Tag Archives: Emo

Gnarly Noise And Earnest Songwriting – PALEHOUND (Boston, MA), GUPPY, PETRILLO – Milhouse – 6.3

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Sometimes I get so excited about a show in Kalamazoo, I don’t even know what to say. Or rather, I have plenty to say, but it all sounds like endless embarrassing gushing to a friend IMG_2579you think is too cool to hang out with you. That might be the perfect tone for this event, but I’ll keep my elated word-vomit to a minimum and try to get to the crux of the whole thing.

So here’s what you need to know:

PALEHOUND is the full-band songwriter project of Ellen Kempner out of Boston, MA. They are on Exploding In Sound records which, if you’ve been to a Milhouse show in the last 3 years, you may have seen a label-mate or two of theirs (Krill, Porches., Kal Marks, formerly Speedy Ortiz – and other great projects that have played around Kalamazoo). The music could be compared to many of those related artists. The guitar work is on point, never trite or expected, and the songwriting is personal but also clever. I love it, and in all likelihood you will love it too. If you have any doubts about the excellence of this band that you don’t know, know that they are currently on a tour with Alex G and Speedy Ortiz, and have just happened to decide to make a stop in some dingy Kalamazoo basement just because.

Also bringing the warped hooks for days and out there guitar work are two local super-groups so to speak.

GUPPY are a product of folks from The Reptilian, Anybody But The Cops, Shoto, and Ackley Kid. Equal parts undeniably hooky writing and well placed noise and gnar, Guppy are quickly solidifying themselves as some of the most compelling noisy emo bands in West Michigan. Expect a tape from them soon, but until then most of their work can only be heard live, so come check it out!

And finally PETRILLO who are a super group of women who have been doing nothing but bringing the creative ruckus to DIY and other circles in Kalamazoo for YEARS, though not often musically. They have found each other and are now making some of the most interesting music I have personally see come out of Kalamazoo in years. If you are finding things to be much to formulaic, and you’d like to see something a bit more off the wall (the range of influences you could pin to this band are staggering, honestly) that still strikes a chord emotionally, this band is for you! They have no recordings. Come to the show and find out for yourself.

This show starts at 8:30 PM! Please bring money for the touring act. Be excellent to each and every person around ya. Email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address.

FUZZ.REVERB.FEEDBACK. – Skull Kid (PA) | Take One Car (NY) | Edith | Cardboard Highway | Welcome Neighbors – 5/28 – Rey Mysterio’s

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Too many bands on this bill to waste your time being long-winded about the whole thing. Two out of towners. Three locals. One house. Lots and lots of hooks and yelling. Too good to miss! But don’t take my word for it, listen to the sounds yourself.

SKULL KID (Pittsburgh, PA) sound like the band you’re going to get obsessed with this summer

 

TAKE ONE CAR (Poughkeepsie,NY) sound like the lines you’ll get stuck in your head for days that you might accidentally falsely attribute to mewithoutYou

 

EDITH (here) sounds like if Alex G broke into your band’s practice space with some friends and just started fucking around with some new stuff you haven’t heard yet

 

CARDBOARD HIGHWAY (here) sound like Kalamazoo in 2009 though you just moved here last year so you’re not entirely sure what that’s all about but it feels nostalgic as all get out.

 

WELCOME NEIGHBORS (here) sound like a new band that you might not have heard and wont unless you just go to the show yourself and give it a listen.

TWO GROUPS FROM FAR AWAY SO DONATE. BE KIND TO REY MYSTERIO AND HIS ABODE.

Tours/Reunions/Celebrations – Anybody But The Cops (tape release + tour kickoff) | The Gray Beast | Another One | Guppy – Milhouse – 4.5

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This show is too good to waste a bunch of words on, so I’m going to keep it brief. On this day of days, this springtime Sunday, some Milhouse music will be happening.

