Local art masters, Diamond Wave Press, are celebrating the release of their chapbook at Louie’s this Friday. The book contains works of art and poetry from many Kalamazoo favorites.
The event will be accompanied by the musical musings of Tim Tapper, Alex Quinlan, and Deep Waters. Visual art works by David Spalvieri-Kruse will be on display as part of the November Art Hop. Come check out the art and the music!
Poetry at 8; Music at 9
The bluegrass guitar master Arthel “Doc” Watson died yesterday at the age of 89. His death comes almost exactly two months after the passing of the great banjo player Earl Scruggs (88).
Both Scruggs and Watson are known for their invaluable contributions to both bluegrass music and their respective instruments. Here’s the two of them playing a few tunes together back in the day (it takes a second to get to the music, but it’s worth it):
Though the death of an artist is always accompanied with sadness, the departure of these gentlemen comes after long lives of fantastic music. Thus, I felt compelled to write this not out of mourning, but as a celebration of two of the greatest figures in American roots music.
Thank you, Doc and Earl. Rest in peace.
This Tuesday, four exceptional songwriters will be singing in the cozy Milhouse living room. Two are on tour, one is from Detroit, and one is a beloved local. The show will be starting at 8:30 pm. Donations will be taken for the traveling bands, so please bring a few dollars to help these good people buy gasoline.
Toby Foster is a songwriter based in Bloomington, IN. He’s been touring with different projects for for a number of years, including a collaboration with members of Defiance, OH, Nana Grizol, and Pink Houses. Toby’s songs are personal and heartfelt, possessing the best sonic and philosophical qualities associated with the Plan-it-X records community. Here’s a video of Toby on the famous pink couch:
The Boy Who Could Fly is Kari Jorgensen from Columbus, OH. She’s on tour with Toby, singing with an electric guitar. Both Toby and The Boy Who Could Fly give a hint of their punk rock roots in their contemporary folk sound. Peter Cook has been quoted as saying, ” I love The Boy Who Could Fly! Brain Cloud was one of the albums I listened to most in 2011! This is great!” Here’s Kari on the pink couch:
A seasoned Kalamazoo veteran, Jeremy Ruggles has been influential in crafting our music scene over the past several years. Jeremy has not only played in numerous favorite local bands, but has been performing his own tunes with a wide variety of accompaniment. This time, he’ll be joined by an acoustic ensemble. Simply put, Jeremy knows what he’s doing, and he’s really good at it.
If you’re a regular attendee of Michigan folk-punk shows, you’ve probably seen Blair Ellis. Blair is a major contributor to the new Trumbullplex zine library and an active part of Detroit’s scene. Blair sings twee-pop with progressive social lyrics. Check it out:
A few years ago I had the privilege of seeing a rare reunion of Small Brown Bike through a window at a sold out show. That night, the boys from Marshall, MI brought enough energy to overflow Kraftbrau and spill out to those of us watching from the outside. These guys are known for their dominance around the turn of the millennium emo-post-hardcore-punk scene. Along their label mates on No Idea Records (i.e. Hot Water Music) Small Brown Bike breathed fresh life and energy into a tired punk genre. I’m excited to say that I’ll have another chance to see these amazing musicians (hopefully from the inside this time).
The Casket Lottery is a similar story from Kansas City: Midwest kids rocking the world, breaking hearts with a hiatus, and triumphantly returning to blow our minds once again. I don’t have the same personal connection with these guys as SBB, but I know they will be phenominal. Just watch this live video and you’ll get it: (oh, btw: the drummer was also in the Appleseed Cast for a while)
Acting as our local representatives, Kalamazoo’s own MINUTES will be starting off the show tonight. If you haven’t seen them yet, you’re missing out. They’ve had a spot in my top 5 local bands since their formation in 2009. Here’s two videos, because their radness can’t be contained in just one:
The Strutt. 9pm. $14. The best thing happening in town this whole month. Seriously, if you’re into punk, post-hardcore, or generally great music, this show is a must.
Are you wondering what to do now that school is out? Well you can stop your search because former Hot Water Music frontman, Chuck Ragan, is heading into Kalamazoo next Monday! Since HWM disbanded in 2006, Chuck has been taking his folk-rock gig around the world, touring with the likes of Social Distortion, Gaslight Anthem, and Frank Turner.
Ragan’s sound embraces the traditional American folk feel and sound, but still holds on to the gritty and emotional energy that made Hot Water Music one of the most beloved punk bands of the past decade. Check out Chuck’s styles in the videos below and then make sure to head to The Strutt on May 9th.
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Sharks
Also appearing is UK based band Sharks. Forming in 2007, these British rockers have crossed the Atlantic to join Mr. Ragan in supporting Social Distortion’s tour. As usual, music (or video) speaks louder than words:
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The Almanac Shouters
After 3 tours, 2 albums, and 2 fun filled years of strummin’ and shoutin’, Kalamazoo’s Almanac Shouters are calling it quits. The band has decided to disband as Nola (banjo/vocals) has graduated (with 2 degrees!) from WMU, and is headed off into the real world. With the final show being planned for July, the Shouters plan to play only one Kalamazoo show in both May and June. That means that chances are running out to see this bunch of friendly folks.
Doors are at 7pm, and the Almanac Shouters start at 8pm. Tickets are $10 in advance*** or $12 at the door.
