Clusterf*ck: Shows in Baltimore this Weekend

poster by Nolen Strals

Another weekend in Baltimore, and another overly healthy portion of shows to attend. My apologies for the sparse content this week, as I've been obsessing over getting the Friends Records website ready. Looks like we're launching it Monday, so look out for some fresh sights/sounds to come then. But for now, this weekend rules...

Tonight the Golden West features Gunslingers and Liturgy. In a weekend chock full of really loud things, this one will help get you nicely prepared for what's to come. Gunslingers refer to themselves as "massacre-rock" and are from France, while Liturgy are fairly inventive dark metal from New York. Also awesome and from New York, A Place to Bury Strangers are in town tonight opening up for The Big Pink at Rams Head.

Friday night, Ruintown hosts the DNA Test Fest pre-party with Pfisters, Twin Stumps, The Chickens, Mother Sun Flower, and more. This one's $5 or free with purchase to Test Fest the following night at Sonar. Also Friday, the Fiery Furnaces are at the Ottobar.

Events and happenings for Saturday and Sunday after the jump.





DNA Test Fest III is Saturday, going down in two rooms at Sonar. There are alot of bands playing, and many of which don't come through these parts too often. The hype for this show has been across the boards on a regional and national level, and many kudos to Fan Death for making it happen. Highlights include, and are not limited to, Lamps (above) Pissed Jeans, Twin Stumps, Sightings, Psychedelic Horseshit (above), Neon Blud, and yeah... lot's more.

Over at Floristree Saturday, Josh Dibb is back in town and is now referred to as Deakin again (as opposed to Deacon when he played at the Ottobar on New Years). He'll be joined by The Present, Ecstatic Sunshine, Vows, and Salamander Wool. And lastly, for the more conventional songwriting type, Caleb Stine is at the Golden West with Among Wolves and Noble Lake.



And this weekend's grand finale, a rager of a release party at the Hexagon Sunday night with Double Dagger, Sick Weapons (above), Hollywood, and Dope Body. Bring cash for this one, because you'll surely want to grab Masks, Birthday Gift, and Some Stunts. I spoke with Ellie of Sick Weapons a few weeks ago, and it'll be good to see them after their run around the states.

And, sleep.

DNA Test Fest III: Psychedelic Horseshit - Acid Tape

DNA Test Fest III, brought to us by DC's favorite new label Fan Death Records, is April 3 at Sonar. Enter our ticket giveaway here, and tell me why I should go to Test Fest instead of going to see Bonnie Prince Billy. Here's some new Psychedelic Horseshit.

This is a music project from Columbus, Ohio. You might recollect Psychedelic Horseshit saying mean things about Wavves last year, or you might recognize their weird and spastic music, and it's also possible you're wondering why a band would be called that. Either way, here's a new Psychedelic Horseshit track called "Unseen Voids".



This is the first track on Acid Tape, released this week by Fan Death Records. This track is as close to to prior output as you'll get on this cassette, yet it is likely the most consciously tangible song ever to be released by the group.

"Unseen Voids" then transcends you into "Modern Daze". Rising from the deep textures and jaded electronics is a pop song, one that's twisted with what the tape's name suggests. While this track layers ambient melodies laced with vocals and warped guitars, in the end drum machines are hi-jacked by outer space and all is soon forgotten.

Once fully taken over by astronauts, "Modern Daze" rolls into "Hard As It Gets (Chill Sax Mix)" - a dub song. Psychedelic Horeshit has often been categorized as shit-gaze, as Fan Death urges that "Acid both is and isn't the best representation" of said genre. This release certainly dabbles in new boundaries not tested before by the group. Plus, who really knew what shit-gaze even was in the first place.

The rest of the cassette indulges in experiments far and wide, and more than certainly comes recommended on my end. Get it here. Yet another solid reason to attend DNA Test Fest.

Ticket Giveaway: DNA Test Fest III

DNA Test Fest III is quickly approaching and will blast ears here in Baltimore Saturday April 3rd at Sonar. Bands include Pissed Jeans, Psychedelic Horeshit, Sightings, Lamps, Religious Knives, Neon Blud, Twin Stumps, and many more.

