Monthly Archives: March 2012

4/3 CORNER RECORD SHOP IS BACK

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It’s been a while but CRS Kalamazoo will be doing a one off show. Just like the old days! Gonna clear out the back vinyl room and make way for a high class rock show.

The show will be centered around the touring act, MANY ARMS. They’re traveling from Philadelphia in support of their new self titled album released on John Zorn’s Tzadik Records!

This band is beyond mind blowing. Deftly crossing sounds between complex prog rock, spiritual noise and cascading free jazz. This will be a night to remember. See fr yrself:

Many Arms will be sandwiched between two locals desperately trying to keep up:

LOST IN TRANSLATION
Ryan Pate’s latest project. Three piece groove based prog rock. They do it right.

HARTMAN & SAXSQUATCH
Duo performance featuring yours truly. Jarad Selner and I will be giving you our own take on free jazz. Didgeridoo, saxophone guitar and maybe a few other randon instruments. No drums, just flow. Close yr eyes and think of a place you’ve never been.

Music starts around 9pm once Saffron closes. Please bring donations/merch money for the touring band! Your generosity is the only way they are getting paid. Gas ain’t cheap and they’ve got a long road ahead of them.

Corner Record Shop is at 1710 West Main St. (next to Tiffany’s)

Respect the venue. Respect the bands. Respect yrself.

How Anyone Can Make A Flyer To Promote Their Show Without Fail – A Lesson In Old School Show Promotion

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It’s fairly simple to make a flyer. Though the imagery can be really important as far as grabbing someone’s attention, first and foremost is the importance to the details of the show. It does you no good to have an eye-catching image if information is missing, or is difficult to read, so keep in mind:
-Who is playing
– where are they playing
-if you can or cannot contain an address
-how much does it cost
-when is it
-and where can you find more information

The way I’ve been designing flyers is to first draw the image that I want to use. I like to use high-contrast black and white as my style, as printing black and white is cheap, and you don’t want details getting muddled in the transition from color to b&w. You could do something much more detailed/colored/cut and pasted, which a lot of people have done to good effect as well. Just make sure you have in mind where your text will be, and that it can be big enough to be legible.

I’ve started designing my text on a separate piece of paper, and then digitally editing the text and image together. Depending on your style, or access to digital editing, this might not be viable. There’s always the effective old school way of cutting, pasting and xeroxing at kinkos. It works well, and requires no major computer knowledge.

Some other tips I can throw in is, if the show or event is free, make sure that’s known! Not having to spend money is really enticing. If you don’t collect a specific amount of money, but do have touring groups to help out, it would be good to include that donations are taken, just so people can know to have a bit of cash on them when they show up. In this digital age, telling people a website or a keyword to search for to find more information is generally a good idea. I make sure to put DITKalamazoo.com on all of my flyers.

Lastly, keep in mind that this is a fun way of having a bit of visual expression. You don’t need to be a visual artist to make a good flyer. Ann Arbor flyer maker Shelley Salant’s style is to make the only imagery on the flyer the relevant text, done in bold magic markers. This is clear, concise, attention grabbing, and is a signature style.

4/7 – Glowfriends Album Release @ 4th Coast!!!

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On April 7th, Glowfriends (along with Cold Mountain Child) will be kicking off the release of their new album with a performance at 4th Coast Cafe. If you’ve never been to a show in Kalamazoo before, see this one. It’s shows like this that we do what we do.

Glowfriends – Nothing bad can be said about this band. They somehow turn dream pop, shoegaze, energy and vibraphones into pure sunshine. Plants can grow on this.

 

Cold Mountain Child – A band based out of Kalamazoo, “Cold Mountain Child” have a sound I’ve decided to call “Acoustigaze”.  Have a listen:

3/31 D.W.I/White Lightning/Bruxism @ Slaughterhouse

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If you find yourself looking for a party with some rad music (or music with a rad party), Kalamazoo has a lot of options for you.  Unable to make it out to Spraynard/Paul Baribeau at Fat Guy House or just not interested? Have no fear! Slaughterhouse is hosting Buffalo thrash punx D.W.I. with Bruxism, White Lightning, and more on the same night so plenty of opportunities for a party!

Details for the event are located here: https://www.facebook.com/events/253155888108734/ The show will start later to give those of us interested in both shows a chance to attend both.  As always, please bring cash for the touring bands, respect the space, and others around you. See you there.

3/31 @ Fat Guy House: Spraynard/Paul Baribeau + 3 SG

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Saturday, March 31st, Fat Guy House will be play host to the most righteous of shows.  Pennsylvania Pop Punkers Spraynard are touring with Michigan native Paul Baribeau in one promises to be a basement show you don’t want to miss out on.  Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening that night:

The dudes in Spraynard will bring us punk rock vaguely similar to Set Your Goals and Four Year Strong. I’m talking the good stuff. The stuff that makes you want to dog pile with your best friends and shout along with reckless abandon. Maybe throw in a few PBRs in there for good measure.  I can’t imagine a better way for you to spend your night.

