Category Archives: Upcoming shows!

When, where, who, and how much. The four questions that everyone really wants answered in life.

A Breather

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This particular five-day stint between DIT events has been the longest since this blog went live, and that’s okay. Now rest assured, just because there aren’t shows going on doesn’t mean we’re just sitting around with our thumbs up our noses. Between organizing the upcoming Emilio Festivez and the Midwest Noise Conference, we’ve got plenty on our plates.

That doesn’t change the fact that nothing’s going on though. You want action. You want live music. You want to stay up a little too late before work the next morning and feel good about it ‘cuz you got to catch some good jams. Well, there are a few spots around this little-big city of ours that can keep you occupied on these off evenings.

If you’re in to open mic action, there’s a pretty rockin’ scene at Harvey’s on the Mall every Monday night. Likewise, for a bit of a mixed bag, you can check out The Strutt every Tuesday night for the best Open Mic ever (it says so on the chalk board at the entrance to the back room). There’s also an open mic at Shakespeare’s Pub, and another at the Corner bar, making Tuesday night a record-holding timeframe for most mics left unattended in Kalamazoo.

Or you can stay in and wait with baited breath for the most excellent show that’ll be happening at the Strutt this Wednesday. Either way, we’ll see you around.

June 23rd at the Strutt: you shouldn’t miss this one.

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I want to bring your attention to a young man named Doby Watson. I met Doby at a DAAC show in Grand Rapids where he played with local shoegaze extraordinaires Glowfriends.While at the Sunday afternoon DIT meeting today, I remember saying to The Daddy that it’s very easy to disregard acoustic artists at a show because so many artists tend to sound exactly like most of the other acoustic acts in the scene. The Daddy agreed. There are few acoustic artists I can really sit down and listen to without getting bored after 3 songs, and Doby is one of those few. Reminiscent of Iron & Wine or Rocky Votolato, Doby Watson’s voice exudes the type of honest emotion that very few artists can achieve while playing guitar. Not only that, but he’s GOOD at playing guitar, and GOOD is an understatement- his guitar is not only an instrument, but a voice that harmonizes with his own. It’s quite beautiful.

Mr. Watson is playing in Kalamazoo on June 23rd at the Strutt with tour-mate Viking Moses. I’ve heard VM is incredible live and his recordings don’t do any of it justice, so you won’t want to miss him either. Local support Astroline, and The Daredevil Christopher Wright, a quirky Indie-Pop group who are label mates with Bon Iver are also playing. The Event for this is on Facebook, so be sure to click that little button that says you’re attending. I would love to see you all there- and since it’s a Wednesday night in the summer, I’m going to go ahead and assume you have nothing better to do anyway.

No Fun at the No Fun House

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Between 7:30p and 9p, the power went out on Allen boulevard, and I guess two-piece bass-and-drum electro-rock outfits aren’t usually prepared with a translatable unplugged act for such occasions as a venue’s power being out. So, We’re Wolves and As Above, So Below went back to whatever it is they do on a stormy Kalamazoo Friday night, while The Lorax Tree unfortunately had to make the long drive home to Ohio. Hopefully we’ll get these guys back in the near future, but until then, I guess we’ll just have to sate ourselves with the myspace.

Meanwhile, the myriad late-comers and hangers-on such as myself were treated to a small show on the No-Fun House’s front porch by Benji Puppies and his sticker-covered acoustic guitar. He upheld the newly-formed tradition (developed on Rotten Wood Moon’s most recent tour). Often times the ‘traditions’ that folks develop during strange circumstances (particularly where they must spend a lot of time with the same small group of people) are completely unintelligible to anyone that isn’t directly involved or ‘in the know’, but this little gem of a bit is not so obtuse. It goes as follows: if there’s nothing much else to do, grab a six-string and rattle off acoustic covers while replacing select words with the term ‘bacon’, syntax be damned. I certainly laughed, and a few of us fools even joined in on the thing. Delightful.

