Tonight in Music: Airpocalypse, Sweet Secrets, Murder by Death
Posted by Jason mKeyAirpocalypse @ Can Can | 2/16 | 10pm | Free | 21+
photo via Americas Got Talent
It’s might be hard to fathom, but air guitar is an incredibly competitive sport (if you can even call it a sport). Pros from all corners of the globe compete in national and world championship and fight for the honor of being the best air musician on the planet. Airpocalypse happens to be the most prominent group out of the northwest practicing the art of air guitar. They’ve even won the regional competition in the past. One half comedy act and one half extreme performance group, Airpocalypse hold themselves under the utmost level of seriousness. They’re doing things with air that most musicians wouldn’t ever dare attempt. It’s outrageous, over the top, a lot of fun and worth checking out at least once.
Sweet Secrets, Stencil, Torn ACLs @ The Crocodile | 2/16 | 8pm | $8 | 21+
photo by Sarah Jurado
Gotta love the tag line on Sweet Secrets website: “music for smart, sexy people like you”. Finally! Tunes made exclusively for the intelligent and attractive people of the world. Sweet Secrets are here to serve. They’re a pop band, they’ve got a violin, they’ve got high spirits and aspirations to spare. They’re also busy at work on a new record and if the end result is as polished as 2009′s Antlers EP than we can expect big things from Sweet Secrets in 2011. The recording quality is stellar and the vocals are top notch. Where has this band been hiding? Tonight they’ll be playing alongside Stencil for a CD release show. Can we make a request that all the smart and sexy people stand up front and the unattractive and unintelligent people stand in the back. Thanks for your cooperation.
Murder by Death, The Builders and the Butchers, Damion Suomi & The Minor Prophets @ The Tractor | 02/16 | 9pm | $13 ADV
photo by Jen Iverson
The Tractor Tavern’s website has a short description of the evening’s events–”americana midwestern gothic”–that somehow manages to fit both Murder by Death and The Builders and the Butchers despite their entirely different sounds. Bloomington, Indiana’s Murder by Death started off as Little Joe Gould and their first album (which I am a proud owner of, with the original Little Joe Gould cover), Like the Exorcist But More Breakdancing, had something akin to a post-rock sound–much of it is fairly quiet and instrumental. From Eyeball Records to their own label, Tent Show Records, and then to Vagrant Records, the band’s fame has grown exponentially, even garnering them the opportunity to have their music on a much-seen Inglorious Basterds trailer. Their themes and style have changed and grown in scope as well, resulting in songs reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s film scores with a rare post-punk flare.
Now’s an opportunity to catch the band in a fairly intimate setting–hopefully they continue to turn the lights out for effect while playing some of their songs. – Gabriel Arguelles
Yeah. I got to give props where props are due. I fancied myself a top “air” performance artist back in the day. I put most of my efforts into developing a world-class black light/strobe light combo improv tea-baggery expo. But, all “air”. Genius, right? But it comes out that these Airpocalypse guys friggin’ trademarked the phrase AND action “black light/strobe light combo improv tea-baggery expo” back in the early ’80s – and they were doing it for REAL. It was part of their contract rider for Chrissakes! A minimum of 7 community college co-eds had to be part of the “show”. At least they never played the bible belt. Jesus! How old are these guys anyway??? Ah well – might as well check ‘em out if you get a chance – why get caught up in my problems.