Get Out :: 02.20.08

Get Out is indierocket!'s occasional guide to getting down in the Soda City....for science!, Anthems for Odyssey
New Brookland Tavern :: 7 p.m.
...for science! plays loud, slow, heavy post-rock; Anthems for Odyssey plays tight, fuzzy, gothic shoegaze. It's a nice complement; trust us. Damage: $5 ($7 under 21).

Get Out! :: 02.01.08

Get Out! is indierocket!'s occasional guide to getting down in the Soda City.

FRIDAY :: 02.01.08
Black Swan :: Hunter-Gatherer :: 11 p.m.
Black Swan's dark, progressive indie rock makes excellent use of post-rock and goth-rock touchstones, creating a moody, atmospheric sound all its own. Reid Hardaway's nimble, heavily reverbed arpeggios counter-balance Courtney Vincent's simple piano structures perfectly, and Hardaway's tasteful use of delay recalls early British shoegazers Ride. And let's not forget the rhythm section, the simple-yet-effective combination of bassist Joe Greene and drummer Daniel Wilson. The most striking of Black Swan's compositional elements, though, is Vincent's voice, which is at once seductively husky and elegantly restrained. Damage: $3.

SATURDAY :: 02.02.08
Colour Revolt :: New Brookland Tavern :: 6:30 p.m.
I say this with the utmost reverence: Colour Revolt blends everything I love about post-Good News Modest Mouse, pre-Worlds Apart ...Trail of Dead, Surfer Rosa-era Pixies and classic Neil Young and distills it into a perfect temper tantrum of indie-rock furor. Call Colour Revolt post-apocalyptic-rock: Drums hit like claps of thunder; bass guitars rattle like earthquakes; guitars twist and flail like whirlwinds; and singer Jesse Coppenbarger encapsulates the lonesome, confused spirit of the last man on Earth. The Oxford, Miss., quintet's new record, Plunder, Beg and Curse, continues in the same urgent vein as its self-titled debut; don't be surprised if most of the set is derived from it. Damage: $7.
Colour Revolt - "Naked and Red" [from Plunder, Beg and Curse]

Josh Roberts & the Hinges :: Headliners :: 9 p.m.
Put simply, there's no such thing as a bad Josh Roberts show. And that's all there is to it. The Hinges' new record, My War Cry is Amor, is a raucous, rollicking riot through the world of alt-country, from the punkish "Atom Inhibitor" to the lugubrious, triumphant "Every Brick of Downtown." Damage: $7.
Josh Roberts & the Hinges - "Every Brick of Downtown" [live at the Five Points Pub [via archive.org]]

Rob Lindsey & the Friendly Confines :: Art Bar :: 10 p.m.
We here at indierocket! love us some Rob Lindsey — I like to say he's a more literate John Mayer or a pop-rock Tom Waits — and we're glad to see he's put together a backing band — featuring members of another indierocket!-beloved local group, Magnetic Flowers — to flesh out his intricate and interesting guitar-pop. Damage: $3.

The Jam Room 20th Anniversary Bash :: Five Points Pub :: 8 p.m.
The Jam Room's a veritable Columbia institution; Jay Matheson's client-list is long and impressive, including The Queers, Kylesa and local heroes Stretch Arm Strong. We're most excited about our boys Death Becomes Even the Maiden, but the night also features some blasts from Columbia's past: Old-timey punks Scary Hand and 49 Reasons play, as do reunited goth-rockers Bachelors of Art. Damage: $5.
Death Becomes Even the Maiden - "Control" [from The Arrangement]

Get Out! :: 12.14.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s occasional guide to getting down in the Soda City.

Descolada :: The 112 :: 7 p.m.
When a band cites such disparate bands as The Dirty Three, R.E.M., Massive Attack, Joy Division, Old Man Gloom, The Jesus Lizard and Isis as equal influence, the immediate, knee-jerk reaction is to call bullshit. But Asheville's Descolada incorporates all make and manner of styles into its unorthodox clamor, boasting a violin-wailing banshee and a heavy-as-fuck, take-no-prisoners rhythm section. It's as if Warren Ellis were playing with Neurosis, equal parts achingly beautiful and cathartically heavy. Highly recommended for the curious and adventurous. Bat-shit tech-metal quartet Sein Zum Tode and bass-driver post-rockers Jacob and I open. This is a house show, so we implore you: Don't do anything in this house you wouldn't do in your own. Damage: Donations highly encouraged.

