DIT Sessions #15
Small Houses – “Our Sweet”
http://www.smallhousessing.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Smallhousessing
DIT Sessions #14
Small Houses – “Law Man’s Psalm” (Jeremy RR cover)
More at DITsessions.com
With their third full length album in under a year, Coma Nova’s “The Hazard Album,” released July 17th, shows what might happen when artistic apathy takes control an album.
Before allowing that foreboding sentence to seize your eardrums, listeners and fans shouldn’t question the quality of the album—even if it requires a wary listen. Bouncing around between the genres of grunge, metal, surf-rock, classic-punk, and rap, the trio has produced their most eclectic (and lengthy, coming in at a healthy twenty songs) record to date.
That length provides plenty of listening enjoyment for those that are already familiar with the gritty, alt-grunge, fuck-you sound of Coma Nova,. While no-longer the four piece group with female lead that graced the cover of West Michigan Noise as of last year, the core trio of friends –Eli Kroes, Jake Marcus, and Matt Motzell (after a hiccup with another, now self-exiled drummer, who appears as The Professor on the album)–still remains.
The album wavers between 90’s grunge experimentalism and angered-rap apathy. It starts off with a sludgy beat song “The Boggart” that straddles some wobbly line between metal and grunge. However, “The Boggart” does little to set the tone of the album. Sitting on a sound of garbling dark-matter, Coma Nova dissolves the volcanic guitar tracks in favor of a punk-rock anthem on the next track, “Nightmare Generator,” along to the frantically repeated lyrics “it’s alright.”
The genre-hopping occurs in bursts during the first half of the album, favoring punk trips during “Nightmare Generator” and “Showbiz,” followed by grunge-metal hybridizations like “Chains” and “Nazi Sympathizer.” While the diversion from a single focused genre can be distracting, it doesn’t feel forced; rather the band feels comfortable performing and experimenting within these genres that have built off of each other—taking a lick from here, rocking a graveling voice there, Coma Nova manages to make genre abandon a-ok.
But where abandon and absence of self-definition aid the band in the first eight songs of the album, a shift into rap—specifically of the “hate” variety, brings a questionable tone to the album. After a series of grunge tunes(or somewhere in the vicinity of the genre), listeners are smacked with the bands’ rap caricatures/alter-egos Sharks/The HATE Noise (Eli), Mean Gene (Jake), Anonymous (Matt) so much so that it feels like a completely separate album.
In an interview, Eli ascribed the shift in gears, during both the first and second halves of the album, to boredom and apathy. “Once we’re done with one project, we’re sick of listening to all these songs we just worked on. We want to make something else at that point.”
Collaborating with other local artists The Wrap, DJ Gami, Dankstarr, and The Professor, Coma Nova creates a hip-hop narrative of gun-toting violence, physical abuse, white-trash, and homophobia.
Set to a catchy, upbeat, guitar riff, during “I Get Mad” Sharks slings rhymes about dealing cocaine and meth (nobody’s cocaine is whiter/ I bring mine across the border), drinking and fighting cops (last time I did some shots/ I got grilled by fifteen cops) all along to the chorus “I get mad, I get mad/ oh I get mad, gonna whoop that ass just like your dad.”
Most of the songs are provocative, past the point of braggadocio (when rappers rap about how great they are and how much other rappers/ individuals suck in comparison, specifically through rhyming). The last song of the album “Has Been For Years” features Sharks and Mean Gene claiming credit for blowing up the Twin Towers right alongside “gotta love fairies/ or not/ fuck that, fuck J.K. Rowling/ yo faggot, your boyfriend’s calling,” all set to Frankie Valie’s “Walk Like A Man.” Much of it seems to be Coma Nova just wanting a rise out of the listeners, Eli himself claiming that “some shit just seemed funny.”
Others are crude, such as “Future On The Road,” a song about truckers having gay-sex, along with a few chilled-out rap songs about smoking weed, like “Herb.” All of it is catchy, and well mixed—both DJ Gami and Eli are obviously talented producers, Eli handling all the in-studio production with Gami on all the live tracks, and they keep things crisp, almost allowing the polished rhymes to pass through without hindrance.
