Author Archives: rraarrss

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About rraarrss

I am all the coffee. Music maker, flyer doodler, show booker, anxiety haver.

MINUTES + More! – KCAC Benefit Show – 411 Club – 4.19.14

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Though Kalamazoo is packed full of good bands of all sorts and sounds, there are a few key names that ring ubiquitous with the town – MINUTES, the four piece post-punk / rock and roll outfit, is definitely one of those names. Though over the last couple of years their live performances have been sporadic, the buzz around the band remains. Not only that, but they were able to throw together an incredible album at the end of last year.

Because of the occasional nature of their shows, consider this show an LP release for their 2nd full length ROLAND.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

MINUTES are bringing a few out of town friends to share with all of you. THE RUTABEGA out of South Bend and STOMATOPOD of Chicago will be performing and seeing what all the big fuss is about Kalamazoo. Plus local libraries of indie rock BORING PEOPLE will kick the night off.

And if this show didn’t seem enough like an event in and off itself, it is sponsored by THE CORNER RECORD SHOP as per RECORD STORE DAY.

But even more, still! Some of the buddies from MINUTES and other folks in the music and arts community of Kalamazoo are working diligently on creating an all ages, affordable and accessible all ages art space in Kalamazoo (known as the KCAC or Kalamazoo Collective Arts Center). They are currently in the fundraising stages and THIS SHOW IS ONE OF THOSE FUNDRAISERS. So please pay 5 at the door, or pay more! Or if you live in the modern age of digital money, you can donate at a somewhat later date directly on the indiegogo site.

If you want more information about the KCAC, please go to thekcac.org.

Doors at 8, show at 9. Donate if you know what’s good.

 

Gnar Of A Profound And Varied Kind – CHILD BITE, GRAY BEAST, FROSTBITER, ANYBODY BUT THE COPS – 4.17

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THIS SHOW IS TOO GOOD TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT IT.

cutting to the chase

CHILD BITE are the gnarliest, noisiest punk band out of Detroit. They last played Kalamazoo Halloween 2012 and are looking forward to gracing us with their presence once more.

THE GRAY BEAST is the full band project of wordy and wild genius Sycamore Smith out of Marquette, MI.

FROSTBITER is Matt the masked bat Maverick in whatever form he feels like. The set is promised to be nothing like FROSTBITER. If you’ve never seen FROSTBITER, then I have no idea what to tell you.

ANYBODY BUT THE COPS have either written a few songs with many changes, or are playing at least 28 different tracks for you, all about 5 seconds long. Supposedly this is a punk band.

THIS SHOW IS AT LOUIE’S. THERE’LL BE DEAD ANIMALS LEERING AT YOU WHILE YOU DONATE 5 DOLLARS. 8 PM IS DOORS. BE THERE, BE SQUARE, BE EXCELLENT, BE 18 AND UP.

Homeless Gospel Choir Returns! Grey Gordon Returns! – K.I.O’.F. – April 12th

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Kalamazoo sometimes is a great place for getting together with your friends to get sad, contemplative, pensive, nostalgic. That might not sound like a great time if you’re not well acquainted with the folk music that comes out of this town, or that tours in, but if you are you know it’s one of the more compelling musical experiences around.

Homeless Gospel Choir – the band one man band of Derek Zanetti out of Pittsburgh, PA – last played in Kalamazoo over 2 years ago while on tour with Harley Poe. Crammed in a livingroom packed to the gills, and no PA, HGC captivated an audience mostly unfamiliar with his work. His writing is relatable – a conemplative inner self struggling with an indifferent and dishonest world. But don’t let my shoddy words try and explain, here’s a video

Grey Gordon – on tour with HGC, previously played in Kalamazoo at the Corner Record Shop traveling with Jason Anderson. Grey’s music is sweetly sad and melancholy – like your favorite songs you forgot brought back new. You may not know the songs, but they’re likely to strike you as nostalgic.