The Engines :: University of South Carolina School of Music Recital Hall :: 7:30 p.m.
Forget Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Let’s play One Degree of Ken Vandermark, as each member of the Chicago free-jazz quartet The Engines — tromboner Jed Bishop, saxophonist Dave Rempis, bassist Nate McBride and drummer Tim Daisy — have all cut their teeth in one of the modern-jazz titan’s numerous groups. And while there are several hallmarks of the trademark Vandermark sound to be found in The Engines self-titled disc, particularly the blustery, blistering unison horn lines and steadfast-yet-inventive percussion, remember that these men have all distinguished themselves and composers and leaders outside of Vandermark’s realm. Indeed, it’s when The Engines cut loose and let fly with reckless abandon that the quartet shines, settling into ruthless, sometimes Zeppelin-esque grooves, particularly on “Jet Lag” and “Mash Tun.” Sure, these engines can go from zero to 60 in a heartbeat and stop on a dime, but its when set on cruise control — guiding the listener with subtlety and finesse rather than steamroller force — that the ride is most enjoyable. Saxophonist Aram Shelton, another notable Chicago player, opens on reeds and electronic manipulation. Damage: $7.

Los Perdidos :: The Whig :: 10 p.m.
Who says global warming is all bad? Look, aside from that brief cold snap at the beginning of the month, it’s been a relatively temperate winter here in the Capital City. Therefore, you have absolutely no reason not to break out your finest beachwear as our resident surfanistas return to The Whig for their annual yuletide extravaganza. ‘Tis the season, so expect a classic carol or two to sneak into Los Perdidos’ sizeable set of swingin’ instrumental surf-punk originals, which recall everyone from Link Wray to Santo and Johnny to Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. Damage: Free.

Josh Roberts & the Hinges :: Five Points Pub :: 10 p.m.
Put simply, Josh Roberts is one of the finest songwriters the Capital City has to offer. The former helmsman of the good ship Captain Easy recently released his second record with The Hinges — and the first with the current incarnation of the band — My War Cry is Amor, which is chock-full of delectable tunes, from the raucous "Atom Inhibitor" to the sweet "B+1B" to the epic "Every Brick of Downtown" to the tender "The Hardest Part of Winter." And as good as those records — Amor and the debut, The Sugarbird Test — the live Josh Roberts experience is one to behold, as Roberts is a consummate showman and righteous gunslinger. Damage: $7.

Blinded by Underpants :: Hunter-Gatherer :: 11 p.m.
If Tug can blog about his band, I can about mine, dammit. Loud, earnest, riotous post-pop a la 764-HERO, Swearing at Motorists. Good time for all. Plus, the Hunter-Gatherer is a perfect spot for a night-ending nightcap after you've been to one (or all) of the above shows. Damage: $3.

Get Out! :: 11.16.07; 11.17.07

This weekend marks the release of two new EPs by two of Columbia’s finest bands. First up, dirty rockers The Unawares will be releasing Tooth Dip Friday night at Hunter-Gatherer. Recorded live to analog tape in three days at producer Chris Wenner’s home, Tooth Dip succeeds in catching the blistering live presence of the band. According to Wenner, “It’s about trying to capture the performance and making the band comfortable.” Shunning digital tricks, Wenner believes in the simplicity of his technique. “The tape adds its own saturation,” Wenner says. “Like sonic glue.” His methods certainly seemed to agree with the band, personally and sonically. “It’s minimalist, but definitely caught our authentic sound,” says drummer Rhett Berger.


