Tag Archives: rock

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.

Punk Throughout The Ages – KNIFE THE SYMPHONY, THE SHANKS, BROWN COMPANY, FACE-EATER – Milhouse – 3.21

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If you like punk rock – cool, if you like post hardcore – great, if you like old school thrash – 15.03.21excellent, if you like experimental punk – perfect. It’s all represented at this particular Milhouse show, plus more!

KNIFE THE SYMPHONY come from Cincinnati, and make me re-think what I thought I knew about Ohio. This band was on the bill for one of the first shows I saw in Kalamazoo, back in 2007, and one of the only Kraftbrau (rip) shows I attended. They killed it then, they’ll kill it now. It’s heavy, noisy, and no bullshit.

THE SHANKS are KTS’s tour buddies coming from Toronto bringing their own stylish blend of fuzzed out rock ‘n’ roll with some stoner metal and punk goodness. Their sound is probably too dialed-in for a basement show, so it’s in all likelihood going to completely blow you away.

BROWN COMPANY are local legendary punk experimenters. Never before have you felt like a 15 minute long song completely embodied what you felt like was missing from your intake of punk. It’s noisy, it’s vocal-less, there’s a theramin, and they’re about to be your favorite local if they haven’t won your heart already.

Finally, FACE-EATER are the thrash metal newcomers, playing their 2nd show out and their first house show. Their new demo rips way harder than a demo has any right to. Give them a warm welcome, they’re kicking this whole damn thing off and would love to see your faces lost in a sincere headbang.

BRING YR MONEY, BRING THE FUNK. BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER, RESPECT THE RULES OF THE HOUSE. SHOW BEGINS RIGHT AT 9:00. EMAIL DITKALAMAZOO@GMAIL.COM FOR THE ADDRESS.

NEW BANDS – NEW BANDS – NEW BANDS Petrillo | Hungry Man | The Rutabega – Milhouse 3.13

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It’s true, THE RUTABEGA are not a new band – nor is HUNGRY MAN (well, maybe they are, very little info is out there). But, they are both new to the Milhouse basement,

flyer by Kasey Chaos!

flyer by Kasey Chaos!

and Hungry Man is new to Kalamazoo ears. You’ll find in Kalamazoo that many bands travel through multiple times, due to the numerous factors that make our city so great to play in. If you’re looking for something you haven’t yet seen in a basement around here, this is a good opportunity. With both of these bands, you’re going to find hooks that don’t quit, and some hard hitting gnar. Get into it.

Important to note, PETRILLO IS a new band – a new local! One of the things that makes this new band particularly special is that there are four members that you may have never seen play. Kalamazoo has a habit of having the same 15 people cycle around in several different bands, and it’s exciting to see a band that is not that at all – but also comprised of heavily active and involved members of several facets of Kalamazoo’s weird artsy world. I’m being secretive because it’s more fun for you to find out all on your own.

This show starts right at 9:00 at the good ol’ Milhouse. Please bring money for The Rutabega and Hungry Man who are traveling from South Bend and Chicago. Be excellent to each other. Make a new friend and start a band with them. Email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address.

Rock and Derivatives – Mathy Experimental Madness at MILHOUSE 10.23

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Make your bummer-time middle-of-the-week Wednesday something more memorable by checking out the dense, heavy, massive, gigantic jams at Milhouse.

Touring in for the evening, LES RHINOCEROS are a band with releases on John Zorn’s label Tzadik (and if that means absolutely anything to you, I’ve probably already sold you on checking out this show) from Washington DC.  They are a technical math-rock band, incorporating rhythmic patterns from the middle east, coupled with hard-hitting fuzzed out rock riffs. If you happened to have been at the Joint Chiefs of Math / Reptilian Shape Shifter show at Milhouse earlier this year, you will also enjoy this band almost assuredly.

Backing up this Les Rhinoceros will be local hard-hitters BROWN COMPANY – a band comprised of many veterans in the weird / rock / punk of Kalamazoo. This group creates a hell of a wall of sound, and are a highly compelling live show. This will also be their first house show, so lets give them a warm welcome.

Also on the bill, a combined effort from two experimental groups – PROGNOSIS NEGATIVE and FUZZ TOWN – will be making an appearance. They have never played together, chances are they never will again. Fuzz Town is an experimental guitar / pedal / loops/ beats duo comprised of the birthday boy of the day Poncho, and Josh Miller of many local bands. Prognosis Negative is a saxophone improv duo comprised of local notorious figures Saxquatch and Sean Hartman. Together these groups have something special in mind for the evening.

