What do you get when you cross the Western Inter-Dormitory Radio and the Kalamazoo Collaborative Arts Co-op? You get a sweet little acoustic set at 509 Vine street!

Alex Young will be playing as his solo guitar-and-vocals project A Life of Making Tapes. He also did a set last night at Milhouse, and it was most excellent, so if you missed that, consider this a DO-OVER.

Fiona Dickinson is going to lend her soothing sounds as well. Excellent music, haunting lyrics, powerful voice. A Kalamazoo treasure and personal favorite.

Courtesy http://fionadickinson.bandcamp.com

 Another favorite of mine, Diamond Wave Press (Of Kalamazoo’s) Cold Mountain Child is fixin’ to swath wave after wave of joyful Appalachian sound. These folk are folk in the truest sense – that is, they play the snot out of folk music. Catch them!

Finally, Aaron Garcia (?) will be down to do his thing.

This is an early one (7pm!), so you can show up and have plenty of time to make it to the Hands Off Dance-off.

It’s also a FREE one, but WIDR is in a tough financial way these days and SURE COULD USE A DONATION IF YOU’VE GOT ANY CASH TO SPARE (HINT HINT).

This will be a good time.

I guarantee it.

Friday night, get real cozy and get real down at Wayne Manor. To kick off the evening, at 7pm the Kalamazoo Free School is giving out some much needed love with a quick talk about making your basement a safe space for show-goers. This includes how to create an environment free of oppression and just what the heck a ‘safe space’ is. Who oppresses more than the cops? Well, to add to the mix, KFS will also be doing a quick run-down of what the laws are with shows and how to stay safe avoiding legal trouble.

Then things get raw with the HANDS-OFF DANCE-OFF. (no competition necessary.)
Put the “sensual” back in “consensual”. (no sexy dancing necessary.)
A good ol’ fashioned dance party. (No pressure, just a space to get down if ya gotta.)

Airjob – Trip-Hop beats with skateboard.

Chris K. – Stylish sounds from a dark corner of your parents bedroom.

Wearwolf – If you know ’em, you love ’em. If you don’t, you should get to know ’em.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m still not tired of all the STACKED line-ups that we’ve booked in our small and enigmatic city. The show tonight follows suit with an excellent lineup of:

Secret Plot to Destroy the Entire Universe


Philly dudes laying down some intense and heartfelt tracks. Their sound makes me think of being in a dark room and being able to see colours and light in the distance. Heavy, full, rich, and full, punctuated by powerful and abrasive fits.

Natural Disasters


Fit Guy House’s own whiskey-guzzlin’ mean-muggin’ son’s ‘a guns.

NOHEALTH
>

Kinda new Grand Rapids dudes laying down intense jams.

Statia

They sound like Drew.

Show starts at 9PM! Respect the neighbors, respect the house and DONATE TO THE TOURING BANDS!
If you need the address, shoot us an e-mail! S’ya there.

Got a New Year’s Resolution? Here’s a new one: scout out the house venues.

If you haven’t read this article, give it a read.

We have new music finding its way in Kalamazoo, as well as viewers by the day. Now we have a new house to become acquainted with. Full House is hosting its first show this Sunday, January 6th, to kick off the new year.

House shows is about the variety of music. Here at Full House you can expect your ears to widen from this hardcore collection of bands. Starts at 7 pm.

The Cavities travel from the liberty land of Philadelphia. Typical of the genre, they use double bass drums and fast guitars, however, what will catch you off guard is their use of melody. Not to mention their big, full tone.

Pastimes can offer a different listening experience. Coming from Maine, they can even sound post-rock, as they paint a soundscape called “Colorblind,” they slowly crescendo. They almost echo Explosions in the Sky with their ensemble of guitars. That is, until their singer wails at the climax. The song slows again, the drums marches in triumphantly, the other guitar layers another harmony.

As for the more local bands, Old Soul comes from Mount Pleasant. They call themselves a “Blackened Post-rock band,” blending elements of atmospheric rock, hardcore, and screamo.

Tristam, playing between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, is another local act. They’re fast, loud, and energetic. Expect to be blown back from a wall of guitar.

Greenwashed is a band from the Grand Rapids-Muskegon area. They will scream, and they will play. Fast. Quite possibly the fastest of the night.

The touring groups, the Cavities and Pastimes, can be distinguished by their use of space within their songs. If you’re new, unfamiliar, or hesitant about hardcore, these two offer a great deal of melody. The rhythm section will be tight for a few measures, then suddenly visceral guitar chords will cut through the song.

Whether you are a die hard metal fan or an occasional listener, be open to these guys. They’ll full of surprises.

Check out this new venue. But respect the place. Respect the bands. It might get a bit rowdy, but remember to respect the audience. Respect yourself.

Bring a some dollars, especially for our touring friends, and e-mail ditkalamazoo@gmail.com for directions.

2013 has barely begun and Milhouse is already gearing up to tear it a new one.  The first of several January shows scheduled for the venerated domicile, this Wednesday evening’s events will hit you right in the funky bone.

Hailing from Milwaukee with more groove than your uncle’s record collection, SOUL LOW
http://soullowband.bandcamp.com/

A dynamic duo bound and determined to make you shake in your seats, SHUFFLE
http://www.facebook.com/xxshuffle24

And bringing jams so smooth they belong on bread with peanut butter,
SAXSQUATCH AND BRIDGE BAND

Sleep off the overhang on Tuesday, then wake up and get down on Wednesday
Respect the bands, the house, your fellow homo sapiens, and whatever else you can get your hands on. 

“Citycop, like Ex Cops?”
“No, like The Police.”

Citycop brings raw and aggressive emotion to the stage. They play hard and fast and don’t slow down until it’s done. Their EP ‘Seasons’ is one of my favorite releases from a midwest band in recent memory, and they will be bringing their brand new split with Les Doux with them. They have played in town a couple times before so I’m sure a few of you know what their live performance is like, get a friend out to the show to experience it!
http://citycop.bandcamp.com/

On tour with CC is Shark Bait from Lafayette, LA, with their brand new album ‘Phantom Feelings’. Their style, I would say, is almost on the verge of shoegaze with the intensity of a punk band, yet reserved in a way.
http://sharkbait.bandcamp.com/

Local support for the evening will be:
The Reptilian
Statia
Bagheera (SJ/BH)

BRING DONATIONS FOR GAS!! 9pm at Touchdown City. Message a host on the event for the address. Be respectful of the house and people.
http://www.facebook.com/events/485603564796191/

Wayne Manor is delivering something a bit heavier this weekend. East Michigan’s Sawchuk  and Dead Church are doing a weekend from Hell around the Midwest and making Kalamazoo their last stop. Joining them will be locals That’s Blood and the band I’m Dead to Me from Chicago (not to be confused with the band Dead to Me – although if it brings more people to the show, go ahead and confuse them!).

Sawchuk plays some pretty straight-up, honest-to-goodness hardcore that is tough as nails and compliments well their tourmates Dead Church who play a much faster, more frenzied take on the genre.

I’m Dead to Me play a style of heavier music that fits quite appropriately but on this bill, but are perhaps the most adventurous band of the bunch, exploring slower tempos, sampled dialogue, and more atmospheric elements akin to post-rock.

And if you’re not familiar with Kalamazoo’s That’s Blood, now would be the perfect time to check them out in their element – among similarly styled bands in a gnarly Michigan basement. These hometown boys are about the only local offering of Screamo we have to offer; fast, angular, aggressive. But they also just love to party.

Check it out if you like your punk rock shows heavy and full of energy. This is something Kalamazoo doesn’t get to see too much of and is sure to please.