And what a sound it is. The six tracks on Tooth Dip are a raucous, careening drive on a dark dirt road with the lights off. Vocalist-slash-guitarist John Watkins’s off-kilter lyrics match perfectly with his crooning vocal warble. Berger’s drums crash and crunch just as hard as they did when he and Watkins used to play together in high school, and in bassist James Wallace (erstwhile of The South Holes), they’ve found a perfect blend of technical skill and string-bending fervor. The music itself relies heavily on a garage- rock aesthetic with a dollop of Minutemen speed and a Robert Pollard-esque blend of lyrical absurdity and gravity. For a band a little over a year old, The Unawares have certainly found their groove quickly, making this type of recording possible — and preferable. While their first record, Hey Zeus, is equally satisfying, it was recorded before The Unawares even played a live gig together. “We didn’t have the chemistry that we have now,” Berger says. That chemistry is highly apparent on Tooth Dip — like a kid trying to blow up action figures with some fireworks and a chemistry set. The EP will be available at the show Friday and at Papa Jazz and Acme Records after that. But you can check out one track for yourself right here, and make sure to swing over to their myspace page for even more.

The Unawares Extract Lover


Saturday night at The Whig, Columbia can stop waiting for the new release from local phenoms Death Becomes Even The Maiden. Comprised of bassist-slash-vocalist Eric Greenwood (ex-From Safety To Where), guitarist Heyward Sims (ex-Bolt) and drummer Chris Powell (ex-Haunted Bulldozer), Death Becomes Even the Maiden has already garnered a well-deserved reputation as one of the best bands to come out of Columbia’s music scene in years, and this five-track EP, entitled The Arrangement, only gives that distinction more credence. Recorded at the Jam Room with engineer Steve Slavich, The Arrangement is another example of just how important it is for local musicians to have someone they trust behind the boards. According to Sims, “Steve knows how I work, and he and I just work quickly.” The album is technically brilliant: Greenwood’s vocals are especially impressive as he switches from melodic singing to scorching screams, giving his just-plain-fed-up lyrics weight; Sims’ guitarwork is as dexterous as ever, switching between nimble runs, heavy crunches and various squeals and beeps with seemingly effortless ease; then there’s Powell’s drums, tight and thunderous like the controlled explosions of a demolition crew. Like the band’s live shows, the EP is short and to the point — an ethic the band believes in. “Keep people wanting more,” is Greenwood’s credo, and the band certainly has. Speaking of Sims’ ability to constantly bring new material to the table, Greenwood says, “He’s just got so many ideas going; he’s so musical.” The members’ different backgrounds definitely lend to a unique sound. While not a perfect description, the best this poor music journalist can come up with is that Death Becomes Even the Maiden sounds like Nirvana doing Joy Division covers. But of course, all of Columbia will be able to judge for themselves on Saturday at The Whig, when they get to take home the best local recording of the year. Five bucks gets you into the show as well as a copy of the EP. Be sure to get there early. And bring earplugs.

Death Becomes Even The Maiden Control


The Unawares’ Friday night show at the Hunter-Gatherer begins at 11 p.m.; Glass Gnats (featuring Benoit St. Jacques and members of Grey Egg) open. Admission is $3; call 748-0540 for more information. Death Becomes Even the Maiden’s Saturday night show at The Whig begins at 11 p.m.; Black Swan opens. Call 931-8852 for more information.

(Note: This originally appeared in the Nov. 14 issue of Free Times.)

Get Out! :: 10.30.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s occasional guide to getting down in the Soda City.
Murder by Death, Due East, Brave Horatius, ...for science! :: New Brookland Tavern :: 7 p.m.
The fact that this is a Murder by Death show should be enough to get your ass out to New Brookland tonight. If'n you don't know, let Wikipedia tell you: "The band plays an eclectic range of music, from eight minute ethereal instrumentals, to driving punk rock, to alt-country. Their earlier releases create an eerie southern gothic sound accented by keyboard and electric cello while their later releases, which still incorporated the cello, but less keyboard, become more guitar driven with a combination of edgy punk sneering and fantastical western woes." Got it? Good.

Due East are up-and-coming local alt-country shit-kickers. We love them dearly.

Brave Horatius is wonderfully somber indie folk. We love him dearly, too.

...for science! is a post-metal trio (think a cross between Mogwai and Pelican) comprised of members of Alaska the Tiger, Sein Zum Tode and The Heist and the Accomplice. This is its second show. Damage: $10.

