Tonight is a good night for fans of emo and post-rock. Some of the midwest’s finest will bring their sound to the main stage at the Strutt tonight, including Native, Analecta, H.M.S. Victory!, and the Post Addition. Admission is $5 and the show starts at 8 pm.

photo by Julie Roberts

With clear, fascinating lyrics and stunning harmonies, Frontier Ruckus is a folk-rock band that everyone in Michigan can be proud of. They should be playing on every late-night tv show and on the radio of every rusting 1980’s pickup truck. They should be snaking up through your little white earbuds as you walk through slush towards class.

Also performing at the Strutt on saturday night will be Ohio’s equally stunning folk act White Pines, and all residents of Ohio should be as proud. Joseph Scott has a glowing ember for a voice. For real.

Local bumpkins Son Drop will play a lil’ rock and roll to get the night started. Tickets are $8 at the door.

Hey lovers of lit. The newest and freshest local zine is dropping tonight at the Strutt, and there are some killer bands that will kick it off in style. Did we mention it’s free? It’s free. You should go.

Photo by Stephen Paley

This here is Jamie Drake. She sings and strums and picks and she’s here in Kalamazoo to play a warm and cheery house show at Casa Beebo this thursday night. There will be lots of Christmas cheer and a fireplace with real fire in it. Many people will eat cookies and pretzels and drink drinks and tell fabulous stories.

Local physician Lovestranger, MD will also be giving a presentation on maintaining personal health and wellness during the busy holiday season.

For directions to Casa Beebo, email us at ditkalamazoo@gmail.com. Bring food, drink, and friends.

Dig this, gang! Garage-rockin’ pop fun from Maybe, Baby tonight at Louie’s Trophy House!

The Crane Wives! Photo by Tommy Valdez

An evening of potent and lyrical folk waits all who enter the Strutt tonight. GR’s The Crane Wives have that haunting finger plucked sound that goes great with Christmas lights and black coffee. Kalamazoo’s Everyone & their Empty Cups have that early Modest Mouse/Brand New kind of frankness that cuts and comforts at the same time. Also from Kalamazoo, Birches will crank out some harmony-heavy power jams about late night phone calls and cruising with the windows down.

This show is 18+ and costs $5 at the Door.

flyer by Ben Lyon!

Punk N Roll.

Tonight, the Strutt will be movin’ and shakin’ to the surf-party-rock-n-soul sound of Nashville’s Turbo Fruits. Pitchfork sez: “this album (Echo Kids by Turbo Fruits) is just like a diner cheeseburger: Cheesy, greasy, bloody, goes good with beer.” You heard it here: DANCE PARTY TONIGHT AT THE STRUTT.

Supporting will be indie rockers Pujol (also from Nashville), local power-poppers Jake Simmons and the Little Ghosts, and local surf dudes Totally Rad. $7 at the door, show starts at 9.

Ann Arbor’s Chris Bathgate returns to Kalamazoo tonight for a performance at the No Fun House. Those of us who have seen Chris before know that a show like this is an opportunity for catharsis and warmth. Those of us who haven’t seen Chris before may walk away with a small fire in the heart.

Joining him at the No Fun House will be tour mates Hezekiah Jones and Chris Kasper.

First band at 9pm. $2 for the touring bands. No drugs, no alcohol, no jerks.
One to remember…don’t miss this.

More kickin’ punk! Locals Bike Tuff and Ackley Kid are joining forces to welcome Detroit Psych Punk greats Frustrations (X Records) for their first ever Kalamazoo show.

The show is at the Ant Hill and starts at Punk Rock Time (whenever enough of you and your friends show up).