The good people over at WIDR have given us the official seal of approval! Check out their home page for some good words about the blog. If you don’t know what WIDR is, you should probably do yourself a favor and start tuning the radio dial to 89.1 fm every day. It will change your life.
Also, keep your eyes pealed for an upcoming write up on DIT and The No Fun House in the Kalamazoo Gazette.
The No Fun House presents a different side of Rock ‘N’ Roll. Call it Post Rock. Call it Indie Rock. You can put whatever silly label you want on these bands. Just be sure to come watch them perform this Friday night at 9pm. Be sure to bring some money for donations/merch as well.
Here’s whats up:
As Above, So Below – Kalamazoo’s newest post rock outfit. Heavily influence by bands such as Pelican and Russian Circles. Come witness the birth of another great local group. No myspace yet, so you’ll have to just take our word that they’re awesome.
We’re Wolves – Another new up and coming Kalamazoo band. WW is Jon Folet’s (Art Official Sound, Everyone & Their Empty Cups) latest musical creation. Think maybe early Modest Mouse.
The Lorax Tree – Ambient experimental rock from the birthplace of Rock ‘N’ Roll, Cleveland, OH. These guys are super cool and are known for their live show. Don’t miss it!
btw, The Lorax Tree used to go by the name ‘The Noise Makers’ which is why they’re listed as such on the youtube video
Like what you see here at the DIT Kalamazoo blog? Interested in getting involved? Have a show you’d like help promoting? Have a band you’d like us to book? Do you love the Kalamazoo music community and want to see it grow stronger by everyone joining hands in a spirit of ‘Do It Togetherness’?!?!?
Then join us for one of our weekly meetings! Every Sunday, 2pm at 632 Locust, we here at DIT Kalamazoo meet up and talk about booking and promoting local shows, ideas for posts on this blog, ways to improve our community and how to kill Superman and take over the world once and for all.
Newcomers are welcomed and encouraged. Even if you just want to sit in the corner and try to figure out what the heck we’re trying to do, come on over. If you’ve ever felt like you wanted to do more for Kalamazoo music, this is your chance. Or, if you just want us to book your band so that you can become world famous and be the envy of all your friends, this is your chance. We’re getting new show requests every day from touring bands from all over and we need all the help we can get.
Any questions can be directed to: ditkalamazoo@gmail.com
See you at the meeting.
Not doing anything terribly important this Sunday night? Feel like experiencing something a bit different? Then the Corner Record Shop has just what you need. A noise concert. This Sunday, from 6:30-9pm, CRS Kalamazoo will be overtaken by a host of otherworldly sounds that surround the listener and destroys the sense of both time and space. If you’ve never experienced a real noise show, you owe it to yourself to at least try it once. Besides, it’s a free show. You have nothing to lose.
The show is presented by local noise label SNSE Records. Owner, Pat Yankee, will also be performing as his alter ego Paranoid Time. Other performers include: Grain Belt from Minneapolis, Custodian from Milwaukee, Gnawed also from Minneapolis, and lastly Infirmary from Peoria, IL.
Just so you know, this is a HARSH NOISE show. Bring your earplugs if you don’t want to die.
HEALTH is playing The Strutt this Wednesday with Gold Panda and Rotten Wood Moon. Doors are at 7pm and it will be $12 day of. Discount pre sale tickets are still available at The Corner Record Shop in Kalamazoo. Be sure to come get them before they run out and you have to pay full price or maybe even not get in!
If you don’t know who the Elephant 6 collective is, you’ve probably at least heard of some of the bands. Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, Apples In Stereo, Of Montreal & Elf Power, just to name a few. The last band is who this article is more or less about. Jimmy Hughes, the guitarist for Elf Power, has another band by the name of Folklore and they will be playing the No Fun House this Tuesday, June 15. Folklore is exactly what you want out of a summertime concert. Catchy vocals, lo-fi guitars, horn sections and every song has a care free feeling that makes you want to dance the whole night through.
On tour with Folklore is Chicago band Bears Of Blue River. They bring all the same great vibes of Folklore except they utilize more acoustic instruments. Think something like Fleet Foxes or maybe early M. Ward. Their songs are warm, beautiful and makes the listener want to feel alright.
The third band playing the show will be The Parlor Scouts from Forest Glen, Maryland. Parlor Scouts are one of the happiest bands you will ever hear. Every song is so full of unbridled joy that you can’t help but have at least a glimmer of happiness. At the same time, they have a very experimental element to their music. Some of the guitar parts and rhythms have a distinct post punk and no wave influence to them. This sound could perhaps best be described as ‘Avant Twee Pop’. Definitely worth checking out.
Finally, as if this show didn’t already have enough variety and awesome bands, The Number Eight will be providing the local support. Tim and Carman have a unique approach to their music by combining drum machine, feedback and distortion to the sometimes stale singer/songwriter style. They’ve been perfecting these songs for a few months now are starting to hit on something very special. You’re not going to want to miss out on this.
The Midwest Noise Conference is happening September 11 and here at DIT Kzoo we’re hitting the ground running. We’ve already got four excellent local bands confirmed and more on the way. First up is the always absurd Sid Redlin with his group Boron Nuzzle. Secondly, we have Unitard. Featuring two Kalamazoo originals and fellow WIDR DJs Richard Bowser and Brad Miller. I’ve also talked to Josh Tabbia and he will be doing his best to bring Problems That Fix Themsleves in all it’s glory to the conference. Finally, I’ve confirmed with Jeremy Ruggles that he will be unveiling a new project for this event. Jeremy Ruggles & The Mind Death Quintet. It’s the JR songs you know and love except this time backed by a psychedelic sonic assault specifically designed to destroy your sense of being. Get ready for it.
Eric Ayotte from Plan-It-X Records is on tour and had a Michigan date drop on him last minute. The good people at the No Fun House have decided to jump in and try to save the day. Come on over at 9pm tonight to see Eric folk it up with Busman’s Holiday, Andy Savina & Benji Puppies! Bring some donations for the touring acts/buy their merch.
DIT Kalamazoo has just started working on a noise/avant garde festival for this fall called the Midwest Noise Conference. On September 11, The Strutt will be hosting an all day event featuring some of the finest acts in noise, free jazz, avant garde, noise rock, psych, ambient & drone music. We will be alternating artists on both stages throughout the day to bring you the maximum amount of weird music possible. We’re also planning on having local and regional record stores, record labels & tape labels come and set up vendor booths.
Stay tuned for upcoming details…
If you have any questions, or would like to get involved, email us at ditkalamazoo@gmail.com
This guy is playing La Iglesia this Friday at 9pm with Grow Fangs!, Problems That Fix Themselves, The Cell Phones (Chicago). You should be there.
DITKalamazoo 