Get Out! :: 10.26.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s occasional guide to gettin' down in the Soda City.

DJ Spooky :: Columbia Museum of Art :: 10 p.m.
It's the Halloweekend here in the Capital City — yours truly will be masquerading as Artie, the Strongest Man in the World — and in an odd bit of serendipity, DJ Spooky trots through on one of his many globe-trotting trips to spin the mix fantastic at the wonderful and wonderous Columbia Museum of Art. A true renaissance man with a wireless imagination — in addition to being a revolutionary DJ, Spooky's also a noted writer (appearing in such diverse publications as ArtForum and Raygun), scholar (his book, Rhythm Science deconstructs music theory using the DJ's template) and multimedia artist (his art's appeared at the Whitney Biennal and the Venice Biennial of Art) — Spooky treats the entire media culture as his buffet, celebrating globalization and digital media as an entropic force for the emerging global culture. His mixes are simultaneously intelligent and irreverent, mashing up breakbeats, ethnic instrumentation and pop hits that have been sliced, diced, pureed and pulverized beyond recognition. The live Spooky experience is a feast for all the senses. Go. Now. Damage: $15 ($12 for Museum members).

Sindoolah! :: The Whig :: 9 p.m.
The baddest of badass Columbia deejays, Sindoolah spins "Soul from Cambodia, Go-Go from Laos, Power Ballads from Morocco, Punk from Forrest Hills, Rock from Ann Arbor, Noise from Japan, Funk from Augusta Ga., Pop from France, HipHop from '89, Blues from Clarksdale, Hardcore from DC, showtunes from India, Electronic from NY, Jazz from Philly, Prog from Cologne, Country from Bakersfield, and Field Recordings from outside the Food Lion in 5 Points." Trust us: It's one hell of a time. If you needed any more indication of the hell-of-a-time it'll be, The Whig's throwing a Halloween costume party. With rollergirls. Rollergirls, dudes. Rollergirls. Damage: Free.

Get Out! :: 10.19.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s occasional guide to getting down in the Soda City.
Vinyl Are My Pants, Bullship :: Hunter-Gatherer :: 11 p.m.
Pictures don't lie: There are but two people in Vinyl Are My Pants. As a huge fan of duos (see: Black Keys, White Stripes, Blinded by Underpants), Jack and Marty Dunn have already scored points by trimming off the collective fat that is a bass player and sloughing the useless fuck that is a lead guitarist (bunch of wankers they are). What scores more points, however, is the fact that VAMP's sound is as thick and attractive as any more-membered combos. Recalling Versus' tougher moments (or perhaps Blonde Redhead, except not sissies), tunes the likes of "Gibbowr," "Ca Plane Moi (Avec Fries)" and "Cold" assault your eardrums with post-modern themes,angular chord progressions and thunderstruck drums. (There's also a heaping helping of glam-rock strut; be sure to request "Queen Bitch.") Your indierocketeers are especially fond of "For the Wire."
Minimalist, camera-shy Charlotte trio Bullship actually recalls Jack and Marty's former band, Slurr, with its penchant for pitch-perfect (or perhaps purposefully pitch-imperfect) no-fi anti-pop anthems. Think of it as math-rock if you must, but Bullship's tangents are so sloped, you might need an degree in hyperbolic geometry to picture the patterns. Damage: $3.

Vinyl Are My Pants — "Cold"; "Your GPS is Broken"
Bullship — "La Cinco"; "Narrow Medicine"

Get Out! :: Free Times Music Crawl :: 10.06.07

Tomorrow is the Free Times Music Crawl, featuring 24 of Columbia's best acts for only five bucks. You can read all about the individual acts and get showtimes and locations here. I'm pretty much going to be at the Art Bar stage all day, except for a quick jaunt to see my roomie at the Blue Marlin stage. Art Bar seems to be where all the IndieRocket-esque bands are playing, including Brave Horatius, Magnetic Flowers, Black Swan, The Gadgets, The Heist and The Accomplice, and Death Becomes Even The Maiden (and a few I'm sure I'm forgetting). If you're into a more modern rock thing, head to the Headliners stage, and if country, bluegrass, and the like is your basket of biscuits, then Flying Saucer's where you need to be. Either way, great acts are at all the venues, and it looks to be pretty fun. Hope to see you there!