Show begins at 9:00 on the dot with BROWN COMPANY. Please bring money for the touring group. Strive to be the best person you can be. Tell your friends.

If this doesn’t sound like your sort of deal, not to worry! Fireplace Club and Courthouse will also be having shows this day. Fireplace Club will be starting earlier in the evening (with pumpkin carving!) and Courthouse later, so feasibly you could check out all performances!

FIREPLACE CLUB: Glowfriends (tour kickoff), Deep Waters, Erich Kuperschmidt

COURTHOUSE: Anwar Sadat, White Reaper, SAPPHIC

 

For any of these addresses, email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com

Already Dead Family Reunion 3: Already Dead-er

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Kalamazoo is fortunate enough to hold split-custody with an excellent tape and record label – Already Dead Tapes & Records, to be exact. Well, they treat themselves a lot like an extended family, and so every year, like to hold a bit of a Family Reunion. This weekend marks the 3rd one. I’ll spare you the talky-talky and get down to the details:

DAY 1: Thursday Sept. 19th at the Kalamazoo Collective Arts Center (511 W. Vine)

6/6:25 – Fuzz Town (MI)
6:25/7:05 – Cape And Cowl (MI)
7:05/7:45 – Kevin Greenspon (CA)
7:45/8:25 – T.J. Borden & Pat Cain (NY)
8:25/9:05 – Saxsquatch (MI)
9:05/9:45 – Ultralight (MN)
9:45/10:25 – Radiator Hospital (PA)
10:25/11:05 – Big Waves Of Pretty (WI)
11:05/12 – Not The Wind, Not The Flag (Canada)

DAY 2: Friday Sept. 20th @ The 411 Club (411 N. Westnedge)

6/6:30 – Anybody But The Cops vs. Seventeen Again
6:30/7:15 – Invisible Trails (MI)
7:15/8 – Frankie Teardrop (OH)
8/8:45 – Video Daughters (NY)
8:45/9:30 – Chat Logs (NY)
9:30/10:15 – Electric Nature (GA)
10:15/11 – Forget The Times (MI)
11/11:45 – The New Diet (IL)
11:45/12:30 – No Monster Club (Ireland)

DAY 3: Friday Sept. 21st @ The 4aa Club (411 N. Westnedge)

6/6:30 – Boring People (MI)
6:30/7:15 – U.S. Tribes (IL)
7:15/8 – Lore City (IL)
8/8:45 – Britches (MO)
8:45/9:30 – Ou Ou (MO)
9:30/10:15 – About A Million (is the greatest) (PA)
10:15/11 – Nesey Gallons (GA)
11/11:45 – Problems That Fix Themselves (IL)
11:45/12:30 – Teenage Tasteless (Germany)

There are also a pair of most excellent after-parties at WAYNE MANOR. with Friday night featuring Morseville Bridge, Bill Tucker, and The Grow Fangs. Saturday night will feature Mezzanine Swimmers, Spelling Bee, and and The Wrap.

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Tickets are $10 per night at the door, or you can buy a weekend pass for 21 bucks. There will be plenty of excellent music and swag to purchase from the various touring bands. The people will be wonderful, the friends will be fantastic, and the music, of course, will be outstanding.

Pleased join in, y’all. After all, it’s an extended family.

A Big Night in Kalamazoo 9/12

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There’s a lot to do in Kalamazoo tonight, and so no excuses not to find yourself somewhere.

First and Foremost, An active Kalamazoo show-goer and all-around great guy, Jerrod Smith, has unfortunately passed away after a battle with illness. There will be a excellent benefit show thrown tonight in his honor and remembrance.

Jerrod

This line-up will consist of The Mushmen (kzoo ska),  AJ Draper (kzoo music),  Decades (kzoo music), Ghost Bunnies (kzoo rock), The Wrap (kzoo insanity), and featuring Jerrod Smith & the Windmill Full of Corpses (kzoo rock), who will be showcasing as many of Jerrod’s favorite tunes as possible.

8pm is go-time. All money collected will go to help Jerrod’s family.

Also up that night, there’s some jazz and such happening at Milhouse. From Rome, Italy, Bulldog Drummond will be playing fusion music, as will UK touring act World Service Project. Kalamazoo locals Rotten Wood Moon, as well as Saxsquatch and Bridge Band, will round out the set.

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Dinner is served around 8. Donations will be asked to help the touring bands get where they need to go.