This show will also be supported by locals Arms Akimbo – your local friend and sad story songwriter, and Axel Quinlan – folk songwriter in the wrong era singing to you regardless

This show is at The Kalamazoo Institute O’ Farts (not to be confused with the KIA). Contact DITkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address. Show is at 8:00. Bring dollars for the outta towners. Be excellent to your hosts and friends and friends you haven’t even met yet.

No Wave From A World Of Jazz – Comfort Food, Sean Hartman, Cardboard Highway – 3.31

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The Corner Record Shop is a place to learn all about music you might not know much about – or to delve even further into something you know you like. Be it by asking the employees, buying records on a gamble, or checking out any of the numerous shows, you’re likely to expand your musical horizons easily in this place.

And where else on a Monday night will you get such a compelling mix of live music?

COMFORT FOOD – are a noisy jazz two-piece, with a distinct sound that even puts it somewhere near No Wave. It’s angular, harsh at times, but with a distinguished groove. They’re traveling from Chicago to our humble town, and will eventually have their newest release out on Already Dead Tapes (based both here and in Chicago).

Supporting Comfort Food, local ringleader and founder of guitar noise outfit Forget The Times, SEAN HARTMAN will be brandishing his musical weapon of choice solo, which is a rare experience.

Plus a newer project, CARDBOARD HIGHWAY will be showcasing their skillful shoegaze and post rock tunes.

Show starts at 9:00! Bring extra scratch to donate to Comfort Food, and maybe even a bit extra after that for a record or two – if that’s your thing. Be excellent.

KCAC / Peace Center Benefit – Nostalgic and Folksy Edition – 3.29 – Milhouse

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Maybe if you were in Kalamazoo in 2008, you went to Rocketstar Cafe. Primarily a coffee shop, sometimes also hosting all ages shows of a variety of genres. Maybe at that time you, like me, saw Ghost Mice and Eric Ayotte play a lovely and energetic folk show.

Photo by Jes Kramer

And if you’re familiar with Kalamazoo, you’ll also know that accessible venues have had a hell of a time remaining open. Shortly after this, Rocketstar ceased to be. Other spots have come and gone through the years, and many houses have picked up the slack – though not in a particularly legal or accessible way either.

Around the time of this Ghost Mice show, there was talk of creating the Kalamazoo Collective Arts Center. Tons of work was done on creating bylaws for this all ages art space, but when nailing down a location became exceedingly difficult, the project fizzled out. But now it’s back! A new group of people are picking up where the originators left off, and are looking to create an affordable, accessible space for all art and all ages.

And also through this all, the Kalamazoo Peace Center has offered a space on campus for music, radical discussion, workshops and speakers. This sort of activity goes hand in hand with the not-for-profit, DIY ethic that is entrenched in the Kalamazoo music scene.

The KCAC and Peace Center are looking for your support, and have thrown together a nostalgic show for the purpose! Featuring:

THE ALMANAC SHOUTERS  – Formed in 2009, the Almanac Shouters are a local band, playing their first (and only planned) show in almost 2 years. They’re a loud folk band with reflective and metaphoric lyrics you can scream and dance to. The line up for this show features Axel Quinlan, Fiona Dickinson, Nola Wiersma, and Rory Svekric.

GHOST MICE – A band synonymous with Plan-It-X Records, a DIY label known for the slogan “If It Ain’t Cheap, It Ain’t Punk” and putting out some of the best of folk and pop punk over the last 20 years. Ghost Mice are straightfoward and honest songwriters whose earnest dedication to their words is compelling.

THE MINOR KIND – Eric Ayotte, folk song writer and short film enthusiast, has a new project and this is it. It’s a country band, it’s sweet, you’ll like it.

This show also features a ROOT BEER KEG for all who donate. Please be excellent to eachother and respect the house! The show is likely to be packed, so make sure to take care of those around you.

9:00 PM start time. Putting the punc back in punctual. Email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address.

