TO DO LIST: Crocodiles @ The Black Cat TONIGHT!!

Sounds Like: Jesus & Mary Chain, Ravonettes, Vivian Girls, Every bad-ass fuzz band on earth.
Why You Should Go: Because gorgeous sunny Saturday activities should be followed with a scorching dose of dark reality and noise.

Dreading Monday, when you slog back to work and make up something to say you did over the weekend to hide the fact that you spent 48 hours in your basement with a case of cheap beer, playing Dungeons and Dragons with your hamsters?  Black Cat is here to save you from ignominy and disgrace, by bringing Crocodiles to the mainstage for all the 80’s throwback distortion your face can handle.

If you’re not familiar with Crocodiles, think of every song the cool kids in your college dorm listened to, then multiply that by a thousand dark lyrics and three more layers of reverb.  Hailing from San Diego, where the weather is perfect and the beaches are free, Crocodiles beats back comparisons to California happy distortion bands like Best Coast by dressing like the Ramones and singing songs with titles that include “I Wanna Kill” and the brilliant “All My Hate and My Hexes are For You,” off 2010’s Sleep Forever.  The band thrives on delivering dark and gloomy lyrics on a big old platter of fuzzy, skunky pop, and you can even dance to it if you’re so inclined.  

They’ve collaborated in the past with members of The Slits and Dum Dum Girls, and are touring to promote the most excellent new release Endless Flowers, so drag your butt out of the basement and down to the Black Cat on Saturday and see what turns up.  Be sure to bring your earplugs, cause it’s about to get LOUD up in here.  Tickets available HERE.

OFFICIAL SITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | RDIO | SPOTIFY

LIVE: Oberhofer @ The Black Cat - 6/6/12

With hair borrowed from Phil Lynott and shirts borrowed from “Weird Al” Yankovic, you’d think more people would know Brad Oberhofer by sight. However, not once but twice was I asked “Is that Oberhofer?” as the Danvilles played their opening set. While both bands were impressive, it’s a safe bet that after this show no one in the Black Cat crowd will be making that mistake again.

Kicking off their set with a raw, aggressive version of “Gotta Go,” Oberhofer (Brad named the band after himself) was inundated with camera flashes as he bounced across the stage and attacked his guitar. Perhaps spending much of his early songwriting career cooped up in a bedroom recording on a laptop has made Oberhofer that much more excitable when he plays live – even for a 21 year-old he seems to have boundless energy, frequently jumping off drum risers, kicking amplifiers, and sneering into the microphone.

Click to read more ...

LIVE MUSIC: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists @ The Black Cat - 4/27/12

Photos courtesy of Erica Bruce (betweenloveandlike.blogspot.com)

Ted Leo is doing it right.

The man’s been rocking for over 20 years, and it’s still guaranteed that at any given show, he will play the songs you want to hear, rock out until he has sweated through his shirt or his face is bleeding (yes, this really happens), and will be engaging and generally happy to be on stage, doing what he always dreamed of doing when he grew up—being a rock star. 

Beyond filling the obvious criteria for being a great performer, Ted Leo is a principled artist, brilliant lyricist, and great musician.  He has been deeply committed to releasing his music on independent record labels and steering clear of playing corporately-owned venues.  His lyrics are oftentimes packed with powerful political messages and he has recently been active in union efforts in Wisconsin and the Occupy Wall Street movement. 

But most importantly, Ted Leo makes music personal.  To read his website is to learn who Ted is as a person—he tells of his early trials of traveling around as a one-man act, playing music on top of cassette tapes of backing sounds and shares old pictures, stories, and memories.  He interacts with his fan base constantly through Twitter, and a friend of mine tells the story of how when MySpace was the newest fad, Ted got in touch with fans to meet up in person and hang out. 

Click to read more ...