2049 has unfortunately dropped off the show at the Strutt. Taking their place will be a band from Baltimore that combines elements of hardcore, post-rock, and screamo into a sound that’s as sonically captivating as it is aggressive. After having them talked up by friends from Pittsburgh way back in the middle of last Fall, I was looking forward to crossing paths with Pansori for a long time. That chance came last night when we got to play a show with them at the DAAC in Grand Rapids. I was impressed to say the least. Their lush dual-guitar, bass, and drums instrumentation with a free-standing vocalist (who boasts a monster shriek) might not sound unlike other screamo bands of the atmospheric nature, but add to that a violinist who knows her stuff and you’ve got something that truly stands out. I’m happy Kalamazoo was able to turn a hole in their tour schedule into what will be a rad chance to play for a new audience. Check them out, you’ll be glad you did. http://www.myspace.com/eighthundredyearsofsilence

Of course they will be joined by the Detroit madmen of Child Bite who have played Kalamazoo a number of times, as well as Chelsea Boys and Buffalo Moon. It’s all good, baby.

A lot of good music comes out of Chicago. Every once in a while, that good music escapes Chicago and rampages across the United States (world? [universe?]). Tonight, such an event will be witnessed first-hand at Kalamazoo’s The Strutt, and it will be epic as all get-the-hell-out.

Tonight’s show will open with one of my personal favorite local bands: Grand Rapids-based 2-piece math-rockers Charles the Osprey. Super-technical guitar parts, super-technical drum parts, rockin’ groves, killer tone, and an astounding control of aural space combine to give this band a huge sound. in a word, they rock. In eleven words, they are one of the best bands of their kind. Period. I personally would make it a point to see this show even if CtO was the only band, but it only gets better.

From Kansas City – the birthplace of bebop jazz – comes something entirely different. The Life and Times are a rock-outfit that is absolutely epic. The way the instruments move around each-other and together at the same time is fantastic and fluid to a staggering degree, giving their music a smooth seam between it’s hard edges. Add in intriguing vocals and a little bit of flanger, and you have a winner.

Of course, the big reason to come out tonight is Russian Circles. Remember what I said about good music from Chicago? This is what I’m talking about.

Tix are 12 bucks, but that’s absolutely a good deal for the quality of music that you will witness. If you still can’t bring yourself to spend the scratch, then just consider it an investment. Trust me.

Wednesday nights are always interesting in one way or another. This Wednesday night is interesting in that a fantastic group, called Slow Animal, will be prowling the stage at The Strutt. How many bad puns can I squeeze in to one post? We’ll find out. Bad humor aside, though, these guys are great. They’ve got a big, borderline psychedelic feel to them that washes throughout, with some excellent soundscaping and high-energy guitar-work and strange but sweet vocal harmonies. Don’t take it from me though, check ’em out.

Playing the role of support will be two new local projects that don’t really have any recorded works out yet. The first is Andy Savina and Mark Thompson’s new Lifeplan, which, if you know anything about Andy and Mark, is sure to be killer. The second is some punk’s new project Saxsquatch and Bridge Band. One could call it fusion. One could also call it seat-of-your-pants improvisational music. One could, similarly, not worry about postulating and come see it first-hand. Either way, there’s really no telling what will happen in that set, so just suffice to say that some excellent musicians will be on deck to make some tunes occur.

It should be a fun show in any case. Slow Animal is coming all the way from Jersey, so come on down and show ’em how we do in the Zoo.

Then come check out the sweet noise show at The Strutt on August 11th! If you’re not, then come check out the sweet noise show at The Strutt on August 11th and get into it!!! Just one week from tomorrow. For only $5, your mind will be thoroughly melted. Here’s what’s up:

Vertonen –

This Califonia noise maker has been at it since the early 90s. In true noise fashion, he has release somewhere around five hundred thousand albums on just about every format imaginable. This includes a split with Wolf Eyes side project Demons. He also runs the C.I.P. label in his free time (somehow).

Nerfbau / Take Up Serpents –

Noise minus a little bit of the ear piercing harshness. These guys are both on tour together. Check out their tour page for an idea of what to expect.

Dental Work – Noise by way of Traverse City, MI. This guy is super active in Michigan’s experimental music community. He books shows all over the state and runs Placental Recordings. He’s released albums for bands all over including Acid Mothers Temple and Cock ESP.

Boron Nuzzle – Kalamazoo’s own fun loving absurdists rockers. Sounds ranging from straight noise to free jazz to psych rock and everything in between.

Like I said, Only $5. Doors at 8pm. First band at 9pm. 18+. See you there.

Tomorrow night at the No Fun House, all the way from Toronto, comes an instrumental band called Sleep For the Nightlife. I had the good fortune of running into them earlier on this tour in Long Island, NY. I had no idea what to expect as I hadn’t listened to them before and I was pleasantly surprised, nay, blown away. Their mathy dual-guitar attack was right up my alley but I was even more delighted when I realized that for a post-y band of this nature, they refreshingly eschewed anything unnecessary. They keep their songs short and between the straight up two guitar, bass, and drums lineup only one member uses any effects and even that is only limited to a single Line 6 delay pedal.

Joining them will be a new creation which I have yet to witness, Deep Waters, the latest project from Kalamazoo stalwarts David Spalvieri-Kruse, Pat Carrol, and Josh Holcomb. Do I have any idea what we’re in store for? Just imagine this image in musical form…

And rounding out the bill is our very own the Number Eight whom you should be plenty familiar with by now. If not, have you ever even been to a Kalamazoo show? Now a duo, these guys play indie/shoegaze influenced slow burners that are as pretty as they are seductive. You heard that right. If we’re lucky, we’ll hear some singing-saw thrown into their primarily acoustic guitar/electric guitar performance.

