A special DIT greeting to all on this most auspicious of working-class holidays! Though not even officially recognized in this country, this seems an extremely fitting example of Doing It Together and well-deserving of a nod from this humble web log.
Here’s a link to an interesting news article.
And finally, one more just for good measure.
Ann Arbor’s 2194 have paired up with This City Defects out of Calgary, Alberta to cut a swath across the American Midwest. Friday night they’ll be in town to play the Fat Guy House along with the Reptilian. So if you like your post-hardcore music angular and inventive, then this is the show for you.
You may have caught This City Defects when they came through Kalamazoo last year and if you haven’t caught wind of 2194, you should know this is a hard-working, newer Michigan band whom you should keep your eyes on. I would highly recommend that if you don’t know yet what you’re in store for, check out their respective bandcamp sites because the music they have to offer is impressive and hard-hitting and will only be more enjoyable in a live setting.
As always, if you don’t know where to find the Fat Guy House, send us an email at DIT or over to reptilianband520@gmail.com and we’ll help get you to the show.
Bring some donations to help these touring bands out. Show will be starting around nine.
On the way down to Texas recently, I was fortunate enough to be around for the filming of a documentary on DIY music culture. This was not the first time I had crossed paths with Matt Youngblood, a freelance videographer from Rockford, IL – neither was it the first time I had seen him at work with his camera. His latest project, however, seems to be his most ambitious and it happens to be on a subject near and dear to my heart. Matt put together a trailer for the upcoming film and I wanted to share it here for anyone and everyone to check out.
If this piques your interest, stay updated on the DIY or Not facebook page as more information on production develops.
Photo credit: Laurelin Matulis, courtesy of Myspace
Because Louie’s Trophy House and Grill is hosting Connecticut duo The Book Slave and solo artist One Hundred Year Ocean (Derrick from ‘The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die). Go on and check out their tunes. They’re a couple of guys who like to get a bit experimental, get quite a bit emotional, and mostly eschew drum kits altogether.
Stacking the bill tonight in support of the touring act will be locals Forget the Times, Totally Rad, and Good News. 8:30 is the scheduled start time, it’s three dollars, drinks are pretty cheap if you’re into that, and there’s an excellent chance most of your friends will already be there.
Louie’s is at 440 E. North st. and if you haven’t been yet, now’s a great time to check out a spot where a lot of DIY shows in Kalamazoo happen nowadays.
Aside from night two of the post-rock fest this Saturday, The Anthill will be hosting some sick basement action. The Reptilian will be visiting the house for the first time to play with close personal friends, The New Yorker, from the Northwestern parts of Indiana. Also on board are locals White Lightning, a newer addition to the Kalamazoo circuit who play a punked up version of sludgy thrash.
This is going to be a classic night of Kalamazoo basement raucousness. If you’re not planning on being at the Strutt already, come out and get buck. Bring some donation money to help the New Yorker get on their way-have you seen how high gas prices are these days?!
What are we to do with noise-rock? I suppose ‘listen to it with an open mind’ is one option. Or you can write off the entire genre altogether. Hey, it’s your call!
Okay, maybe we all do it. Everyone is close-minded in some aspects, right? I don’t give that much of my attention to rap-rock. Then again, I probably wouldn’t take it upon myself to review a rap-rock album.
Let’s assume you’ve gone with option A and not completely closed the door on a vast catalog of music that goes back some fifty years or more. This brings us to the newest cassette release from the Kalamazoo/Chicago-based Already Dead Tapes.
What’s important to understand before you pop in “Escape From the Planet of Llamas” is that Forget the Times is a band attempting to turn music on its head, to take from elements of rock, psychedelic, free-jazz, noise, and other experimental forms in order to create something that sounds atypical. The songs this Kalamazoo band creates are largely improvisational, often only beginning with an agreed upon key. From there, it is up to the whims of the three guitarists, Peter Cook, Sean Hartman, and Benji Myers and drummer Jarad Selner what happens next. The four musically free-associate and play off each other for an undetermined period of time and then end when it feels natural.
This isn’t exactly revolutionary. Many, many artists over the years have decided to take this or a similar approach in creating their music. To say that you’ve heard nothing like this before would reveal an ignorance of a sub-genre even greater than that of myself, a relative novice in the world of noise and noise-rock – especially when compared with the progenitors of “Escape,” who certainly aren’t afraid to wear their influences proudly. Track four exemplifies this clearly as the title, ‘Fly V Gtr Made of Real Live Honking Geese,’ is a direct nod to experimental superhero Captain Beefheart and what he himself described as his biggest musical influence.
Making sonic connections like this is part of what makes listening to this tape fun for me. The opening track, ‘Early Morning Rabbit Hole,’ seems aptly titled with its frantic, alarm-like tones. Wonderful visuals can be concocted when listening to ‘Deinonychus Dreamland’ or ‘Here Comes the Wolfman,’ though none of this association is absolutely necessary to appreciate what’s going on here.
