Live Review: black midi @ Black Cat — 4/5/22

Posted on 04/11/2022 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged art rock, Black Cat, Black Midi, England, London, math rock, noise rock.

Geordie Greep leads black midi in a performance at Black Cat on April 5, 2022. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Once in a while, there comes a band with a presentation so volatile, so unruly that it almost becomes an endeavor to be navigated by its members.

Since forming in 2017, the London-based group known as black midi has experienced a gigantic leap in popularity. That popularity resulted in a smashing turnout for their most recent appearance at the Black Cat in DC.

Following a period that included the release of two singles, a residency at Brixton’s popular venue The Windmill, and then a key live (and recorded) performance during the Iceland Airwaves festival, black midi was signed to Rough Trade Records in 2019 leading up to its premiere studio album, Schlagenheim, which went on to earn a nomination for that year’s Mercury Prize.

Preview: black midi @ Black Cat, 4/5/22

Posted on 03/23/2022 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged art rock, Black Cat, Black Midi, England, London, math rock, noise rock.

black midi (Photo by Yis Kid)

black midi recently released Cavalcovers, an EP featuring covers of Taylor Swift, King Crimson, and Captain Beefheart, via Rough Trade. The band launched a tour this week, and they arrive locally to perform at Black Cat on Tuesday, April 5.

Snapshots: Kim Gordon @ 9:30 Club — 3/15/22

Posted on 03/21/2022 by Parklifer in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Ben Eisendrath, Kim Gordon, New York City, noise rock, psychedelic.

Kim Gordon performs at 9:30 Club on March 15, 2022. (Photo by Ben Eisendrath)

New York City noise rocker Kim Gordon, formerly of Sonic Youth, dropped by 9:30 Club recently for a showing of songs from her debut solo album. Ben Eisendrath was there to get some photos!

Live Review: Dinosaur Jr. w/ Ryley Walker @ 9:30 Club — 11/16/21

Posted on 11/18/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Dinosaur Jr., J Mascis, Massachusetts, noise rock.

Dinosaur Jr. (Photo by Cara Totman)

For nearly 40 years, Dinosaur Jr. has established a reputation as one of the best, most innovative alternative rock bands — and one of the loudest. On Tuesday evening, they lived up to that reputation when they appeared at a sold-out 9:30 Club, with Chicago guitarist Ryley Walker opening.

Live Review: black midi @ Union Craft Brewing — 10/21/21

Posted on 10/27/2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged Black Midi, England, experimental rock, London, math rock, noise rock, post-punk, Union Craft Brewing.

Morgan Simpson of black midi during a performance at Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore on Oct. 21, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

When’s the last time you absorbed live music that legitimately blew you away? What would it sound like or look like?

These are questions you might not ask yourself each time you head to a local venue, but you could have nevertheless been faced with answers to them if you happened to find yourself at Union Craft Brewing recently, when black midi, a rock group from London, was making an important appearance on their current stateside tour.

Song of the Day: “Guilty Love” by Ladyhawke featuring Broods

Posted on 03/09/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged California, Ladyhawke, Los Angeles, noise rock, Song of the Day.

Ladyhawke (Photo courtesy Polyvinyl Records)

Ladyhawke (born ‘Pip’ Brown) returns with the new single and video for “Guilty Love” featuring BROODS, the first track from her anticipated new album due for release later this year.

Song of the Day: “I Ran Away” by Dinosaur Jr.

Posted on 02/23/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Dinosaur Jr., J Mascis, Massachusetts, noise rock, Song of the Day.

Dinosaur Jr. (Photo by Cara Totman)

Dinosaur Jr. return with Sweep It Into Space, their new album out April 23 on Jagjaguwar, and a new single, “I Ran Away.”

Song of the Day: “Vendetta” by Iceage

Posted on 02/18/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Copenhagen, Denmark, Iceage, noise rock, post-hardcore, post-punk, Song of the Day.

Iceage (Photo by Fryd Frydendahl)

Copenhagen’s Iceage — Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, Jakob Tvilling Pless, Johan Surrballe Wieth, and Dan Kjær Nielsen — announce their fifth album, Seek Shelter, out May 7 on Mexican Summer.

Today, they present a new single/video, “Vendetta,” which follows “The Holding Hand,” “an ominous transmission from a band who can summon a storm like few others” (Pitchfork).

Song of the Day: “Dispatches from the Gutter” by Uniform

Posted on 07/23/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged industrial, metal, New York City, noise rock, Song of the Day, Uniform.

Uniform (Photo by Ebru Yildiz)

Uniform’s “Dispatches from the Gutter” comes with a momentous video from filmmaker and director Jacqueline Castel.

Live Review: Health @ 9:30 Club — 12/18/19

Posted on 12/23/2019 by paivi in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, goth, HEALTH, Los Angeles, noise rock.

Health performs at 9:30 Club on Dec. 18, 2019. (Photos by Paivi Salonen; Words by Mickey McCarter)

When you see Los Angeles noise rockers HEALTH, you are both lifted up and smashed down. First, you hear the soaring, light vocals of frontman Jake Duzsik, who elevates your spirit, and then you see the massive, crushing synths of John Famiglietti, who beats you down in the very best way with a flip of his hair.

Drummer BJ Miller added melodic crashes that would alternatively knock you over or dissolve into ether, and thus HEALTH rumbled through a very good show at 9:30 Club recently.