Eclectic Vibes - May 2008
by Andrew Frey
Bella Soul Festival in Minnesota during May
REAL SAD A friend of mine kept bugging me to see a noise band that a friend of hers is in. Since noise bands vary greatly, I was hesitant, but the time came and on 4/5 at the Willy St. Bar and Grill (aka. the Wisco) we witnessed Real Sad. This plucky Madison duo provided outlandish deadpan humor with a noisy keyboard delivery. The crowd was enthusiastic and with amazing hits like “I Am the Towel” and “Jared, Jared, Jared” they are certainly headed for the top. Good stuff if ya “get it.”
BASS MONSTER 4/24 found us at the Majestic Theatre. The quirky snappy beats of Elliot Lipp seamlessly gave way to the horrifically over-bassed set of Bass-nectar. This longhaired knob turning freak was certainly having a good time on stage, but we were suffering with the heart-palpitating bass overload. After about 45 minutes of abuse we fled the premises.
FESTI DI BELLA SOL FESTIVAL ALERT! One of the first festivals of the season and boasting a kick-ass lineup, plus it’s at Harmony Park in MN. Some of the performances I am excited about include Heatbox, Stealin Strings, Buckethead, Pnuma Trio, Cornmeal and That1Guy. [www.bellamusicfest.com] or Myspace
MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1- Disenfranchised thru 10 - Invigorating
A Tortured Soul - Kiss of the Thorn
A Tortured Soul
Album title: Kiss of the Thorn
Record Label: Eyes Like Snow/Northern Silence Records
Rating: 7
Operatic and progressive old-school gothic metal (ala Priest, King Diamond, Shadow’s Fall) from Milwaukee but signed to a German Label. Shadowy doom protruding from a festering pool of abstract progressions.
(4917) Page Views
A Tortured Soul online:
• Website
Beefus - Manpanzee
Beefus
Album title: Manpanzee
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 9
This Madison based hurdy-gurdy of frenzied bass and electric banjo funkified rock have evolved to produce clever, witty lyrics with a platitude of poignant samples. Favorable vocal and rhythmic comparisons to Primus are unavoidable.
(5044) Page Views
Beefus online:
• Website
Bone Shaker - Bang… You’re Dead
Bone Shaker
Album title: Bang… You’re Dead
Record Label: Turkey Vulture Records
Rating: 7
Rippin’, thrashin’ rough and raw metal from Waukesha, WI. This seasoned trio has invigorating their sound with coarse vocals and spunky rhythms to make for a neck-wrecking experience.
(3703) Page Views
Bone Shaker online:
• Website
• Download Bang… You’re Dead from Amazon
• Purchase Bang… You’re Dead on Amazon
Endeverafter - Kiss or Kill
Endeverafter
Album title: Kiss or Kill
Record Label: Razor & Tie
Rating: 4
I had no idea that this kind of music was still being produced! Big hair with even bigger egos. Cocky, cheesy, dick in mouth metal/hard rock. I say “Whatever-after” is a better name.
(6882) Page Views
Endeverafter online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Kiss or Kill from Amazon
• Purchase Kiss or Kill on Amazon
Fear Nuttin Band - Yardcore
Fear Nuttin Band
Album title: Yardcore
Record Label: Bodog Music
Rating: 8
Dual dancehall style vocals utilizing a wide variety of musical genre platforms to riff off of. Most of them are heavier or punkier; some are more reggae, but all have the hippin,’ hoppin’ vocals. Quite catchy stuff!
(4093) Page Views
Fear Nuttin Band online:
• Website
• Download Yardcore from Amazon
• Purchase Yardcore on Amazon
Firewind - The Premonition
Firewind
Album title: The Premonition
Record Label: Century Media
Rating: 8
Driving by guitar wunderkind Gus G. (ex-Dream Evil, Nightrage, Mystic Prophecy, Arch Enemy), this frenzied Greek power metal comes with all the dramatic fortitudes and invigorating arpeggios of musical aptitude one would associate with such head banging eloquence.
(3865) Page Views
Firewind online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download The Premonition from Amazon
• Purchase The Premonition on Amazon
Giancarlo Vulcano - Vetro
Giancarlo Vulcano
Album title: Vetro
Record Label: Innova
Rating: 8
An instrumental minimalist jazz excursion into mind-tantalizing guitar trysts and technical forays. This recording is the result of the composers involvement with Forecast Music from 2003-2005. For fans of Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, etc.