What is essential is to keep an open-mind. Forget the Times aren’t claiming to reinvent the wheel. But it’s interesting to hear where these individuals personally want to take music as members of the newest generation of noise-rock architects. Plus, you’ve got to appreciate the audacity of those willing to devote themselves to a relatively unpopular niche genre.
“Escape From the Planet of Llamas” comes in an attractive package to boot. I’ve got to hand it to the budding tape and record label for coming up with such instantly intriguing album art and for the super sleek choice of translucent dark blue cassettes. Everything about this makes me want it.
Look out for this album whenever Forget the Times is around to play a show. You can pick it up for cheap. And keep your ears pricked up for their next release on vinyl. These folks keep themselves busy.
Love and bitterness were in the air Monday night as the House of Love hosted its second annual Valentine’s Day open mic night. The fireplace was rolling, the punch was flowing, and guests were encouraged to perform a love song or two to celebrate this most romantic and made-up of holidays, though many decided to take more of a “post-Valentine’s Day” approach. Some played heart-warming selections as their significant others watched on, others performed anthems of loneliness in protest.
It was a most unique show experience and the night was full of wonderful performances that ranged from acoustic guitar renditions of classics, to ensemble jams on tunes as excellent as R. Kelly’s ‘Remix to Ignition,’ to a handful of delightfully candid acapella numbers.
The definite show-stealer of the night was a video performance by Cold Mountain Child’s own David Spalvieri-Kruse who recorded a Neil Young number to be viewed on a laptop since he couldn’t be there for the occasion. It was as unexpected as it was enchanting.
And if it was possible for a show to be stolen twice, then that distinction would have to go to the Thomas brothers for bringing the Bastard Train to Valentine’s Day with their decidedly non-romantic number about all a man wants to do when he comes home from a long day of work.
Overall, it was a most enjoyable way to spend the holiday and will be one of the most fondly remembered in a long-standing tradition of Vine Neighborhood house shows. It also served as a poignant reminder that there are better things to do with yourself and greater expressions of love than what they’ll sell you at the store.
Photo courtesy of TOAD facebook page
Do you like bikes? Do you like working on bikes? Do you just want to know more about how to fix your own bike? The T.O.A.D. bicycle collective of Kalamazoo meets every Wednesday 4PM-8PM at 817 Hoffman Ct. to work on bikes. Bring in your own for repairs, help others with theirs, or just generally learn something new. T.O.A.D. is currently working on fixing up as many rides as possible to be distributed for Springtime riding. They are always accepting donations of complete bicycles, parts, tools, etc.
In addition, Thursday night community rides will return starting next week. If you weren’t aware or weren’t able to make it out in the Fall, Thursday night rides began last year and happened weekly until the cold began keeping riders indoors. For those willing to brave the elements, join up next week at 4PM. The rides meet at Bronson Park downtown.
Check out the T.O.A.D. facebook page for up-to-date information on coming events and activity and to find out how to get involved in various ways.
Forget the Times will be celebrating the release of their first cassette ‘Escape From the Planet of Llamas’ at Louie’s this evening at 9PM.
Photo credit: Rob Atkinson
The tape is being release through upstart tape and vinyl label Already Dead Tapes & Records. Having personally previewed the art and listened to the recordings, it will be exciting to behold the final product.
Helping celebrate the release will be former Kalamazoo resident Problems That Fix Themselves, Skeleton Party from Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti’s Divorce Party.
Problems That Fix Themselves is likely a known quantity for DIT readers, but it’s always good to have the now Chicago-based experimental/noise brainchild of Josh Tabbia back in Kalamazoo. Check out the video he recently put together for one of the songs off his newest release ‘Seconds’
Skeleton Party, who feature members of the Grand Rapids band Radiator Hospital, are no strangers to Kalamazoo, having appeared at the Fight For The Tuna. This foursome plays a brand of aggressively fast and noisy freak/garage rock that makes you pay attention.
Divorce Party, who dropped by the No Fun House last October, make their return for the show tonight. You’ll be plenty glad to catch their frenzied blend of mathematical instrumentation and harsh noise. These guys use guitar and vocal effects like they were instruments all their own and it is an insane pleasure to watch live.
Come help the boys celebrate their new release. They’ll be letting the cassette go for donations and the show itself is only five bucks. It’s a hell of a lineup and probably worth missing Hawthorne Heights for.
Flyer by Josh Tabbia
Not a lot of folks that regularly play house shows receive praise for their work from noteworthy figures like Howard Zinn and Tom Morello. Not a lot of folks are as hardworking and outspoken as Evan Greer of the Riot Folk Collective. Hailing from Massachusetts, Greer will be performing tonight at the Waffle House on Dutton St. along with Kalamazoo’s own Debra Romer.
The Peace Center of Kalamazoo will be sponsoring this event. Feel free to bring a few dollars to donate. The show will be starting at 8 o’clock.
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