***Since the end is near, the Shouters are subsidizing their pre-sale tickets. Get in touch with them on facebook or however you see fit and they’ll pay $3 of your ticket. That means you can see this killer show for only $7. Message DIT if you can’t find a way to contact the Shouters.
As the school semester draws to a close and we enter the heart of the holiday season, what could be better way to unwind than a night of great jazz? Saxsquatch and Bridge Band will be performing tonight (12/16) at Louie’s Trophy Bar, bringing a modern vibe to classic jazz tunes.
Image from myspace.com/saxsquatch
I had the pleasure of seeing this group last time they played Louie’s under the name ‘The William Wenger Trio.’ I truly enjoyed their blend of be-bop and cool jazz, which satisfies the taste of jazz appreciators and yet remains palatable for all music fans.
The band last time (and I’ve been lead to believe it will be the same tonight) featured Mr. Jarad Saxsquatch Selner on the Alto and Tenor Saxophones. The rythm section consisted of James Duke (Son Drop) on the drums, Jakab Selner on the electric bass, and Tommy Aldred on the Fender Rhodes. These talented fella’s get to show off a different side of DIT(K) that is bound to put a swing in your stride and a smile on your face.
The show starts at 9 and will go until midnight. The bar area has no cover and the back room with the tunes is only $2. Information for Louie’s is listed in our “Where you at?” section. This is definitely a show to check out if you need a breath of fresh air.
Saturday night closed out the barking tuna festival with a confusing mess of awesome music. Like the previous two nights, the Strutt was filled with over 200 in attendance.
The show began with local grunge warriors, Coma Nova, who fought off 7 other bands to get their spot on the show. The Fight for the Tuna winners defended their victory with a series of duets, blending a mellow female voice with front man Eli Kroes’s sing/shouting. If you are into heavier rock music, you should track down a copy of their newly released album.
Michigan based Cheap Girls took the stage next. The three piece was solid throughout their set of melodic mid-tempo powerpop. Though not fitting at all with the chaos that was to come later in the night, they delivered a quality performance.
If you’ve ever heard a mass murder being performed in a subway, then you have an idea of the sound that Wolf Eyes brings to the stage. The Detroit based trio composed their audio horror movie with an array of electronics, heavily deranged guitar, incomprehensible vocals, and shrieking soprano sax. Some songs had a beat underneath, others had an semi-rythmic pulse, while others were purely malicious chaos. It is completely understandable for most listeners to loath this type of performance, but Wolf Eyes is a true gem for noise fans.
Once Wolf Eyes had cleared the stage, 9 or so cabs were set up into a massive wall of speakers. One would think that there would be 4 or 5 people plugging into all of this amplification, but it all belonged to one man: Lightning Bolt’s bass player Brian Gibson. He ran his bass through plenty of effects and different amps, so it could cover all of the ground that would normally be filled with a guitar. In front of the wall, Brian Chippendale sat on his drum set with a new version of his signature microphone-mask. The Rhode Island duet spent the next hour or so blasting a completely unique blend of spastic and speedy drumming coupled with noisy and nasty bass and with Chippendale’s bizarre modulated vocals occasionally poking above the sound scape. With minimal members, Lightning Bolt was free to create song structure that usually goes untouched by more conventional bands. Even though the band played on stage (usually they play on the floor) the show earned a spot in my top 5 of the year.
With the 2010 Barking Tuna Festival complete, it is safe to say it was a success from the fan’s standpoint. Lots of great bands. Lots of people in attendance. It seems that the new venue worked out great. Thanks WIDR for doing this and thanks to the Strutt for hosting it.
The annual Barking Tuna Festival began Thursday night at the Strutt. The show opened with Otouto, a 3 piece from Melbourne, Austrailia. Sisters Hazel and Martha Brown shared vocal duties, blending their sisterly-similar voices to deliver softly floating melodies and feathery harmonies. The band offered a unique combination of baritone electric guitar and vintage sounding synthesizer, with innovative minimalist drumming holding the group together. They are definitely worth the listen if you enjoy pop music on the mellow side.
http://www.myspace.com/hazelbrownmusic
On his farewell North American tour, Chicago’s Owen Ashworth played his final Michigan show last night as Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. With a table full of electronic gadgets, Casiotone delivered a fantastic set of low-key electro-pop. His heartfelt monologues were sung calmly above a layer of lo-fi synthesizers and infectious drum beats. His departure is understandable as he has been at it for 13 years, but CFTPA will be missed. Although this project is over, he implied that he would still be making music…so be on the lookout.
Coming up from Atlanta, Gentleman Jesse and his men brought a high-energy rock ‘n roll set with them. They had a very 60’s rock vibe, complete with rickenbackers, rock organ, and even Paul and George sharing a mic for background vocals. Fully entertaining, danceable and musically solid, these southerners successfully brought rock history into modern context.
http://www.myspace.com/gentlemanjesse
With a three-piece horn section, organ, and a back up dancer, the Shrines introduced their fearless frontman. As King Khan stepped onto stage, an aura of energy and soul spread from him and his feathered hat out to the 200+ in the audience. The next hour or so was filled with dancing and general merriment, as King Khan and the Shrines put on one of the best performances to ever take place in our fair city. With a history of playing in town, Khan performed his song, Land of the Freak:
From Atlanta, Georgia to a Castle City, too
We are due for a lot, even a little Kalamazoo
Thanks for the shout out, King. You can come back anytime you want.
DITKalamazoo 