However, for as catchy and well put-together as it is, its tone and content’s disregard for sensitive subjects will alienate many listeners. In an interview lead guitar and vocalist Eli described their intentions as “wanting to make fun of the things around us growing up: homophobic white-trash that shoot-off guns in the woods,” (as most evidently shown in the track “Fully Automatic Gun Addict”) and bassist Jake asserted that they “never wanting to offend anyone,” (a statement not as easily certified). The message just doesn’t come across clearly on the first listen, and requires a few, heaping, handfuls of salt to get through without a resounding “fuck you” to the band—despite quality production, practiced experimentation, and a healthy confidence from the band itself.
Friday, there will be a fantastic sound echoing through the Vine neighborhood. It will reverberate from hill to dale to street sign to the broken remains of Oak Street Market. It will make doves wonder at their purpose, and grown men weep. Mostly, though, it’s gonna sound great.
What is this great sound? Why, the celebration of Cold Mountain Child’s first trek in to the wild unknown that is the Midwest tour. Some of their friends, of course, are fixin’ to send them off in style.
Helping bring CMC’s fantastic (though sometimes forlorn) tunes out on the road, Peter Damien Juan Diego Cook, formerly of the Philly Crawlers, will be playing an eclectic mix of his personal favorites and his personal compositions, and all with the help of an acoustic guitar!
Alex Quinlan (one of my local favorites) will be bringing his brother Marcus down to play his thoughtful, wandering melodies over excellently understated guitar-work. This is not an act to be missed ever, if one can possibly help it.
Cold Mountain Child’s friends from afar, Lobo Marino, will be coming up off Virginia way to get all the way down. Their sound is a strong, haunting chant on a wind-swept hilltop at sunset. S’wunnerful.
Finally, Rust Whip’s Dylan Lancaster will be bringing his Rock-Americana to the Milhouse once again. His songs are about lost love and hard life and good times and rough times and making it all work out in the end. Another personal favorite.
The music will start PROMPTLY at 8pm at the Milhouse. If you come late, you’ll miss it. Bring a little cash to either donate, or buy Cold Mountain Child and Lobo Marino’s merch to help them down the road. Other than that, bring a good ‘tude, a few friends, and some fine taste, and get ready for some fantastic tunes!
Fat Guy House is notable for bringing in solid touring acts, combining them with well fitting and sick as hell locals, and this is of course no exception. These experts of pop punk have for you on this Saturday night:
Hold Tight! are traveling from Richmond to bring you no -nonsense straight up pop punk. High-energy music with relatable lyrics, it’s exactly what you want done just as you want it.
Pedals On Our Pirate Ships draw from many influences and sounds, having been an acoustic act now moving into being a full-fledged plugged in punk group, but also featuring duel male/female vocals and keyboards currently. Their sound is solid, and is sure to get you moving.
The locals are two you know and love, George Costanza and Bike Tuff. Though they likely need no introduction, George Costanza is an exellently dynamic tappy-emo 3-piece, and Bike Tuff are a hard-hitting pop punk band with a solid sound made by solid dudes.
Show is at 9, and donations are collected because Pedals and Hold Tight! are both on the road, so bring some bucks.
Tomorrow night, for the first time in a couple of months, Milhouse will host a quiet show in their living room, featuring three songwriters, one with a four-piece acoustic band.
Walter Mitty & His Makeshift Orchestra are coming through all the way from Portland on a month and a half tour that winds through most all the inhabited parts of the US and they are bringing upbeat songs about real life along with them. Their most current album, Overwhelmed & Underdressed, is full of beautiful, honest lyrics with subject matter that can be both socially relevant and personal, accompanied by acoustic string instruments, tambourines, and hand drums.
Local support will be provided by Jake Simmons, who will be performing solo for the first time in a while, after a long while of full band sets with JS & the Little Ghosts. Jake Simmons writes songs about world problems that are influenced by power-poppers like Elvis Costello and Ted Leo.
Circle, Get Square! is the long-standing songwriting project of a musician named Travis who grew up in the Kalamazoo area and has been living in Chicago for the past year. He’ll be returning to play a set at this show, offering up clever and sincere songs that echo anti-folk and lo-fi pop musicians such as The Moldy Peaches or David Dondero.
Door time is 8:00pm and donations will be accepted for Walter & co. Come support some traveling musicians and have a good time! No tom-foolery will be tolerated.
Last Minute Notice! The Walnut House will be hosting a roots-oriented show for the second week in a row. It starts at 9pm. Bring you donations!