Fan Death Records are responsible for this event, and are also behind the cassette that will be given out to the first 100 attendees. This tape will never be produced again, and here's the tracklist:

Side A
1. Leather - Inna Altar
2. The Chickens - Phocomulous Vers. #1
3. Broken Neck - Ben
4. Twin Stumps - Missing Persons
5. Useless Children - Skin
6. Pygmy Shrews - AM Breakout

Side B
1. Lamps - Wanda & Mable
2. Death Domain w/ Cult of Youth - Justify Treason
3. Home Blitz - A Different Touch
4. Psychedelic Horseshit - Phone Card
5. Birds of Maya - Making Friends
6. Neon Blud - BFF Blud

Bmore Musically Informed is the only place you'll find a ticket giveaway for this. In order to enter, here's what you need to do. Yesterday two friends of mine tried to convince me that I should go see Bonnie Prince Billy play in Rehoboth Beach this night, instead of going to DNA Test Fest. In the comments section of this post, tell me why I should in fact go to Test Fest as originally planned. The person who comments the best reason wins. Check back here April 2nd.

DNA Test Fest III: Lamps

DNA Test Fest III is April 3rd at Sonar. Bmore Musically Informed will be the only site with a ticket giveaway for this, and you can look for that to start in March. Here's another spotlight on a loud band playing DNA Test Fest III.

There are a handful of bands playing Test Fest that are not often seen in these here parts, and Lamps are one of them. This California based trio dropped two great 12 inches on In The Red over the past few years, both of which are more than worth your while. Today, Fan Death Records releases a new Lamps seven inch dubbed The Role of the Dogcatcher in African-American Folklore. Here's the B-side, a cover of The Kinks' "Salvation Road".



More on Lamps and the new seven inch after the jump.


Above is how Lamps describe themselves.

Lamps harness a raw energy that is deeply primal, and heavily felt. With comparisons to The Cramps often tossed around, it's clear that these guys understand rock and roll. Sounds are generally dirty, pounding, and full of the kind of force that leads one to feel truly free.

The Lamps release shows that they are continuing to maintain their cavernous and primitive nature, yet applying it to some innately catchy rock songs. Side A is a perfectly executed chunk of rowdy punk beats tossed with crushing noise that are bound to get stuck in your head in an uncomfortably pleasant manner. If you try and picture getting drunk and playing with a chainsaw, or simply recall that time that you did - you might get an idea for what this minute and a half of rock music makes you feel like.

Side B is "Salvation Road", off of The Kinks' 1974 album Preservation Act 2. Lamps' take on this tune is pretty much just as you'd expect, and the result is likely the most accessible Lamps song out there. This is a band that comes out swinging like a caveman, and this seven inch is just another addition to the catalog of worthwhile releases Fan Death has produced in their short existence.

Get Test Fest tickets here, and look for more spotlights on bands involved soon.

Fan Death Says DC Music Sucks

Fan Death Records Interview 1 from Denman C Anderson on Vimeo.

Our neighbors, Fan Death Records, were recently interviewed on the DC based site All Our Noise. In that interview they spoke about their record label, music they liked, and their thoughts on our nation's capital. You can watch the interview above and at AON, but here's a quote that sparked some debate:

"D.C. is a shitty place, with shitty bands, and a shitty outlook on life. I mean, it’s kind of sad in a way, there’s a lot of history here that everybody knows about. I don’t think it went down the path that I would have wanted it to. I think with D.C. there’s this thing that bands want to make it…they think they can make it in D.C. because they’re from D.C. there’s that history there and that that’s an automatic foot in the door to whatever they’re doing. But even beyond that attitude portion of it, there’s just not good music. There are two good bands in D.C." - Sean (Fan Death)

Chris of Fan Death went on to make note that those two bands were Screen Vinyl Image and Lotus Fucker. Yesterday the Washington Citypaper pointed out Fan Death's opinion, spawning one of the uglier comments section I've seen on the interwebs. Personal attacks were made, and hasty backlash ensued.

Last night Fan Death gave me their current stance on the matter:

"Go orioles and white sox. Oh and PS, Tejada... bad move. Baseball is more imporant than shitty bands. Especially shitty bands in DC."

People like different kinds of music, and are also entitled to give opinions on their choices in art and how they view it. I grew up in between Washington and Baltimore. I've been to some decent shows in DC, but I've been to a lot of better ones in Baltimore. That's my opinion. I'll still go to some shows in DC, but I'll continue go to more shows in the city that I reside. That's my choice.

Yet Sean and Chris pointing out their thoughts on a city and its music was combated by some DC Citypaper readers (via blog post commenting) with blatant ignorance.

I don't know, I like baseball too sometimes.