15.04.05Local queerdo/weirdo band ANYBODY BUT THE COPS will be releasing their first set of recordings that sound subjectively better than any of their other recordings, as well as preparing for a 2 week long tour. Described as “Post-Jazz Punk for the Pre-Reset World” and “musical garbage disposals” ABTC are guaranteeing you something along the lines of 20 minutes of music and hopefully minimal un-mic’d banter. The new release is coming out on ALREADY DEAD TAPES. Check it out! Or buy it at this show to save on shipping.

THE GRAY BEAST are dancy, catchy, wordy fellas from Marquette, MI, fronted by the profound and profane genius Sycamore Smith. Having last seen them open for Child Bite, you can be sure that this band kicks it. They are on tour and they have a demo to sell ya, so don’t be scared to check it out.

ANOTHER ONE are a pop-punk band without the bullshit. They are here to present you a hook once instead of three times because that sort of repetition is time that could be spent playing two more songs. So that’s what they do. Old friends out of Grand Rapids that have not yet played Kalamazoo, so give them a warm welcome.

GUPPY are equal parts excellent songwriting/song structure and heavy chaotic noise. It blends together in the most perfect way. The band was on a hiatus for a bit, but now with Jose from Anybody But The Cops on bass, their back at it. Check the hype

DONATE TO THE OUTTA TOWNERS AND TO THE TOURS. BE EXCELLENT. BE THERE RIGHT AT 9:00 TO SEE GUPPY KICK IT OFF. TREAT YOUR FRIENDS WELL AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS. BE MINDFUL OF THOSE AROUND YOU. WOMEN AND QUEERZ TO THE FRONT FOREVER.

Email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address.

Mysterious Music And More At Rey Mysterio’s House – 2.21

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The most mysterious house in Kalamazoo is having a particularly mysterious show, featuring newer bands who have no recordings available. However, from what I’ve gathered, every performance is going to be sick in it’s own way.

What we do know about

BABY KID is out of Chicago, and they write some good warped tunes that’ll warm your blisteringly cold heart and general February existence.

APE NOT KILL APE are out of Grand Rapids and will be bringing their own blend of surf rocky noise and post punk.

CHARLES ROGERS is from Grand Rapids and that’s not actually his name

WWEMO will be playing their second show this week and also their second show ever. I got the exclusive that they are super excellent by watching their set two nights ago.

Be excellent, compliment Rey on his house and wrestling moves, donate to the outta townerz.

Post-Punk From Eastern Europe And So Much More – Milhouse – May 7th

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Maybe one of the most surprising things for people when they first learn about all the basement shows happening in Kalamazoo, is just how far some bands travel to play here for these small audiences in these strange settings. I have heard multiple people over the last year express shock at bands from New York or Portland “why are you here? how did you get here?” The fact remains that many bands prefer the unconventional, the DIY for touring, but at first encounter it does seem quite strange.

Kalamazoo has hosted countless bands from this continent, but artists traveling in from abroad, especially for basement shows, is a rare treat. And this Wednesday, Kalamazoo has a rare and wonderful treat for you in the form of Macedonian dancy post-punk band, BERNAYS PROPAGANDA. If you like hard-hitting, get-yer-ass-movin’ punk, this is just the thing for you.

And now you know where Macedonia is

If that was not cool enough on it’s own, Bernays Propaganda are on tour with GHOST MICE of Bloomington, IN. Ghost Mice were here not long ago, supporting the KCAC at a benefit show. If you haven’t seen them, they’re a long standing energetic acoustic folk punky project, long associated with Plan It X Records.

PLUS this show will include two locals who have never played Milhouse before – GUPPY – who are a new project without any recordings, but feature members from The Reptilian, Shoto, George Costanza, and Ackley Kid so you know it’s going to be good. THE MUSHMEN will also be making their first appearance to the Milhouse basement, promising to get you dancing.

Please bring money for the touring groups as Macedonia is unfathomably far away from our little Midwestern city. Respect the venue, respect everyone around you, make some new friends. SHOW STARTS AT 900, don’t be late!