Get Out! :: Roller Derby Party @ Art Bar :: 09.22.07

All I should have to say to get you, gentle reader, to come to this show is mention that Columbia’s Quad Squad Roller Derby Girls will be in attendance. But if girls on skates don’t get your immediate attention — you weirdo — I could go on to mention that local gypsy-rock outfit Grey Egg will be playing along with premier surf-rock group Los Perdidos (guaranteed one of the best shows in town), who are working on a surf version of “The Godfather Theme.” And then there’s DJ Mike Jones, a self-described “cross between Max Headroom and the guy that emcees The Himalayan at the State Fair.”

Get Out! :: 09.12.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s guide to getting down in the Soda City.
Keefe Jackson's Fast Citizens :: The Whig :: 9 p.m.
For those of you who missed the Chicago avant-jazz sextet — and shame on those of you who did — now is the chance to redeem yourselves. Jackson's horn work is very reminiscent of fellow Chicago horner Ken Vandermark — both in tone and compositional approach — and has made him one of the foremost up-and-comers in the modern avant-jazz world. His accompanying players are equally badass: saxophonist Aram Shelton comes from Dragons 1976; bassist Anton Hatwich and drummer Frank Rosaly come from the Rempis Percussion Quartet; cornetist Josh Berman also comes fom Jackson side-project The Lucky 7s. The secret weapon, though, might be electric cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, who fleshes out the ensemble with virtuoso playing and walls of gnarly fuzz. The horns pipe about in unison only to collapse from within and devolve into dissonant skronk; Rosaly's drumming is equally volatile, at times tender on twinkling bells and tom fills, at times as chaotic and violent as an imploding building. Seriously — if you missed them the first time, don't make the same mistake again. (Should you need more incentive, we should remind you that it's $2-pint night at The Whig.)

Get Out! :: 08.16.07

Get Out! is indierocket's! guide to getting down in the Soda City.
Chopper, Thank God, Byron House, Halves and Thirds, Oubilette, So-So Death :: 112 Huger St. :: 7 p.m.

Yes, Chopper features Deerhunter guitarist Collin Mee and ex-Blame Game axeman George Asimakos — not to mention the fact that drummer Lamar George comes from Atlanta heavies Devastator — so the band has indie-blog cred in spades. And yeah, I guess that's cool. But what's cooler is that Chopper fucking slays, spitting out sick-ass, skull-splitting psycho-thrash riffs that rock like an art-damaged Motorhead and roll like claps of thunder. It's pure, heavy, unadulterated rock 'n' roll at its finest. And dig those sick-ass shirts! Local yokels should know Thank God by now, as they're easily the most important punk band to come out of Columbia in a while. For the uninitiated (read: lazy), Thank God is equal parts brains and brawn, churning out crushing quickies that are one part kinetic guitars, one part frenetic drumming, one part brutal speak-shout vocals and all parts pure sonic destruction. Transcontinental duo Byron House brings the noise with spazzy, Sonic Youth-inspired junk rock; Oubilette makes noisy mountains out of feedback-laden molehills; Halves and Thirds and So-So Death also play. Damage: $5.

[Editor's Note: Look, kiddos, this is a house show, meaning that it takes place in a place where people, you know, live. indierocket! implores you: Don't do anything you wouldn't do inside your own house. Remember: While this is a rock 'n' roll show, you're still a guest. Behave accordingly.]

Get Out! :: 07.12.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s guide to getting down in the Soda City.
Those Lavender Whales; Sleepwalk, A Robot :: Art Bar :: 9 p.m.