Fan Death Records Interview 2 from Denman C Anderson on Vimeo.

Fan Death Records Interview 3 from Denman C Anderson on Vimeo.

Twin Stumps - Live at Shea Stadium Cassette

Over the next couple months, I'll be featuring as many bands as I can that are playing DNA Test Fest III this April in Baltimore. I look forward to pushing my eardrums to their breaking points throughout this seemingly daunting task.

Twin Stumps are a noisy Brooklyn based rock outfit. They dropped their debut last year, a 12 inch on Dais Records. The 300 copies are long gone, but dudes have some things brewing for 2010. In addition to a new LP in the works, Fan Death Records is soon offering a limited cassette release from the band.

Live at Shea Stadium will be limited to 200 tapes, and will be only available through Fan Death and the band. It is the documentation of their set at the NYC space on October 17, 2009. This live session was recorded not long before bassist Mike Yaniro was beaten as part of an extremely violent robbery.

Mike Yaniro was without health insurance, and required a good deal of surgery. There have already been several benefit shows to help raise money for Mike's recovery, and this tape will serve that same purpose. All proceeds from the cassette will go towards helping him out.



As for the music - loud and abrasive with splintered feedback and complete dominance. This set was recorded at 2 am, and the tape was mastered (LOUD) by Pygmy Shrews' Ben Greenberg. These dudes perfect the art of chaotic distortion and feedback, and layer it over some heavy yet catchy rhythms. The screaming vocals are rather intrusive, and are just another claustrophobic element that makes your head buzz with glory.

A force of a band that is said to embody traits of the 1980s pigfuck scene in NYC, this tape archives a night of rage. Pair that rage with drunken guitar noise, heavy late night wails, and thunderously splintered bass, and you've got yourself a tape.

Look for this release to drop on Fan Death the first week of February, and keep posted on a Twin Stumps LP via Fan Death in the future. They play the Test Fest pre-party at Ruintown on April 2nd, and are also part of the DNA Test Fest III lineup the following night at Sonar.

Soon: Grundlehammer 2.0, Terry Riley's In C, Vetiver, DNA Test Fest III, and more!

There's a lot of really exciting things in the wings locally, and I thought I'd do my best at informing you musically so you can plan and think and listen accordingly.

Grundlehammer is back and is now version 2.0, The Soft House is hosting something amazing called In C, DNA Test Fest III looks loud, and Bmore Musically Informed's first two shows which are part of a weekend dubbed Blogtimore Pwns are in less than two weeks.

Also, in the very near future, Vetiver plays Sonar tomorrow night with Small Sur, Secret Mountains, and Avi Buffalo. We're giving away tickets for this, and I'll pick a winner tonight.

Read on for a mega-post with details on all of these upcoming events.

Not only is Grundlehammer back, but its got a 2 disc album that is in the works. We're excited, and looking forward to having more coverage on Grundlehammer in the next month. Here's the details for now:

Gründlehämmer – The Album.

This world premiere rock opera EPIC is now a sprawling 2 disc studio album. Gründlehämmer – The Album, is a high-quality studio recording of the pure adrenaline that is the Gründlehämmer live performance. Featuring the original Gründlehämmer cast on 20 tracks of heart wrenching, guitar-slinging, kingdom-regaining, fretboard-burning, ROCK. The album will be available for the first time ever at the Gründlehämmer remount, February 19th-21st at the 2640 space.

Grundlehammer 2.0
February 19th-21st
Fri – Sat @ 7pm, Sun @ 5pm
2640 Space @ 2640 Saint Paul St.
Get tickets here.

Gründlehämmer is an entirely original, medieval, fantasy rock opera that combining completely ridiculous stage theatrics with great live music. Gründlehämmer features 20 original rock songs performed live by a 7-piece metal orchestra, in addition to a full cast and crew of 30 talented people. The Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) has created an entirely new and original rock opera that is as epic and face-melting as possible while remaining true to the DIY ethic that inspired the BROS to band together.[via]

From those who brought us Soft Fest, now bring us Terry Riley's In C at the beginning of February. In C features a 30 piece ensemble, consisting of some of our favorite local conservatory-trained, jazz/improvisational, and experimental/electronic artists. Here are the details for this event:

In C
The Soft House
Saturday, February 6th
Doors at: 9
Food and drinks: 9:30-10:30
In C :10:30-11:30
**All audience members who arrive by 10 pm will receive one free drink and food item with admission**