It was a pleasant sort of time at the No Fun house (though most certainly, nobody was having any fun). All things considered though, It would have been great to rock it with The Lorax Tree. There’s more stuff coming up here in the Zoo, though, so if you still have some rockin’ to do (and I know I do), you’d best check out Astroline, Doby Watson, and The Daredevil Christopher Wright at the Strutt this Wednesday. Gotta get that led out somehow.

Sometimes you just gotta stay out too late for your own good. Especially if the drinks are cheap.

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A Strutt full of people understood that all too well last night, rocking out to Rotten Wood Moon, Gold Panda, and of course HEALTH. The house was packed, the mixed drinks were on special, and the drummer’s monitor speaker caught fire during the last set. Sounds like a good time to me, especially for a mild-weathered mid-June hump-day.

The Almanac Shouters got a great review over at Sounds Good ink. Check it out and get a second opinion. It’s all a tease for us Kalamazoo folks, though, ‘cuz the boys and girls that make up the Shouters are on the road for the next few weeks. That means you’ll either have to wait until they get back to grab a copy of A Long Road Home, or take a little trip and catch ’em on one of their tour dates abroad. Oh, The Corner Record Shop has some copies too. That said, everyone at DIT(K) would like to wish the Almanac Shouters the best of luck and a safe journey. Go get ’em guys!

Friday, the No Fun House is playing host for We’re Wolves, As Above So Below (both from Kalamazoo), and The Lorax Tree from way down in Cleaveland. It’s gonna be a night filled with progressive guitar, spaceship/laserbeam/robot sounds, and break-beats.

I don’t know about you, but I love break-beats, and The Lorax Tree seems to know how to rock a break-beat.

Of course, that’s not all they’re rockin’, but if you wanna get the full effect, you’ll just have to slide through the No Fun House this Friday with two bucks for the touring bands. 9pm, no punk-rock time. Check it.

Friday Night Rock

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The No Fun House presents a different side of Rock ‘N’ Roll. Call it Post Rock. Call it Indie Rock. You can put whatever silly label you want on these bands. Just be sure to come watch them perform this Friday night at 9pm. Be sure to bring some money for donations/merch as well.

Here’s whats up:

As Above, So Below – Kalamazoo’s newest post rock outfit. Heavily influence by bands such as Pelican and Russian Circles. Come witness the birth of another great local group. No myspace yet, so you’ll have to just take our word that they’re awesome.

We’re Wolves – Another new up and coming Kalamazoo band. WW is Jon Folet’s (Art Official Sound, Everyone & Their Empty Cups) latest musical creation. Think maybe early Modest Mouse.

The Lorax Tree – Ambient experimental rock from the birthplace of Rock ‘N’ Roll, Cleveland, OH. These guys are super cool and are known for their live show. Don’t miss it!

btw, The Lorax Tree used to go by the name ‘The Noise Makers’ which is why they’re listed as such on the youtube video

HEALTH, Gold Panda, Rotten Wood Moon – June 16 at the Strutt!

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All right, Kalamazoo. One of the biggest names in experimental rock will be blowing the minds of everyone in and near the Strutt on June 16.

HEALTH combines raw synths, fragments of rock and dance music, and spastic bursts of noise, creating something both melodic and jarring. The band may be best known for their song “Crimewave” – a remix by Crystal Castles landed the eerie dance track at #9 on the UK indie singles chart. If you are into experimental music at all, this show will move you.

Joining HEALTH on tour, Gold Panda weaves a warm blanket of synths, samples, and glo-fi beats.  His work possesses a dreamlike quality that has received acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, Dazed and Confused, The Guardian, NME and many more.

Kalamazoo’s hometown noise villains Rotten Wood Moon will bring their patented blend of feral rock rhythms and heavy noise, which is a totally unique experience every time. These guys always keep it wild.

Tickets are $10 Advance/ $12 at the door. Doors are at 8 pm. This will be a show to remember.

