Monday, March 12th, Milhouse will be bringing you the finest in dark, experimental ambient sounds by way of local powerhouse Forget The Times, as well as two touring acts out of Buffalo, NY – Martin Freeman and T.J. Borden.

Both touring artists can be heard on their respective soundclouds (http://m.soundcloud.com/t-j-borden/tracks and http://m.soundcloud.com/martin-freem) but from what I have been informed, seeing their performances live is where it’s really at.

And as many of us in Kalamazoo are well aware, Forget The Times has an ever-changing cast, so you should check out and see what sort of set up they will have this time around.

The show will also include a potluck beginning at 7 PM, so if you can, bring a dish to pass and/or some money to donate to the touring acts.

A lot has been happening in Kalamazoo lately. Plenty of killer house shows, good times all around at Louie’s and the grand finale weekend at The Strutt.  It’s a good time to be alive.

Tonight is no exception. Two major events are going down:
Harley Poe, Homeless Gospel Choir, Lincoln County War, Arms Akimbo @ Milhouse
AND
Minutes, Whales, No Bails @ Louie’s

We’ve all got a major choice in front of us. A real first world problem indeed.

Minutes and Whales are launching out on tour together after this show. They could use some support for the journey ahead. They’ve even got a new tour EP made up for the occasion. Not to mention No Bails are one of the most consistently top notch bands around.

Harley Poe and Homeless Gospel Choir are on tour together from the great city of Philadelphia. This means it’s not every day you’ll be able to see them play. Plus we’ve all got a golden opportunity to make some new friends and give Kalamazoo a special place in their hearts.

Here’s a few things to make yr decision even harder:

Check the post below for some Harley Poe/Homeless Gospel Choir media.

Hey guys, it’s Sam. I don’t usually contribute posts but tonight’s show is too good to pass up. So here goes:

Harley Poe has a special place in my heart. Singing about such delightful subjects as transvestites, cannibalism, zombie apocalypses and more of the strange horror and macabre that we all love, Joe Whiteford takes these dark subjects and puts delightful melodies behind them (a previous reviewer put it well: a mix between the Violent Femmes and The Misfits). You will wonder why you are walking around all day humming such frightening lyrics. The answer is: you can’t help yourself.

I’m excited to see the full band, who I have not seen yet. I can attest to how entertaining Joe and Christian are to see live. Joe’s dry humor and tiny stature are paired perfectly with Christian’s hearty laugh and impressive frame.

Homeless Gospel Choir has come up again and again as a band worth checking out and even better to see live. The lyrical content of Harley Poe and HGC are both full of wit and sharp humor pointed at society. Derek is also an impressive performer who can capture the room with his guitar and voice alone.

I would say that I love Lincoln County War even if the band members were not good friends of mine. Great lyricism and high energy are the highlights of this two piece band who explore dark themes in a raucous fashion. Sofia’s violin sweetly cries behind Benji’s strained and powerful voice.

Arms Akimbo is a long-time friend and fairly new transplant to Kalamazoo. They say that art comes from pain, and Topher Twiggs has broken my heart since the day I met him. The world is lucky that the kid learned how to play guitar and can write some decent lyrics.

I’m headed down to Milhouse around 9PM. Looking forward to hanging out in a living room and enjoying some solid acoustic acts.

Those searching for that sublime hum, those of the sit-down/tune-out persuasion, should meander on over to Louie’s Trophy House this Friday night. The Terminal Orchestra, an atmospheric ethereal multi-piece band from Marquette, MI, has paired up with wistful shoegazers Glowfriends and mistress-of-moody Fiona Dickinson, to reinstall winter melancholy before the snow all melts into the gutters.

The Terminal Orchestra is a 9-piece group out of Marquette with a symphony savory sound. Citing The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly composer Ennio Morricone as a main influence, these guys and gals are grandiose while remaining delicate.

Glowfriends are a bundle of mellowed out indie poppers with a sweet spin. Expect bubble-gum highs followed by lullaby-lows.

Fiona Dickinson, shame if you haven’t heard of her, plays as if howling out of the deepest depths of whatever hell that dared drag her bittersweet voice into it. Her cries are darker than a piece of chocolate cake at a funeral, and her teardrop voice just as much of a guilty pleasure.

Show starts at 9 p.m., costs $5, and y’all should be of the +18 age range.

Get pumped for Friday night! Victory House is hosting Springfield, Illinois jammers Our Lady and a bunch of other sweet bands including a (prepare for a nostalgia attack) Blink 182 cover band.

Our Lady: pop punk with folk sensibilities, these guys (and girls!) bring all kinds of fun hooks that you’ll find yourself shouting and singing along to even if you don’t feel like it!

The best buds in George Costanza are bringing their flavor of punk rock, by which I mean pretty guitars mixed with angsty, angry vocals. Not to be missed, for sure. Also I’m pretty sure this is the sexiest band name I have ever heard. Unf.

Blank: grimey, grungey rock ‘n’ roll tunes. These gnarly dudes are prepared to take us back to the 90s, while still keepin’ it real and relevant. Party On, Kalamazoo.

And of course, Milhousers Jarad, Josh, and Jose will be performing as Blink-182, who need no introduction of course. Let’s just hope they dress the part.

Show starts at 9, bring some donation money for the touring act. Those kids have to get home somehow.