Small Houses will play again. From last week:
“Small Houses is Jeremy Quentin’s project. His songs include technical acoustic guitar, a little piano, and intensely tender vocal delivery about the human condition, all set in Michigan. “When it’s Morning” from Our Dusking Sound could slow down any Sunday Afternoon.”
For more music from Small Houses: http://www.smallhousessing.com/press
Kalispell hails from the same school of quietude as Small Houses. Kalispell is Shane Leonard’s project, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He digs Appalachian Americana up from mountain graves with a ghostly call from a clawhammer banjo and pedal steel guitar.
The Hill and Wood come from Charlottesville, VA and offer a jingly-pop sound with layered soft voices, a bit like Belle and Sebastian of the Great West. Not to say this band is exclusively folk. It’s rock and roll.
Check out the song ICSWYW for a glimpse of the catchy rolling waves of guitar and vocals tun.
Ahhhh the memories I have of Village Castle. Going to the first show
there, seeing Ackley Kid and SATANIZED in the basement, and playing
with Not the Wind, Not the Flag, Batcave, and Inflatable Best Friend;
I will miss this place. It is going out with a bang, and it is not to
be missed. The lineup is:
Sinatra from D.C. Math and noodle driven in the vein of Forever and
Always and old Native. http://sinatradc.bandcamp.com
Au Revoir from NJ. Driving and heavy post rock/metal. ie: Russian
Circles, Deadhorse http://aurevoirit.bandcamp.com
AILAT from Lansing. Power/nerd metal. Beware, shred ahead.
http://www.facebook.com/ailatthehand
Local support from:
Everyone and Their Empty Cups
http://widrfm.bandcamp.com/tracks/everyone-and-their-empty-cups
George Costanaza http://georgecostanzaband.bandcamp.com
9 pm, donate to the touring bands (YOU GOT BOOZE, YOU GOT BUX).
Respect the house, respect the people, and pleaaaasssssse stay out of
the front yard for the sake of your own fun!!
Here is the event link: http://www.facebook.com/events/295952770502369/
The No Fun House will be having a collection of talented, catchy solo musicians and songwriters that should not be missed.
EMPEROR X is a writing and touring powerhouse, whose dedication to his craft cannot be denied. as such, the results of his efforts are phenomenal. Lyricism that is hardly rivaled, and inventive guitar styles, this music is as catchy as it is innovative.
But don’t just take my word for it:
STEPHEN STEINBRINK is also on tour, bringing warped but beautiful pop from another time. Reminiscent of The Dukes of Stratosphear/Andy Partridge, as well as the lightest, strangest Ween songs, Steinbrink creates well-orchestrated, lush pop music.
http://stephensteinbrink.bandcamp.com/
RADIATOR HOSPITAL is the creation of Sam Cook-Parrott, Grand Rapids songsmith extraordinaire. Radiator Hospital is fuzzed-out power-pop that expresses infatuation and heartbreak simultaneously, with clever, though blunt writing, complete with sci-fi references. This also may be Sam’s last show in Kalamazoo for a long, long while so you do not want to miss!
http://radiatorhospital.bandcamp.com/
BENJI MYERS is local puppy, myth, legend, who has performed in many local acts, including Witch Fingers, Lincoln County War, and Mushmen currently. A busy character in Kalamazoo music, Benji is a prolific and impassioned songwriter, so you may want to see what he brings to the table as a solo performer.
This show starts at 8 PM so GET THERE ON TIME.
Boy howdy DIT friendly reading personnel, there is quite the festival coming up, filled with bands, (unconfirmed) naked chicks, and wieners. Louie’s Trophy House (and Grill) is hosting Wienerfest: Part Deux Saturday night and will be selling hot dogs for the wonderfully appetizing price of one US dollar. But since wieners may not be tempting to everyone, there will also be a five acts playing throughout the night starting at 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. for wiener aficionado and wiener protestor alike to feed their musical appetites.
Leaving behind all other interpretations or expectations of how a band should perform or what they should sound like, Forget the Times can range from sinister overtures of new-jazz to exasperating noise-rock jams. There is always a tension behind the sound of the group, a hum, or hanging tone in the air that arises in a cerebral throbbing that leaves listeners in between dazzled and diaspora. Forget the Times rides the wave twixt schizophrenic soundtrack and heady lullaby of honeyed notes. Comparing them to something you’ve heard probably wouldn’t make much sense, because even though guitar-heavy rhythms provide a bit of familiarity to those new to the band, the ever changing cast of characters the band utilizes (they have around 10 “members” in their free-jazz collective) promises a unique experience for every show.
