be friends with a few of them.

Courtesy Jarab Selner

I am offering up the first piece of output (currently – and unceremoniously – dubbed Album A Week, Selner, Selner, Wesley, Duke) for FREE DOWNLOAD. This collection of four tracks features Kalamazoo’s own Jarab Selner and James Duke of Son Drop on bass and drums, Detroit Native Robert Wesley on guitar, and myself on sax.

There’s a little funk and a lot of jazz on this one. I hope you guys enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it.