"In C" Ensemble
Will Redman (of Microkingdom)----------------------vibraphone
Dave Jacober (of Dope Body/Holy Ghost Party)-----marimba
Nathan Elman-Bell (of Quartet Offensive)----------vibraphone
Rob Parrish (improvisational percussionist)---------glockenspiel
Rod Hamilton (of Avocado Happy Hour)-------------Malletkat
Emmanuel Nicolaidis (of Thank You)----------------xylophone
Jeremy Hyman (of Ponytail)--------------------------marimba
Jon Birkholz (of Soul Cannon)--------------------------organ
Ben Frock (of Ben Frock and the Subatomic Particles)-organ
Tim Murphy (Baltimore jazz legend)-----------------rhodes
Amanda Schmidt (of Avocado Happy Hour)---------rhodes
Dustin Wong (of Dustin Wong/Ponytail)-------electric guitar
Zach Utz (of Dope Body/Holy Ghost Party)--electric guitar
Jaime Moffett (jazz musician)------------------electric guitar
Andrew Bernstein (of Teeth Mountain)-----------------------alto sax
John Dierker (of Microkingdom/Quartet Offensive)----sax
Andy Abelow (of Small Sur/Soft Cat)-----------------------alto sax
Will Pesta (of Happy Family)--------------laptop
Grayson Brown (of Comeback Ranch)---laptop
John Somers (of Do While)----------------laptop
John Jones (of Each Others)--------------laptop
Beau Crawley (of Turquoise Cats/Drugs Bunny)----live processing
Mark Brown (of DJ Mark Brown) --------------------live processing
John Butler (of Mothersday)--------------------------live processing
Tom Fitzgibbon (sounds)------------------------------live processing

DNA Test Fest III was announced a few weeks ago, and has been adding even more loud things since. We'll have features/news on Test Fest bands in the coming months, but here are the current details on this seemingly epic event:

FAN DEATH RECORDS/WMUC 88.1 FM/DNA IN THE DNA RADIO PRESENT
DNA TEST FEST III
April 3rd, 2010 Sonar in Baltimore, Maryland
Doors at 7pm

Pissed Jeans
Psychedelic Horseshit
Home Blitz
Lamps
Sightings
Religious Knives
Homostupids
Pygmy Shrews
Birds of Maya
The Chickens (mem. of FNU Ronnies)
Slave Scene (mem. of Cult Ritual)
Neon Blud
Twin Stumps
Leather
Broken Neck
Useless Children

Lastly, our first two shows are less than two weeks away. Get excited for a night of rock and roll at the G Spot, a night of hip hop at the Ottobar, and everything in between at Aural States Fest II. Tickets can be acquired via Missiontix. Look for features on some of the artists in the coming weeks.

Bmore Musically Informed Presents:
Arbouretum
Wye Oak
Sri Aurobindo
Weekends
The Violet Hour
January 29th, 2010. The G-Spot. 2980 Falls Road.

and...

Bmore Musically Informed Presents:
The Get ‘em Mamis
AK Slaughter
Rapdragons
PT Burnem
Mickey Free
Jones
and DJ Cullen Stalin
January 31st, 2010. The Ottobar. 8 PM.

Lineup Announcement: DNA Test Fest III

While the 2009 DNA Test Fest was held down at the Velvet Lounge in DC, next year's will be here in Baltimore at Sonar. Presented by local label Fan Death Records and College Park's WMUC, April 3rd in 2010 is looking to be a complete blowout.

This year's DNA Test Fest sported one of the more interesting (and fantastic) lineups of 2009, but 2010's is surely aiming to one-up it's predecessor. After the jump, get the complete details on the lineup that Fan Death was kind enough to hook us up with first.

FAN DEATH RECORDS / WMUC 88.1 FM / DNA IN THE DNA RADIO PRESENT

DNA TEST FEST III
April 3rd, 2010 Sonar in Baltimore, Maryland
Doors at 7pm

Pissed Jeans
Psychedelic Horseshit
Religious Knives
Home Blitz
Twin Stumps
Pygmy Shrews
The Chickens
Slave Scene
Neon Blud
Lamps
Leather
Broken Neck

Get tickets here. Get updates here.

The whole fest will be broadcast on WMUC 88.1 FM and online right here world wide. It has also just been confirmed this morning that Jason Urick will be DJing the event. There will also be a free tape compilation for the first 100 lucky show-goers. Look for more to come here on DNA Test Fest III as the details continue to roll in.