The four-piece instrumental indie rhythm group Chinook focuses on repeated melodies that are as smooth and delicate as ice melting on glass. While recently suggesting the desire for a vocalist (and they are currently sorting that out), these four guys are tight when it comes to the build-up and layering of their indie-rock orchestrations. Each piece sounds intricate, with non-verbal stories dancing around in the back of listeners’ eyelids and settings taking place within the eardrum. Listeners will enjoy the busy-sound of an indie band’s emotional torrent without the sometimes pleading whine of the vocals.
Relatively new to the scene as a group, Brass Bows has solid rhythms and brazen vocals from their female lead, bringing a hard-rock feel in the vein of Stikyfut. The group has no recorded material, but is full of crude, salty humor that is perfectly welcome at the second installment of Wienerfest. Expect much shredding upon the guitar and playful devices from the driving rhythm section while getting snarled at. Good times (and a DIT Session) from these folks soon.
The aforementioned shredding.
Angry, angsty, and sweating music out of their pores and injected straight into your ears, the talented screamo-duo Great American Witch Hunt provides a hard-core edge to the eclectic night. Each word sounds like it spat out from gritted teeth and begging for listen. With intermittent breakdowns, GAWH provides talented instrumentality behind Pterodactyl screeches. Their songs sound like a constant break-up fight, and always end with pang of hurt.
With the roar of demonic guitars and bombastic drums in the background, Fine Fine Titans is rather intense. While usually sitting firmly in the mad-god realm of screamo, with blood-walls of guitar hurdling toward listeners with the force of a thousand evils, lead singer Jennifer Bartlett will occasionally break into a narrative-voice to complete the story of a specific song. Sometimes her voice will reel back into a hard-rock tone akin to old Ozzy O. All their songs are bursts of energy, be they comprised of screams or brazen ballads, so be ready to get rocked. And if buying wieners isn’t your style, save up your dollars for Fine Fine Titans debut EP “Arms,” dropping sometime this summer.
Bearded titans.
Entrance is going to cost wiener-goers five dollars, and all subsequent wieners after entrance one dollar. Show starts at 9 p.m. Enjoy the food, and respect the venue.
At DIT, we are generally working to limit competing shows on the same night, but these things do happen-and then we are forced to choose. We’re here to help make that an informed decision.
At the Globe there will be a 21+ show of the folk and country variety with Jon Timm, an upper-Michigan native turned Nashvillian, and Rust Whip, the country-rock band fronted by Kalamazoo’s Dylan Lancaster.
Jon Timm and Rust Whip are in the middle of doing a week of shows together and you can learn more about the both of them in this Mostly Midwest article.
Hometown heartthrobs Cold Mountain Child will be rounding out the bill on this one. Originally formed as the duo of Tyler Bradley and David Spalvieri-Kruse, the group has since grown into an ensemble of shifting members and instrumentation but still creates lush mountain-folk songs that’s prettier than socks on a rooster.
—
Simultaneously, down at the Victory House will be a total mixed-bag of a show with Pittsburgh’s Skinless Boneless on tour displaying their hyper blend of fuzzed-out Freak/Psych madness. As residents of Philadelphia’s Single Girl, Married Girl Records, a label that prides itself on putting out challenging music, if Skinless Boneless is as interesting and energetic live as they are on recording, they’ll put on a helluva show for sure.
Photo courtesy of Single Girl, Married Girl website http://www.sgmgrecords.com
Locals for this one will be on rather opposite ends of the musical spectrum. Terror Terror Oh My! are a party time Rock and Roll band that likes to deliver healthy doses of sass whereas Deep Waters are more of an introspective, chilled out act that resides somewhere on the fringes of the Pop music realm (and features some of the same members of Cold Mountain Child curiously enough – how they plan to pull this off will be a mystery).
—
Both shows are set to start at 9PM so be sure to get down one way or the other – unless you’re feeling adventurous, then grab some friends and hop between the two. Either way, make sure to throw some dollars towards the touring acts who will be in town.
DITKalamazoo 