Twee folk extraordinaire Paul Baribeau (of Plan-It-X ilk) will be bringing us heartfelt stories of falling in love, falling out of love, and everything in between. If you like artists like Kimya Dawson, Toby Foster, or Ghost Mice, I think you’ll be interested in checking this guy out.

Joining us from Lansing is Homelife, who will be performing emotionally-driven punk tunes in the vein of Title Fight and Basement.  Local support includes Bike Tuff and Natural Disasters, who are both just by themselves worth your love and support in going to this show.

I, personally, am extremely excited about the fact that this is happening in my hometown. I encourage you all to make it out if you are able. Remember: these are donation based, so bring some cash for the touring acts. If you don’t know how to get there- ASK. Email us at ditkalamazoo(at)gmail.com or message one of the facebook organizers! The show will start close to 9 or so- see you there.

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF NO FUN HOUSE

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This Tuesday, The No Fun House has a special treat for yr ears.

Bad Braids, Mike Bruno & The Black Magic Family Band + NEIL SHAH!

I’ve been trying to think of good ways to describe these touring bands. No matter what I come up with, I just can’t seem to do them justice. It just has to be heard. Dreamy folk, perfect for a warm summer night. Check it:

BAD BRAIDS (Brooklyn)

MIKE BRUNO & THE BLACK MAGIC FAMILY BAND

After all this, Kalamazoo’s favorite son Neil Shah will be closing out the night with a special acoustic performance. Prepare yourself.

The night kicks off with a Potluck at 7pm. Mike Palmer is baking a cake. Bring a dish to pass and help us feed the touring bands!

Music kicks off around 8:30. We’re asking for donations with all proceeds going to the touring bands’ gas tank.

Respect the house. Respect the bands. Respect yrself.
DO IT TOGETHER

Gettin creepy this Friday at the Victory House!

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This Friday, March 30th, Victory House will be throwing another banger of a show. Creepy Band/Former Tenants/Shit For Brains/The Illegitimates will all be tearin it up. Show starts at 9 and there is a $5 suggested donation. Keep it spooky!

Creepy Band- http://www.facebook.com/creepyband

Former Tenants-http://www.facebook.com/formertenants

Shit For Brains- http://www.facebook.com/shit4brain

The Illegitimates

 

3/23-Citycop/That’s Blood/The Reptilian/George Costanza

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Another awesome show in the Victory House basement!! That’s Blood, The Reptilian, and George Costanza will be uppin’ the punx in support of Citycop who is on tour from Ohio. I’ve seen these guys a couple of times and they do not disappoint. Fast and melodic, in the vein of Thursday and Kidcrash. Definitley on the list of my favorite Midwest bands. Check out the jams here: Citycop.bandcamp.com

Heres a vid of them playing South Bend back in July.

March 23@Victory House, 9pm. Donations for the touring band, you got booz, you got bux.

The Strutt is Gone

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Last week saw the end of the Strutt’s run in their location at the corner of Academy and W. Michigan. While there are plans in the works for relocation, the future of shows in the new location seems to remain up in the air. What this means, at least for the moment, is that we’ve once again lost an important music venue in our city.

I’m sad to see it go, as I know many are. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a number of national acts right here in town, only two measly blocks from my house, that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I’ve attended countless performances by my good friends alongside touring acts from all over the country and beyond. In addition, the Strutt had personally become my favorite local venue to play.

As is the nature of things, spots where people can put on shows come and go, and generally all too quickly. The lifespan of a venue – be it in a basement, bar, or art space – is often a few years at best. Any establishment that hosts live music of this nature, on the kind of intimate scale that we appreciate, is going to be a constant struggle to maintain. But one thing will always remain and will be paramount to its success: the spirit of real community.

Without it, the Strutt would have been just a building, just a business. But hopefully everyone reading this was lucky enough to experience the kinds of things I have over the last few years: moments of honest joy, moments that moved me, that inspired me. Yes, it has less to do with the place itself or the money that goes into it than it does with the musicians that are a part of it, the friends that share in it with you, the people that make it happen. These things are universals in our little subculture world and are a testament to the power that music has in our lives, and the Strutt played a role in bringing this into our most excellent city.

While a venue may not be the most sustainable venture and will all too often meet a premature end, this spirit must continue to be nurtured. Thankfully, at present there is a multitude of places to see live music here in Kalamazoo and for us to gather together, and if you’re reading this article that much should be clear. While there were many aspects of the Strutt that were unique and beneficial, hopefully those can be recaptured in a new space sometime in the near future. Regardless, Kalamazoo’s music culture continues to thrive and will do so as long as we all stay involved.

THIS MONDAY at The Globe Theater w/ HisDayHasCome, Wolves at Bay, Pan and Witch Fingers

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If you think you are gonna skip this one to watch Monday Night Raw, then you are truly a fool. First off, its FREEEEEEE and secondly there are some rad touring bands coming to Kalamazoo on this night!

HisDayHasCome: On tour from Pennsylvania!

Wolves at Bay: On tour from Connecticut!

Pan and Witch Fingers are the local chums playing this one. Show starts at 9 PM. 21+. FREEEEEEEEEE