Something Old, Something New, Something From New York @ MILHOUSE 3.25

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porchesflyer copy

Eclectic doesn’t necessarily mean difficult, and here is a prime example of artists drawing from many different sources to create compelling and catchy music that’s hella tasty for  your earbuds!

PORCHES. a full band and sometimes solo project of Aaron Maine, is a blend of folk and indie rock in an unexpected way. Traveling all the way from New York to our humble basements, PORCHES. are here to share with you captivating and moving songwriting you can get your dance on to. This group is labelmates of such wonderful groups as Pile, Speedy Ortiz, Krill, Kal Marks and many others who may have already impressed you.

This show will also feature a resurgence of Double Phelix man of mystery GITIS BAGGS! Although Gitis has been playing music consistently in a myriad of local projects, his solo work has not been heard for some time. That being said, Gitis plays wonderful experimental and thoughtful folk that is lush, ambient, and strange. You wont want to miss!

PLUS while we’re at it, TRANCERS, a newer local project, will be making their basement debut. From influences all across the board, you can tell these folks have deeply entrenched themselves in music fandom, and are sharing their findings with us all.

Show starts at 9:00. Please donate what you can, as PORCHES. have traveled quite a ways to get here, and need to sometime get home. Be excellent to each other. Dance yr butts off. Contact DITkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address.

Loud Heavy Punk By Way Of Canada, Ohio, Wisconsin and Here – Milhouse – 3.8

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Kalamazoo, forever splitting at the seams with music, is unruly almost every day of the week. Saturdays are usually the most chaotic, as that’s when the most band requests come in and the most shows are able to be set up. Sometimes, bands that fit perfectly together will all want the same day, though they have nothing to do with each other. Sometimes, you’ve just got to have three touring bands play at one show. With there, Saturday March 8th is filled to the brim with hard hitting punk, post hardcore, distortion and feedback.

GREYS coming all the way from Toronto, Ontario are a loud rock band encompasing well-melded aspects of punk energy and passion with a subtle catchy appeal. Personally one of the best live shows I witnessed last year.

DEADSET from Milwaukee are a new band featuring old friends from ALTA. Heavy hardcore and metal, brought to you by the experts in our Wisconsin sister city.

STELLA of Columbus, Ohio bring their own brand of noiserock and post punk that’s weird enough to get you interested, heavy enough to keep you listening.

PLUS LOCALS BODIES (A new screamo two piece featuring some of the swellest folks you ever did meet) and ANYBODY BUT THE COPS (local favorite disaster punk band without microphones)

STARTING AT 8:00 PM. THREE BANDS ON THREE TOURS DONATE DONATE DONATE. RESPECT THE HOUSE AND BE GENERALLY EXCELLENT.

Restless and Reckless Powerpop Sad Bastard Jams To Help Get Through The Winter – High Dive (Bloomington, IN), Away Game (GR), Brown Cow – 2.21 – Milhouse

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If you’re sick of being sad in the winter and just wish you could feel the sort of antsy malaise of the summer instead, the Milhouse basement has just what you’re looking for! Powerpop, pop punk, bummer summer, and other sorts of sadpop summertime jams will be happening, so come over and forget the several feet of snow and the inevitable last few cars you will push out of a ditch before it’s over. 

HIGH DIVE are a band out of Bloomington, Indiana whose musicians are associated with other wonderful and varied bands such as Defiance, Ohio, Good Luck, Toby Foster, Pink Houses, Community Currency and plenty more that I’m guaranteed to not even be aware of. They play pop punk with ferocity and an unparalleled sincerity. Music filled with self-reflection and queer positivity, it’s just the sort of themes best expressed in a medium you can scream along and dance to. 

Here’s a couple of songs from their performance at The Fest in Gainsville, FL:

 

AWAY GAME from Grand Rapids are bringing their version of lo-fi basement pop to Kalamazoo for the first time. Friends and former collaborator of modern powerpop heartthrob Sam Cook-Parrot of Radiator Hospital, you know these folks have the know how to make the music that makes you bob your head while feeling decidedly slightly despondent.

