Category Archives: News!

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.

 

Thursday 4/3 – Overly Polite Tornadoes EP Release/Tour Kickoff@Vine Neighborhood Association

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Overly Polite Tornadoes, the playful moniker Mark and Holly Morris are using for their latest musical project, are releasing their first EP and hitting the road to promote it.  The tour kickoff happens this Thursday 8 p.m. at the Vine Neighborhood Association at 511 W. Vine Street.  This is a FREE ALL AGES show, and will be supported by two local groups and one touring band.

overlypolitetornadoes

 

http://overlypolitetornadoes.bandcamp.com/track/silent-circling

The link and image above are one of the few recordings currently available on Overly Polite Tornadoes bandcamp.  Those familiar with Mark and Holly’s work with the Glowfriends will find that while the voice may be familiar, the soundscape is more drawn out and textured on these recordings.  The track posted above reminds this writer of Flying Saucer Attack’s second LP “Further.”  Whether that was an immediate influence on Overly Polite Tornadoes, I cannot say.

hottears

Coming through Kalamazoo by way of Olympia, Washington are Hot Tears.  The songs available on their bandcamp foretell a dramatic live show with lots of crescendos and blown minds.  You can preview them here:  http://hottears.bandcamp.com/

Local support will be provided by a Morris family project called Cardboard Highway (http://cardboardhighway.bandcamp.com/) and Vine area regulars Boring People (http://boringpeople.bandcamp.com/).  Not only is this show FREE, but it is ALL AGES! The event will get underway at 8 p.m. sharp, so don’t delay!  Once again, the Vine Neighborhood Association building is located at 511 W. Vine Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

 

Boots Riley to speak tomorrow despite free speech censorship on Western’s Campus

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Boots Riley is a pretty rad (and radical) musician who will be giving a lecture at the Wesley Foundation tomorrow(Thurs) at 7pm in the Cafe downstairs. He’s best known in his involvement in The Coup.

New Year – Big Plans – DITKalamazoo

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Being that DIT is a loose collective, a malleable concept, and a bare-bones website, the way in which it functions frequently goes through changes. Depending on what people need or are interested in, the usefulness of the site changes, waxes and wains. This year we saw the site not only promoting house shows, but also workshops, poetry readings, and a few local venues became notable players in booking DIY bands. Where Kalamazoo steps up and does things with a bend on self-sufficiency, hopefully DIT is helping you hear about it. In spite of a drop in write-ups, the traffic on the DIT site is higher than any previous years!

One notable change that happens with each passing lease period, houses disband and new folks pick up the slack. We saw several major players in the house show scene close their doors. Fat Guy House, Victory House, The Black Lodge, and Touchdown City ceased activity, with folks moving onward and outward. Several other houses have dropped their booking significantly. We look forward to the new houses (and new venues, rumor has it!) springing up, as they are already beginning to, and what new they bring to the creative output here.

For the new year we look forward to some other small, positive changes for DIT. A revamped website is in the work, that will make community involvement easier to achieve. By making the site more user-friendly, and user-submitted content, we hope to get the word out on the great events our small city has to an even greater degree.

If you’re looking to get involved, the meetings will be occuring Sundays at 6:00PM at 611 w Cedar. You can also email ditsidebar@gmail.com if you have events you would like to be included on the site, but cannot make it to a meeting.

DIT KALAMAZOO – A Five Minute Documentary

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Thanks so much to TisLiberte for the love!

The New Diet Premier New Track “Kzoo”!

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DIT Kalamazoo is proud to premier a brand new track from Chicago’s The New Diet. These dudes have been playing Kalamazoo for a few years now and are a big favorite around town. This new track called “Kzoo” is an ode to our fair city. Enjoy!

Also, be sure to check these dudes out at the upcoming Already Dead Family Reunion! They’ll be playing this Friday, 11pm @ The 411 Club along with Forget The Times, No Monster Club, The Electric Nature, Chat Logs, Video Daughters, Frankie Teardrop, Shark Beach, Seventeen Again and Anybody But The Cops. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

Crumbelievable. Truly.

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Flyer by Monica Dubray

 

If you weren’t already keenly aware – and I believe you may not be because I was in the same boat until recently – there is a group of people working hard to cultivate a thriving DIY spoken word scene right here in Kalamazoo.

The epicenter for this action can be pinpointed at the Delta House where they host bi-weekly poetry readings, each of which showcases a handful of selected readers and then afterwards opens up the floor to anyone interested in reading in an open mic style.

