Crazy Dreams Bands - War Dream

Lexie Mountain's take on a rock and roll outfit, Crazy Dreams Band, just dropped their second full length on Holy Mountain - a label home to the likes of Daniel Higgs and Zomes. War Dream is officially out this week, and is available in both LP and CD format.

You'll be able to catch Lexie in both of her current musical happenings tonight, as the Lexie Mountain Boys will play Transmodern at the BMA while Crazy Dreams Band play Floristree for a post-Transmodern show that includes Greg Ginn & The Texas Taylor Corrugators and the CSC Funkband (members of USAISAMONSTER, Talibam, Gwar).

War Dream is four tracks long, the last one clocking in at almost twenty minutes. Forty minutes all together, this is free-form spacey junk rock on an epic scale and twisted with loose melody. The LP is a bit more accessible and clean than their self titled debut, but still contains enough sludge to slide in and out of psychedelic soundscapes with ease. There's funk, there is some blues, and there's a whole mess of Janis Joplin-on-steroids vocals layered over splintering rock jams.

"2 Awkward For Everyone" is now streaming over on their myspace, and I'd highly suggest sampling this journey of an avant blues rock song. Free-formed crawls break way to standard rock and roll riffs that hit heavy with Lexie's cries, only to wind back down to a jazz-step accompanied by carefully meandering guitar workings. The ability to control feelings and progressive jams is where War Dream accelerates.

This should not and will not ever be labeled and filed to a specific genre, as its a release that captures the past but paints ideas from outer space and beyond. This is clearly not just a rock band, and would you expect anything otherwise from this cast of Baltimore characters?

Crazy Dreams Band head out on tour after the Floristree show tonight, dates are below.

4/15 baltimore FLORISTREE
4/16 philly CONNIE'S RIC-RAC
4/17 nyc CAKE SHOP
4/18 providence DARK LADY
4/19 cambridge CHARLIE'S
4/20 hadley GREY MATTER
4/21 burlington ENTER
4/22 montreal FRIENDSHIP COVE
4/23 ottawa 854
4/24 toronto TERANGA
4/26 detroit PJS LAGER HOUSE
4/27 chicago EMPTY BOTTLE
4/28 cleveland COOL RANCH

Clusterf*ck: Shows in Baltimore This Weekend

Once you are done shoveling snow from your awning or roof so it doesn't collapse, I've got some activities for you to take part in this weekend. And if you're car is stuck on a street that's still not plowed like mine - then those boots are made for walking.

Tonight you've got a couple options, one of which is a big 'ol party at Sonar that I mentioned earlier this week. This will be the Baltimore debut of Mobroder, a new Spank Rock project that features the help of Blu Jemz and DJ Hoff. This "disco supergroup" more than likely won't suck at all, and should offer a good look at what to expect from the release they've been working on.

If disco-infused hip hop ain't your thing, head to the Zodiac for what promises to be a spectacularly weird musical happening. Forms of Ed Schrader and Lexie Mountain will be performing, Ed playing with his new band and Lexie playing with Sam Garner. The out-of-towners are Miracle Condition, who are ex-members of U.S. Maple.



Saturday night boasts some choices as well, one of which will find you at the Talking Head room for a last minute Taxlo throw-down. Cullen and Simon are bringing in Nite Jewel, and also will be doing some spinning of records themselves. Nite Jewel is kind of like what might happen if Grouper starting playing some lounge tunes. Hazy vocals with a 80s dance feel, this project garnered considerable buzz last year.

The Hexagon has a hefty bill of doom and ambient metal Saturday night if you're in the mood to have your ears blasted. Nadja headline, a Toronto/Germany based project from the likes of Aidan Baker. Local doom outfit Oak and Brooklyn black metal band Liturgy lead support, while Major Powers make a rare appearance.

Thank You / Mi Ami

Experimental rythyms and noises galore stomp your ears at Floristree next Monday. The bill boasts local trio Thank You and California's Mi Ami. Both acts have been touring nationally together, and should be enough alone to get you out of the house on a Monday.

But wait, there's more. Support derives from Bmore's avant acapella act Lexie Mountain Boys. Also opening is Birth Control, who sport a few members from Pissed Jeans. Show is on March 9th at 9 PM and should set you back just a few bucks.

HampdenFest

This years HampdenFest takes place this Saturday the 13th. Always a good time, this year's highlights include Thrushes, Lexie Mountain Boys, The Oranges Band and tons more. As usual its a free affair, check out deets on all the action below:

CITYPAPER STAGE
11AM - Degenerettes
12PM - Harlot
1PM - Baby Aspirin
2PM - Impossible Hair
3PM - lo moda
4PM - HAMPDEN IDOL
5:30 - 7PM - The Oranges Band

ATOMIC BOOKS STAGE
11AM - The Jennifers
12PM - The Lexie Mountain Boys
1PM - Thrushes
2PM - Secret Crush Society
3PM - Ed Schrader
4PM - Squaaks
5PM - The Ubangis
6PM - Pulaski

BALTIMORE MESSENGER STAGE
11AM - Barrage Band Orchestra
12PM - Art Department
1PM - Susan Alcorn
2PM - Tritons
3PM - Courtney Dow
4PM - K Love The Infinite with DJ Nett & Reina Williams