KodaKrome is playing a free show tonight, along with the Bobby Wesley Trio. Check it out at The Strutt if you dig some good jams.

Happy Wave Wednesday, DIT! Kasey Chaos here, advocate of all that is hardcore and lover of general metally goodness. That being said, I can’t help but to notice all of the attention being garnered by the hardcore scene as of late. In lieu of the dead metalcore scene, some musicians tuned back up, learned a few more tricks other than a good sweep or a stomach-turning bass drop, and have found that nobody wants to hear songs based on horror movies and necrophilic romance right now. Growing steadily stronger in that place is some two-stepping riffs to get you moving, super-posi lyrics and a passionate feeling of community and brotherhood.

May I introduce: The Wave.

Firstly, Grand Rapids’ own, La Dispute. These guys have been around for quite a few years (since 2k5) with a sound that gradually grew from experimental, bordering thrashy and screamo at moments, to a more artsy, albeit catchy, and edgy post-hardcore. Their lyrics are completely outwardly focused, and members of the band show their creativity in more ways than just with La Dispute. With the 3 “Here, Hear…” concept albums, the members of the band each write a song completely, playing every instrument by themselves, and turn it over to the vocalist to lyricise. Impressive. They’ve gathered alot of attention over the past two years by being mentioned in AP two or three times, touring overseas twice, and hitting a couple national tours with well-known acts like alexisonfire, Thursday, and The Fall of Troy. You’ll also see on their myspace, on the left hand side, something I am completely proud and supportive of: their list of friend bands, venues, labels and artists. They’re huge on supporting their friends and community, which I dig to lengthless extents and feel is a good component to any artist.

Second, we have Boston’s own Defeater. Started in 2005, this Bridge Nine (hardcore record label having hosted well-known acts such as Have Heart, Verse and Terror)  band is, in my opinion, the band most mirroring the first wave of modern hardcore (not hardcore punk although there is definitely some punk influence) of the five wave bands. With a straight forward and hard-charged sound, this enviro-friendly band has been turning heads since they were called “the perfect definition of modern hardcore” by Lambgoat.com and since their record “Travels” had been cited by punknews.org as “a new artistic peak for hardcore”. It’s also cool as hell how many of them are up-front activists in their community and general life. Word up, check them out.

Next, we have Pianos Become the Teeth from Baltimore, MD. Started in 2006, this more emotional-melodic type of hardcore band has been partners with the Topshelf (Defeater, Into It. Over It., Castevet) record label since the end of 2009. A band who tours extensively and writes intensively, these guys have gotten attention from AP, Exclaim! and Indie Rock Reviews. And how! I was privileged enough to catch these guys when they came around on their Summer ’10 tour with local support (see photo blog). Being a band that’s more on the emotional side of hardcore, these guys are doing what they do extremely well and are very talented musicians. I was definitely not disappointed in their show and cannot WAIT until we get them back around here!

Bringing us to the only west coast band on the Wave, Touché Amoré. These Los Angeles-based guys just played the Sound and Fury Festival with fellow Wave bands, Defeater and Make Do and Mend. Another notch to add: they just got off tour with Bane and Strike Anywhere. Of the five wave bands, I believe TA shows their punk influence most. Making their place on No Sleep and 6131 records, this band shows much promise. They’ve done split releases with both La Dispute and Make Do and Mend, they also offer a 7″ demo and one full-length album. One quick glance through their myspace show photos will tell you that they seem to have a quite an enthusiastic crowd.

Back to the east coast: Make Do and Mend. From Connecticut’s capitol, this Panic Records band has been going at it since about 2007. Since 2009, they’ve toured like madmen and have put out two full length records on cd and vinyl. Being the only band on the wave with sung vocals, they do come across as less abrasive, but in no way less powerful. You can catch them around the area August 23 at Metal Frat in Ann Arbor.

Finally. Something to encompass and accommodate all of the eclectic and very segregated harder music scenes. I, for one, am EXCITED for this upcoming year. S’ya at the show.

resources:
http://www.myspace.com/michhardcore
http://michiganhardcore.onlinegoo.com/

Well, the crazy kids at DIT (K) went and did it again – or at least two of them did. DIT Kalamazoo as a whole would like to apologize for the lack of updates this weekend, specifically because we were busy gettin’ Sean Hartman and Sam Madrid married. Congrats to the both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Hartman, from all the boys and girls of DIT!

While the newlyweds are out honeymooning for the week, though, they’re gonna miss out on some excellent shows. Andreas Kapsalis Trio will be tearing down The Strutt with Matt Land trio tonight. Show will start around 9, so make sure you check it out if exotic guitar sounds is what you’re hankering for.

If a bit harder sort of rock is what you need, though, Wednesday has 1994!, Big Kids, and The Reptilian kicking it hardcore, also at The Strutt. Then, Thursday night, Analecta (a band that was previously recommended), Paucity, and Ambassador are gonna wreck things further. Both shows will start 9ish, so check ’em out.

Friday is a jam at the No Fun House, where local math-rockers Good News will be playing support to Seatle-based The Fox and the Law. These guys are super-solid, hard-groovin’ rock with just enough of a bite to remind you that life hurts sometimes. They’re bringing with them And I Was Like, What?, a nice blend between pop-rock and technical guitar work. It’s gonna be a good show fer sure, and these guys are a long way from home, so make sure you come through and toss ’em a few bucks for gas and the like. Show starts at 9 at No Fun House, no punk rock time. let’s do it to it.

EDIT: Sorry for the mix-up on dates. All information has been righted, and all bands accounted for.