One such reading is happening TONIGHT and will be featuring Kalamazoo poets Cal Lafountain, Jarad “The Saxsquatch Selner,” Joe Costello, Kali Doud, Korey Hurni, and Jesse Duke.

Check out the facebook event for more information!

ALREADY DEAD FAMILY REUNION 3!

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The folks at Already Dead Tapes & Records just announced their third annual Family Reunion Music Festival. All happening right here in Kalamazoo on September 19-21. Here’s the info:

AlreadyDeadFamilyReunion3_Flyer

LINEUP:

THURSDAY @ THE KCAC
6/6:25 – Fuzz Town (MI)
6:25/7:05 – Cape And Cowl (MI)
7:05/7:45 – Kevin Greenspon (CA)
7:45/8:25 – T.J. Borden & Pat Cain (NY)
8:25/9:05 – Saxsquatch (MI)
9:05/9:45 – Ultralight (MN)
9:45/10:25 – Radiator Hospital (PA)
10:25/11:05 – Big Waves Of Pretty (WI)
11:05/12 – Not The Wind, Not The Flag (Canada)

FRIDAY @ THE 411 CLUB
6/6:30 – Anybody But The Cops vs. Seventeen Again
6:30/7:15 – Invisible Trails (MI)
7:15/8 – Trauma Harness (MO)
8/8:45 – Video Daughters (NY)
8:45/9:30 – Chat Logs (NY)
9:30/10:15 – Electric Nature (GA)
10:15/11 – Forget The Times (MI)
11/11:45 – The New Diet (IL)
11:45/12:30 – No Monster Club (Ireland)

FRIDAY (AFTERPARTY) @ THE COURTHOUSE
1/1:30 – Morseville Bridge (MI)
1:30/2 – Bill Tucker (IL)
2/2:30 – Grow Fangs (MN)

SATURDAY @ THE 411 CLUB
6/6:30 – Boring People (MI)
6:30/7:15 – U.S. Tribes (IL)
7:15/8 – Lore City (IL)
8/8:45 – Britches (MO)
8:45/9:30 – Ou Ou (MO)
9:30/10:15 – About A Million (PA)
10:15/11 – Nesey Gallons (GA)
11/11:45 – Problems That Fix Themselves (IL)
11:45/12:30 – Teenage Tasteless (Germany)

SATURDAY (AFTERPARTY) @ THE COURTHOUSE
1/1:30 – Mezzanine Swimmers (NY)
1:30/2 – Spelling Bee (MO)
2/2:30 – The Wrap (MI)

TICKETS:

$9 per day / $21 weekend pass (advance)
$10 per day (door)

Advance tickets will be on sale until Sept 18 or until sold out. They can be purchased at The Corner Record Shop in Kalamazoo, MI or online here:
http://alreadydeadtapes.bigcartel.com/category/tickets

FACEBOOK EVENT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/522362207811582/

Printmaking Workshop TONIGHT

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Stop by 926 Davis st. tonight at 6pm and learn linocut techniques and print valentines, patches, and postcards.

For those unaware, linocut is a printmaking technique similar to woodcut in which a design is cut into a sheet or block or linoleum. It is then inked and impressed onto paper or fabric.

*Materials will be provided but if you have some ink, wood, linoleum, or tools bring them! also, if theres specific fabric you’d like to print on bring that too!

As with all  Kalamazoo Free School events, the workshop is open to people of all interest levels and abilities.

 

Zine Workshop TONIGHT!

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Have you been interested in DIY publishing, but weren’t sure where to start? Maybe you have a collection of zines and are interested in finding more types or reading some new ones. Perhaps you’ve even made zines in the past, but you are looking to spice things up with some alternative bindings or unique formats?

If you could relate to any of the earlier sentiments, you might find tonight’s Zine Workshop helpful and informative! The latest offering by Kalamazoo Free School, this workshop is being led by our good friend Mira, with a little help from fellow zinesters DeGraw and Lauren.

For the uninitiated, zines are usually self-published booklets that can be in many formats and include a variety of subjects.  They can be instructional, historical, anecdotal, fictional or personal. Some are single page folded and some are intricate, large volumes with hand sewn bindings.

If you head over to Milhouse around 8 PM tonight, you’ll learn more about the history and variety of zines, as well as current zine culture and how people distribute and share their zines. There will also be a hands-on portion where you can practice binding techniques.

As with all Free School events, the workshop is open to people of all interest levels and abilities.  If you feel you have a decent knowledge of zines and would like to contribute to the conversation, your input is welcome. If you would like to bring a current zine project with you, there will be time for you to work on it in a collaborative environment. There will also be a zine library for browsing through.