Tag Archives: plan-it-x

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!

KCAC / Peace Center Benefit – Nostalgic and Folksy Edition – 3.29 – Milhouse

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Maybe if you were in Kalamazoo in 2008, you went to Rocketstar Cafe. Primarily a coffee shop, sometimes also hosting all ages shows of a variety of genres. Maybe at that time you, like me, saw Ghost Mice and Eric Ayotte play a lovely and energetic folk show.

Photo by Jes Kramer

And if you’re familiar with Kalamazoo, you’ll also know that accessible venues have had a hell of a time remaining open. Shortly after this, Rocketstar ceased to be. Other spots have come and gone through the years, and many houses have picked up the slack – though not in a particularly legal or accessible way either.

Around the time of this Ghost Mice show, there was talk of creating the Kalamazoo Collective Arts Center. Tons of work was done on creating bylaws for this all ages art space, but when nailing down a location became exceedingly difficult, the project fizzled out. But now it’s back! A new group of people are picking up where the originators left off, and are looking to create an affordable, accessible space for all art and all ages.

And also through this all, the Kalamazoo Peace Center has offered a space on campus for music, radical discussion, workshops and speakers. This sort of activity goes hand in hand with the not-for-profit, DIY ethic that is entrenched in the Kalamazoo music scene.

The KCAC and Peace Center are looking for your support, and have thrown together a nostalgic show for the purpose! Featuring:

THE ALMANAC SHOUTERS  – Formed in 2009, the Almanac Shouters are a local band, playing their first (and only planned) show in almost 2 years. They’re a loud folk band with reflective and metaphoric lyrics you can scream and dance to. The line up for this show features Axel Quinlan, Fiona Dickinson, Nola Wiersma, and Rory Svekric.

GHOST MICE – A band synonymous with Plan-It-X Records, a DIY label known for the slogan “If It Ain’t Cheap, It Ain’t Punk” and putting out some of the best of folk and pop punk over the last 20 years. Ghost Mice are straightfoward and honest songwriters whose earnest dedication to their words is compelling.

THE MINOR KIND – Eric Ayotte, folk song writer and short film enthusiast, has a new project and this is it. It’s a country band, it’s sweet, you’ll like it.

This show also features a ROOT BEER KEG for all who donate. Please be excellent to eachother and respect the house! The show is likely to be packed, so make sure to take care of those around you.

9:00 PM start time. Putting the punc back in punctual. Email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address.

Restless and Reckless Powerpop Sad Bastard Jams To Help Get Through The Winter – High Dive (Bloomington, IN), Away Game (GR), Brown Cow – 2.21 – Milhouse

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If you’re sick of being sad in the winter and just wish you could feel the sort of antsy malaise of the summer instead, the Milhouse basement has just what you’re looking for! Powerpop, pop punk, bummer summer, and other sorts of sadpop summertime jams will be happening, so come over and forget the several feet of snow and the inevitable last few cars you will push out of a ditch before it’s over. 

HIGH DIVE are a band out of Bloomington, Indiana whose musicians are associated with other wonderful and varied bands such as Defiance, Ohio, Good Luck, Toby Foster, Pink Houses, Community Currency and plenty more that I’m guaranteed to not even be aware of. They play pop punk with ferocity and an unparalleled sincerity. Music filled with self-reflection and queer positivity, it’s just the sort of themes best expressed in a medium you can scream along and dance to. 

Here’s a couple of songs from their performance at The Fest in Gainsville, FL:

 

AWAY GAME from Grand Rapids are bringing their version of lo-fi basement pop to Kalamazoo for the first time. Friends and former collaborator of modern powerpop heartthrob Sam Cook-Parrot of Radiator Hospital, you know these folks have the know how to make the music that makes you bob your head while feeling decidedly slightly despondent.

Finally, BROWN COW of local notoriety / infamy / will be making their first appearance at Milhouse. Mallory and the dudes bring sad slacker folk rock to a whole new level. This band has been showcasing their work around Kalamazoo for a couple of years, and I feel like I messed up by only recently checking out their music – don’t make the same mistake I did! Though their recordings are from a bit of time ago, rumor has it there’s new songs in the work that may make an appearance.

Show starts at 9:00! Please bring money to donate, as gas is never cheap when you’re lugging a fender rhodes or any other gear. Please respect everyone and everything around you, I feel they’ll do so in kind to you.

If you need the address email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com

Ghost Mice of Plan-it-X Return To Kalamazoo at Full House (2.0) 3/24/13

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ghostmice

Ghost Mice playing in Kalamazoo almost exactly 5 years ago at Rocketstar Cafe. Photo by Jes Kramer.

It’s been almost four years since the acoustic duo Ghost Mice (featuring Chris Clavin, co-founder of the almost 20 years standing record label Plan-it-X) have been in Kalamazoo Michigan. Not too long after that tour, Ghost Mice called a hiatus, mostly due to fiddle player Hannah having a kiddo. Chris did several solo tours since then, a couple of which he ended up playing wonderful shows in Kalamazoo. However, they’re back as the original band and they’ve got a new album  “All We’ve Got Is Eachother,” with a fuller sound than previous, and they are just as sweet of folks as they’ve ever been.

Speaking of new albums, also on the bill for this show is local guitar and violin duo Lincoln County War, who will be releasing their first ever recordings at this show! Though LCW has been playing locally for roughly three years, the only recorded material of theirs can be found mostly on dodgy youtube videos, so come to this show to purchase at a super affordable price, properly recorded versions of these songs. Though the set up for LCW and Ghost Mice are similar, the sound is much different. Although they could both be classified as “folk punk,” Lincoln County features an angrier, harsher tone, more akin with Andrew Jackson Jihad, or if Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads were stripped down.

Long-time Kalamazoo underground composer Travis of Circle, Get Square will also be performing. Whether Travis is currently living in Kalamazoo or anywhere else, if he is performing in Kalamazoo, he is treated and appreciated like a dear local. Stylistically shifting from lo-fi keyboard pop tunes to full, melancholic folk songs, Circle, Get Square is a dynamic project that if you haven’t yet seen, you’re definitely not going to want to miss.

Finally, Arms Akimbo will also be performing to round out this acoustic endeavor. Though this project is the newest locally, Topher, the singer/songwriter of this one man project, has been writing and performing for many years, and for several different musical stylings. Here you will find introspective folk songs, fitting perfectly into the mix of this show.

You can see excellent samples of all three locals by browing through http://www.DITsessions.com

This show will start at 7PM on Sunday the 24th, and is the first show at this location! If you don’t know where it is, shoot an email to DIT. Please bring donations for the touring group (or even some dollars for merch), and please respect the household.