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of Psychic Warfare |
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Beware
the Students, for they return in four short weeks. August is a relatively
quiet month around this town, it seems; we’ve passed the Top
of the Park festival and the ever-more-sprawling Art Fair (it gets
bigger EVERY FOOKIN’ YEAR, I TELLS YA!), and now we’re
left with a modest four weeks or so before the viral infection of
undergraduates breaks out once again. And the cycle will continue,
like some sorta Elton John “Circle of Life” thing only
with more SUVs and noise violations. Local rock activity remains
in a relative slumber, since the number of house venues is down
this year (relatively), yet a handful of events are still worth
your while, thus forcing me to heed the call of the venue schedules
and dump a few choice bits down in these inches for the legions
of slavering Ann Arbor Paper fans whom no doubt luxiurate
in every word we print. At the Blind Pig, starting the month off big on August 4 are the Walkmen bringing their wound-too-tightly post-punk, backed by Sound Team. Saturday the 7 as the Detroit/Ypsi/Arbor mashup rock and soul night with the Dirtbombs, the Elevations (it’s their CD release party), and Coonn. Retro-fashionableness continues the following Saturday the 14th with the Bang! Dance party, and the 2nd Annual Punk Week Summer Bonanza the following night (Sunday the 15th, duh). You’ll no doubt see plenty of the Bang! dancers on Friday the 20th, with Nice to be Nice Productions presents Jamie Register, with the Riots (mods!), Scott Brandon, and Kick Like Crazy (rockers!) with accompanying fashion show thanks to Primitive Village and Above Ground. Heavy ska antics on Sunday the 22nd, with MU330 performing with Suburban Legends, the Ninjas, and Bantha Fodder (ALERT! STAR WARS REFERENCE!). Big hip-hop show happening on the 26th, with Brand Nubian (featuring Grand Puba, Sadat X, Lord Jamal, and DJ Ala\ mo) headlining with Brother Ali and Immortal Technique. As always, the Blind Pig has Music Showcases each Tuesday night, which are free if you’re of drinkin’ age. Might be worth it to saunter down there to check out one of ‘em, and you just may be surprised. The beer is kinda cheap, at least. Over on the Ypsi axis, the Elbow Room is holding a Benefit for Ovarian Cancer on Saturday, August 7th—the “Phreakfest Cabaret” with a Big Burlesque Revue, Glori5, and Glori5’s Elvis going solo. On Sunday the 8th, Black Cat Music doing a darker rock’n’roll thing from Lookout! Records along with Gross Gang, Foxtail, and Cats Kill Birds. Friday the 13th has loud rock & roll from The Rioteers, Sons of the Gun, and the Valentinos driving in from Detroit. Americana is the style of the day on the 21st, with Porchsleeper, Paul’s Big Radio, American Cosmos, and Mike Boyd & the Genessee Ramblers. And finally, there’ll be a cross-generational rock’n’roll freakout on the 28th, with Chrome Molly, the Sillies(representing the older dudes), Toledo’s PB Army (the younger lads), and Lip Service providing amplified rock noise to make your ears bleed. Should be a good way to end the summer at least. Just wait for the football games!. Events subject to change with little or no notice, ‘cuz life sucks like that, huh? A2P Email
Jeremy Salmon at getbent
@ annarborpaper.com for any reason whatsoever.
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