Homeless Gospel Choir Returns! Grey Gordon Returns! – K.I.O’.F. – April 12th

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Kalamazoo sometimes is a great place for getting together with your friends to get sad, contemplative, pensive, nostalgic. That might not sound like a great time if you’re not well acquainted with the folk music that comes out of this town, or that tours in, but if you are you know it’s one of the more compelling musical experiences around.

Homeless Gospel Choir – the band one man band of Derek Zanetti out of Pittsburgh, PA – last played in Kalamazoo over 2 years ago while on tour with Harley Poe. Crammed in a livingroom packed to the gills, and no PA, HGC captivated an audience mostly unfamiliar with his work. His writing is relatable – a conemplative inner self struggling with an indifferent and dishonest world. But don’t let my shoddy words try and explain, here’s a video

Grey Gordon – on tour with HGC, previously played in Kalamazoo at the Corner Record Shop traveling with Jason Anderson. Grey’s music is sweetly sad and melancholy – like your favorite songs you forgot brought back new. You may not know the songs, but they’re likely to strike you as nostalgic.

This show will also be supported by locals Arms Akimbo – your local friend and sad story songwriter, and Axel Quinlan – folk songwriter in the wrong era singing to you regardless

This show is at The Kalamazoo Institute O’ Farts (not to be confused with the KIA). Contact DITkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address. Show is at 8:00. Bring dollars for the outta towners. Be excellent to your hosts and friends and friends you haven’t even met yet.

The Reptilian Returns! The Courthouse. 7.27

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The Reptilian and Alta are touring for like a billion years and then coming back to Kalamazoo to play a show at The Courthouse! Show starts at 8 PM//$3-$5 for touring bands//be respectful of each other and the house!

ALTA(Milwaukee,WI): http://alta.bandcamp.com Raw and emotional, Alta brings an interesting twist to the skramz genre. Layered and beautifully flowing, this is a band not to be missed. If you like The Rep, you’ll find something to love in this.

AU REVOIR(NJ): http://aurevoirit.bandcamp.com/ With a textural and sonically massive sound, Au Revoir do post rock very well. Beautiful melodies and wandering soundscapes. FFO Caspian and If These Trees Could Talk

THE REPTILIAN: http://thereptilianband.bandcamp.com/ You know them and love them. They’re back from their tour with Alta, and promise to bring a high energy performance.

ANYBODY BUT THE COPS Spazztastic, in your face punk! Hailing from Kalamazoo, they have a sound and emotion all their own, without having to say a word.

Punk / Emo Friday 5/24 @ The Courthouse

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Great night of punk rock and emo coming this Friday to The Courthouse. We have 5 acts all from the Midwest coming out for what’s sure to be an awesome show!

 

Into it. Over it. Somewhere in between the Smoking popes and Sparta, Into it. Over it. puts together an amazing set. Since the debut of their first full length studio album, Proper, these guys have been generating a lot of well deserved buzz. Make sure you don’t miss these guys from Chicago and show them a little Kzoo love!

Pop Punk, Emo, Post Punk

 

Kittyhawk This band makes some real mellow and poignant music. Kate Grube delivers lyrics with a voice you’d expect to be fronting a modern folk band instead of an Emo four piece from Chicago; but some how it works perfect, creating a sincere and intimate sound.

Alternative,  Emo. Indie Rock

 

Brave Bird This Ann Arbor trio delivers a really tight, high-energy show. Their sound is full of complex rhythms and a gut wrenching, gritty singing style.

Emo, Indie, Math, Punk

 

George Costanza Kzoo locals George Costanza have an eclectic take on the punk genre that really escapes a solid definition of sound. What ever you want to call it, they rock.

Punk, Dingus, Emo, Scremo, Twinkly

 

Running Shoes  Strait out of GR with a style that’s both familiar and still fresh. These guys have some really interesting guitar riffs that trade off playfully with some fairly complex drumming. Its like Jazz with distortion and angst.

Punk, Emo, Twinkly

 

 Show starts at 9pm.  Come hang out! Unless you hate your ears or something. As always any donations for the out of town acts is wicked appreciated!