This Tuesday, four exceptional songwriters will be singing in the cozy Milhouse living room.  Two are on tour, one is from Detroit, and one is a beloved local.  The show will be starting at 8:30 pm.  Donations will be taken for the traveling bands, so please bring a few dollars to help these good people buy gasoline.

Toby Foster is a songwriter based in Bloomington, IN.  He’s been touring with different projects for for a number of years, including a collaboration with members of Defiance, OH, Nana Grizol, and Pink Houses.  Toby’s songs are personal and heartfelt, possessing the best sonic and philosophical qualities associated with the Plan-it-X records community.  Here’s a video of Toby on the famous pink couch:

The Boy Who Could Fly is Kari Jorgensen from Columbus, OH.  She’s on tour with Toby, singing with an electric guitar.  Both Toby and The Boy Who Could Fly give a hint of their punk rock roots in their contemporary folk sound.  Peter Cook has been quoted as saying, ” I love The Boy Who Could Fly! Brain Cloud was one of the albums I listened to most in 2011! This is great!”   Here’s Kari on the pink couch:

A seasoned Kalamazoo veteran, Jeremy Ruggles has been influential in crafting our music scene over the past several years.  Jeremy has not only played in numerous favorite local bands, but has been performing his own tunes with a wide variety of accompaniment.     This time, he’ll be joined by an acoustic ensemble.  Simply put, Jeremy knows what he’s doing, and he’s really good at it.

If you’re a regular attendee of Michigan folk-punk shows, you’ve probably seen Blair Ellis.  Blair is a major contributor to the new Trumbullplex zine library and an active part of Detroit’s scene.  Blair sings twee-pop with progressive social lyrics. Check it out:

This Sunday’s gonna rage hard.  Make the necessary preparations, because you’re not going to want to miss this one.  Fat Guy House is hosting a sweet show which will include Brooklyn pop punkers Living Room, Chicago Math/Screamo outfit Itto, and our very own progressive post-punkers The Reptilian.

It’s always refreshing to hear such blatant honesty come through in a band’s music. It draws me in and keeps me wanting more. Living Room is one of those bands.  Fans of The Wonder Years, Polar Bear Club, and Title Fight will be interested in checking these guys out.

Itto will bring a good mix of screamo (the good kind, I promise) and math elements to the table. They sound like a good time, and I’m sure they’ll deliver.  If you’re into Circle Takes the Square, City of Caterpillar, or Hot Cross you should come hang out with us and see these guys play.

Lastly, I’ve got the pleasure of talking a bit about our own hardworking dudes in the Reptilian. They’ve been touring relentlessly for the past few years and gaining a lot of attention for their intense live shows.  I am consistently impressed with every new project they come out with. I’m assuming most of you reading this have seen them play but just in case you haven’t, I’d say if you’re interested in Suis La Lune, Daitro, or Saetia you’ll have a fun time with these dudes.

I picked up the 7″ split they have with Innards at the last show I saw them play (it is, of course, stellar) and I assume they’ll be selling it at this show so you should pick it up if you have any extra dollars laying around after paying for all the touring bands’ merch.

Speaking of touring bands, bring a couple bucks for the donation jar. The bands appreciate it because it keeps them playing and fed.  See you there!

Tomorrow night, catch Chicago’s mid-fi DIY’ers New Diet, GR’s lofi folky-pop-punk Radiator Hospital, Kzoo’s own Everyone and their Empty Cups and Blank at the Slaughterhouse.

Show starts at 9 or 10ish, bring a couple bucks for the outta-towners. It’s gonna be a gnarly evening.

http://www.facebook.com/events/169181126518765/

Sometimes (most times) I hate school and I hate my job and I just want to come home, put my feet up, then go to a nice, inviting house show. You know, relax a lil’ and forget my woes and pretend there is no such thing as papers on the Romantic qualities of El Estudiante de Salamanca or long, dry readings on complex linguistic structures. Good thing for pity-parties like me, there are lovely living room shows like the one Wednesday at No Fun House!

So come, get off your tired, aching feet for a while and enjoy the sounds of some of Kalamazoo’s finest along with Bro. Stephen from Bloomington! This will be the stuff of legends, my friends. A great, big, comfy evening in a great, big, comfy living room on a big, dumb, Wednesday night with Glowfriends and Cold Mountain Child keepin’ your feet warm (okay maybe they won’t do that ’cause it’s kind of wierd).

Help me help you help me forget about my weekly grind while I help you forget about yours! Come over! Bring your friends! Bro. Stephen is gonna be great. Glowfriends is gonna be great. Cold Mountain Child is gonna be great. You owe it to yourself, babe.

Wednesday / 8 p.m. / No Fun House / Donations plz k thnx gr8

Helping us this winter to keep the blood flowing and the feets dancin’, this thursday evening we’ll be paid a visit from a veritable institution of ska.  The Toasters, hailing from New York City, are gonna bring their time-tested brand of high energy ska.  Find your dancing shoes and grab hold of a pint of something strong.

Accompanying all that toast will be local outfit The Mushmen

And a heavy dose of Modern Medicine, from Grand Rapids

http://www.facebook.com/getmedicatedmusic?sk=info

18+ Doors at eight, show at nine.  Tickets are $10 adv, $12 atd.