(3833) Page Views
Giancarlo Vulcano online:
• Website
• Download Vetro from Amazon
• Purchase Vetro on Amazon
Gomers - Mike Zirkel
Gomers
Album title: Mike Zirkel
Record Label: Beeftone
Rating: 9
Beloved hometown Madison quirk-nauts spew forth a beguiling array of witty song spins. From utilizing every town in Wisconsin as lyrical fodder to showcasing such guest musicians as Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp, they delight and frolic in the asinine as well as the sublime.
(3923) Page Views
The Gomers online:
• Website • Wiki
Juno Reactor - Gods and Monsters
Juno Reactor
Album title: Gods and Monsters
Record Label: Metropolis Records
Rating: 9
Genre crossing techno united by a vast array of amazing musicians.
(3769) Page Views
Juno Reactor online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Gods and Monsters from Amazon
• Purchase Gods and Monsters on Amazon
Peter Mathews - Far From Haggersville
Peter Mathews
Album title: Far From Haggersville
Record Label: Trinema Meia
Rating: 7
Award-winning, Madison-based film maker and musician brings us a soundtrack-type music and film CD with a real life puzzle to solve with actual gold coins as the potential payoff. Very intriguing concept!
(3811) Page Views
Peter Mathews online:
• Website
• Download Far From Haggersville from Amazon
• Purchase Far From Haggersville on Amazon
Musicians For Minneapolis - 57 Songs For the I-35W Bridge Disaster Relief Effort
Musicians For Minneapolis
Album title: 57 Songs For the I-35W Bridge Disaster Relief Effort
Record Label: Electrovoice
Rating: 8
Produced by audio equipment giant, Electro-Voice, the only thing longer than the title of this 3-CD release is the list of amazing musicians contributing to this self-explanatory fund raising project. Dick Dale, George Clinton, DJ Spooky, Calexico, Les Claypool and MANY, many more.
(3588) Page Views
Musicians For Minneapolis online:
• Website
• Purchase 57 Songs For the I-35W Bridge Disaster Relief Effort on Amazon
Putumayo Presents - Café Cubano
Putumayo Presents
Album title: Café Cubano
Record Label: Putumayo World Music
Rating: 9
Envision relaxing at a café on the coast of Cuba exploring the musical heritage evoked by this culturally rich island. From guajiras, trovas, sones, boleros and the nueva trova movement, experience the majestic musical facets and performers presented here.
(3893) Page Views
Putumayo Presents online:
• Website • Wiki
• Purchase Café Cubano on Amazon
Sahg - Sahg II
Sahg
Album title: Sahg II
Record Label: Regain Records
Rating: 8
Norwegian doom/stoner metal supergroup as powerful and ferocious as any on the scene today. Crushing Sabbath inspired riffs lilt and cajole the listener into a sagacious platitude of supernal flux and dither.
(3691) Page Views
• Download Sahg II from Amazon
• Purchase Sahg II on Amazon
Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Blood Brothers
Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King
Album title: Blood Brothers
Record Label: Alligator Records
Rating: 9
These two well-seasoned blues veterans pool their creativity and talent into this sizzling release.
(3814) Page Views
Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Blood Brothers from Amazon
• Purchase Blood Brothers on Amazon
Underculture - Underculture
Underculture
Album title: Underculture
Record Label: Undercultured Records
Rating: 7
From the crusty garage rock ‘n’ roll underbelly of Madison comes this punk-a-billy trio. They flippantly flaunt their scruffy, old-age flourishes while resting on pumped up beats and mental quagmires.
(3747) Page Views
Underculture online:
Volbeat - Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil
Volbeat
Album title: Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil
Record Label: Mascot Records
Rating: 10
If the Misfits were playing through Pantera’s equipment, I suspect it would sound something like this. Danish, thrashy, hard-edged punk metal with a clean crooner on vocals and some vintage style rock infarctions. Awesome!
(3611) Page Views
Volbeat online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil from Amazon
• Purchase Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil on Amazon
Vulgar Pang - The Memoirs of Don Juan Gacy
Vulgar Pang
Album title: The Memoirs of Don Juan Gacy
Record Label: Rock Garden
Rating: 9
Appleton hosts this powerful and intense metal force. Whether pleading, crooning or powering out, the raspy clean vocals lead the way for a display of amazing musical diversity and depth.
(3661) Page Views
Vulgar Pang online:
• Website
• Purchase The Memoirs of Don Juan Gacy on Amazon
Zimmers Hole - When You Were Shouting at the Devil
Zimmers Hole
Album title: When You Were Shouting at the Devil
Record Label: Century Media
Rating: 9
Ironic and humorous, yet top notch death metal featuring Strapping Young Lad members and ultra prolific drummer Gene Hoglan. Hilarious PSA by Nathan Explosion from Dethklok.
(3781) Page Views
Zimmers Hole online:
• Website • Wiki
• Purchase When You Were Shouting at the Devil on Amazon