Finally, BROWN COW of local notoriety / infamy / will be making their first appearance at Milhouse. Mallory and the dudes bring sad slacker folk rock to a whole new level. This band has been showcasing their work around Kalamazoo for a couple of years, and I feel like I messed up by only recently checking out their music – don’t make the same mistake I did! Though their recordings are from a bit of time ago, rumor has it there’s new songs in the work that may make an appearance.

Show starts at 9:00! Please bring money to donate, as gas is never cheap when you’re lugging a fender rhodes or any other gear. Please respect everyone and everything around you, I feel they’ll do so in kind to you.

If you need the address email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com

Hallmark Holiday Made Better With Good Music 2.14

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Whether you love or loathe Valentine’s day, whether you love or loathe love itself, chances are if you’re looking at the DIT page, you have some sort of affinity for music. The concept of love, even in a negative sense, is probably one of the most prevalent themes in music. Therefore, it’s no wonder there’s so much music happening in Kalamazoo on that infamous hallmark holiday day.

fireplaceclub

Probably the most consistent of DIY gatherings in Kalamazoo in recent years would be the annual Valentine’s Day Love Song Open Mic at The Fireplace Club – which is embarking on it’s 6th year! Bring your instrument of choice, bring your friends, and  bring your whole heart into it.

But if that’s not your thing, there’s more!

The Courthouse is having a punk, post-punk, emo sort of night. Featuring two out of town bands- Undesirable People (St. Claire Shores) and Our Lady (Springfield, IL) – as well as local best dudes, Blank. Both out of town bands are embarking on separate tours, so show your love by turning up to support ’em!

And on the venue side of things, there’s even more!

Louie’s will be having Valentine’s dinner and drink specials, coupled with music from Jake Nivala and The Green Gallows (New York).

Plus there’s also a free (thought 21+) show at Shakespeare’s featuring Vulture Circles Crow, Drink Their Blood, No/Breaks, That’s Blood, and Violent Vessel.

Take your pick, or take the Kalamazoo Valentine’s Day challenge and try for all four!

Much Love,

DITkalamazoo

Nothing Straightforward – Noise Punk And Jazz – 1.3.14 – Milhouse

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14.01.03

If you’re familiar with Milhouse, hell, if you’re familiar with Kalamazoo basement shows, then you are familiar with the concept of eclectic. there’s a little something for everyone, and there’s damn near a little bit of everything. Especially when delving into the warped worlds of noise, punk, and jazz, you find the variations are vast and wonderful. This Friday, expect a bit of all of that with these artists.

 

 

 

FRANKIE TEARDROP is out of Athens GA, and are making their third appearance in Kalamazoo, though first basement show. Witnessing their performance at the Already Dead Family Reunion this past summer, I was completely floored by their chaotic melding of harsh noise and punk. Their stage-presence is mesmerizing and unprecedented, and though their recordings are an excellent way to get to know the basics of their repertoire, it pales in comparison to the live experience.

Joining Frankie for this show will be locals:

SURPRISE ATTACK – A new outfit (or rather a revisited fairly old project) consisting of local busy bees in the experimental and jazz worlds Sid Redlin (solo work, Boron Nuzzle, Sista Mista, Banjohater), Poncho (FuzzTown, JoshuAlien) and Saxquatch (Saxquatch & Bridge Band, Prognosis Negative, former to almost every band in town at least a little). Surprise Attack is a driving improv project, taking influence from jazz at it’s core, but presented with a modern love of electronic manipulation.

ANYBODY BUT THE COPS – the variable grab-bag of sounds with a stop on a dime penchant for leaving you wondering just what band it is you’re seeing at all. Essentially a bunch of punks doing everything in their power to not get bored while playing music. The attention span of a gnat, the speed of a caffeine fiend.

Show will start at 8:30! As usual, this show is donation based. Frankie Tear drop our just kicking off their tour and need to get to the next stop, so any amount is helpful. Be respectful to everyone. Be the best person you can be, it’s probably somewhere in your new years resolution anyway.