Home

GOLD PANDA

http://www.thestrutt.com/

Shows and shows and shows and shows and shows and

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Sunday’s night of mayhem was a success on all counts from what I’ve heard. The boys down at the Corner Record Shop put on an excellent harsh noise performance in the evening, and the night was filled with raucious folk yelling and supercharged electric guitar, depending on your location.

The turnout for the Strutt was exceptional according to The Reptilian guitarist and DIT Member Russ Wagner. Plenty of support for Empire! Empire!, Boyln , and Joie De Vivre, which from a performer’s perspective, makes it that much easier to put on an absolutely killer show. Hopefully photos will be forthcoming from that delightful bit of chaos.

Meanwhile, The No Fun House had a record turn-out for Chicken Little, Our Lady…, and The Almanac Shouters, with upwards of 45 people paying at the door (and a bunch of attendees being let in for free). All three bands were fantastic (with Chicken Little being called up for an encore), and everyone had a blast as far as I could tell. I know I did, anyway. Highlights of the evening include No Fun House inhabitant Benji Puppies bringing down a NERF gun which got passed around and used to shoot a great number of innocent bystanders. Thanks to Josh Tabbia for arming Mr. Puppies.

Uh...

It’s been a busy month for DIT, but the month is only halfway through. So if you’re feeling bummed out that you missed some of the excellent shows passed, you can surely remedy the situation by checking out some of the excellent upcoming musical joy.

More music tomorrow night at the No Fun House! Parlor Scouts, Bears of Blue River and locals The Number Eight will join the Elephant 6-related band Folklore for an excellent line-up of ambient soundscape and top-notch songwriting. This is not a show to be missed, especially for the measly sum of 2 dollars (suggested. It’s always nice to toss the touring bands a little more). Let’s see if we can’t break last night’s record. See you guys there.

The Almanac Shouters’ first full-length album ready to drop.

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As usual, the Shouters and I completely underestimated the time it would take to mix down the album. We ended up missing The Grow Fangs! / Problems that Fix Themselves minitour show last night, but the 13-track debacle that was the Almanac Shouters’ first full-length album is completely mixed and mastered to the band’s satisfaction. The jams sound good, if I do say. Of course, if you don’t believe me, you can always check out ‘A Walking Song’ on the band’s Myspace.

The Shouters will be playing the Trumbullplex tonight in Detroit, Mi, and selling their newly-cut album for a reasonable price. Then, tomorrow night, the official hometown CD release is happening at 9pm at the No Fun House right along with Chicken Little and Our Lady… . It’s gonna be a hootin’ and hollerin’ (shoutin’?) good time.

Well, I’ll be yelling anyway.

Noise Annoys At The Corner Record Shop

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Not doing anything terribly important this Sunday night? Feel like experiencing something a bit different? Then the Corner Record Shop has just what you need. A noise concert. This Sunday, from 6:30-9pm, CRS Kalamazoo will be overtaken by a host of otherworldly sounds that surround the listener and destroys the sense of both time and space. If you’ve never experienced a real noise show, you owe it to yourself to at least try it once. Besides, it’s a free show. You have nothing to lose.

The show is presented by local noise label SNSE Records. Owner, Pat Yankee, will also be performing as his alter ego Paranoid Time. Other performers include: Grain Belt from Minneapolis, Custodian from Milwaukee, Gnawed also from Minneapolis, and lastly Infirmary from Peoria, IL.

Just so you know, this is a HARSH NOISE show. Bring your earplugs if you don’t want to die.

Get Your HEALTH Tickets Before It’s Too Late

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HEALTH is playing The Strutt this Wednesday with Gold Panda and Rotten Wood Moon. Doors are at 7pm and it will be $12 day of. Discount pre sale tickets are still available at The Corner Record Shop in Kalamazoo. Be sure to come get them before they run out and you have to pay full price or maybe even not get in!