Foster Body @ Diabolical/Albatross Records 03.01 with The Circulars, Discoid A, Fossil Arms

Robin Banks and Korey Martin.

Madison Donnelly punched out the beat to get this post-punk/hardcore–amalgam engine chugging, and the (comfortably) packed record-shop den began hopping. Banks scream-sang with wet effects that bounced around the speakers and the room like mad clowns at circus. Martin strummed angular chords that stabbed with bright tones and played brittle one-off lines that gave Foster Body’s songs their bite. … read more

The English Beat @ The Depot 02.26 with Insatiable

Dave Wakeling of English Beat.

The English Beat’s arrival onstage provoked considerable excitement. Wasting no time, they blasted out “Rough Rider,” “Twist and Crawl” and “Hands Off She’s Mine”—thoroughly enjoyable with a nice beat, the folks to the right and left of me swayed and twisted. During this I tried managing a combination of dancing, snapping some pictures and avoiding getting my nose smashed by the back of some wanker’s head. Such juggling acts are not feasible for long periods of time.  … read more

Pentagram @ Club Sound 03.01 with Merlin’s Beard, Kings Destroy, Radio Moscow

Seeing “old” bands is always a double-edged sword. On one hand, dusting off old tunes for a festival crowd or quick reunion circuit can equal big dollar signs at the ticket office, but lackluster performances from old heroes well past their prime can quickly sour that magic. I guess that’s what made this all the better. Pentagram never really had a prime to grow out of. … read more

God Module @ Area 51 03.06 with The Witch Was Right, Mordacious, DJ Starbass

Jasyn Bangert of God Module performing live music.

The members of Mordacious joined a horrifying, hooded man in a mask that looked as if his face was falling off. The room began to fill with tiny lights from phones and many tried to capture the evil that was taking place onstage.The mask was removed, revealing God Module front man Jaysn Bangert exposing his even more devious facial expressions. At that moment it became obvious who had brought the larger-than-average turnout. … read more