Full disclosure: On a personal level, Aaron Graves — the brains of this Nashville-via-Columbia operation — is one of my favorite people in the universe. That said, we here at indierocket! love us some Those Lavender Whales. The brainchild of the erstwhile No Way Jose! drummer, Those Lavender Whales eschews the Nintendo riffs and flashy techno-wizardry of his former band, but that doesn't mean it's any less fun. On the contrary: The music of Those Lavender Whales is like a rich hearth fire on a cold winter's night — warming, comforting and inviting. Graves' simple, somber alt-folk tunes get by on strong imagery, witty wordplay and wonderfully lush arrangements that make excellent use of the slide whistle, bells and other found-sound-type instrumentation. Its upbeat power owes much to Elephant Six-ers the likes of Elf Power and Of Montreal, and songs such as "When You Think About Space and Realize How Big it Is and it Gives You That Strange Feeling" recall Masters of the Hemisphere and Michigan-era Sufjan Stevens. Playing with Graves tonight will be two of his No Way Jose! comrades: Jordan Blackmon (also of Brave Horatius and Alaska the Tiger) and Chris Gardner, who are two of my other favorite people in the universe. Sleepwalk, A Robot hails from Phoenix and plays acoustic, coffeeshop singer-songwriter emo-pop buoyed by electronic beats and flourishes. Damage: $3.

Get Out! :: Cory Branan + Due East @ The Whig :: 07.11.07

In a fitting bout of kismet, the first time I saw Cory Branan was during my first visit to The Whig. (My first Taco Tuesday, in fact.) Since then, I've become a huge fan of Branan, seeing many shows and finding many live bootlegs. (I've also eaten many 50-cent tacos since then as well.) Branan is, without a doubt, one of the best singer-songwriters in alt-country today; his songs are filled with compelling characters and self-effacing wit and interspersed with some hilarious stage patter. Branan also has the ability to play his songs differently every show, crafting a fascinating dynamism that must be seen to be believed.

And we all know how I feel about Due East. In fact, the day after this show, I'm heading up to Raleigh to see Due East, Cory, and American Aquarium. It should be a blast and a half. But if you can't make it all the way up there, then definitely don't miss your chance to see Cory and Due East at the Whig. And hey, it's a free show, and there's two-dollar pints as well. You can't lose!

Cory Branan on MySpace (Check out some of the live tracks!)

IndieRocket's quick profile on Branan

Due East on MySpace

Get Out! :: 07.03.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s occasional guide to goings-on in the Soda City.

Ken Vandermark/Tim Daisy :: USC School of Music Recital Hall :: 7:30 p.m.
Vandermark and Daisy perform as an improvisational reeds-and-drum duo, and their performances have been lauded for being a good balance of the raw and the refined. The duo does something wholly remarkable in the world of avant-jazz, carving out a sonic niche that’s visceral and lyrical at the same time, totally innovative, but always with a purpose. The result is about as accessible as improvisational free jazz can get. It will meander from funk to drone to hard bop and back again, but the eclectic and dynamic musicianship keeps the performance enthralling. Yes, avant-garde jazz is notoriously and archetypically difficult music, but remember that the journey is more important than the destination. Damage: $5.

Perelandra!, Magnetic Flowers, Brother Sister, Falling Off a Building, Lucia Lie :: New Brookland Tavern :: 7 p.m.
So avant-garde jazz isn't your thing. That's cool. There's plenty of rock to be had at the Tavern, including the return of A.D.D.-addled indie rockers Perelandra!, whose stop-start dynamics and indie-prog structures recall Roadside Monument, Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi. Mike and Beth Pope of Perelandra! also play in Brother Sister, quite possible Columbia's most underrated indie-pop troupe. (indierocket! familiar Jordan Blackmon — you'll recognize him from No Way Jose!, Alaska the Tiger and Brave Horatius — also plays in Brother Sister.) Falling Off a Building, we've told you, is simple, smart, emotive indie pop for the thinking man. Magnetic Flowers, as Tug so eloquently put it, "are open-mindedly bolstering their Iron & Wine meets Neutral Milk Hotel sound with new approaches to percussion." Lucia Lie are from New York. Damage: $5 ($7 under 21).

Get Out! :: Falling Off a Building @ The Art Garage :: 06.20.07

Falling Off a Building, Endless Mike & the Beagle Club, The Static Transistor, ...for science! :: The Art Garage :: 7 p.m.
It's a celebration, bitches, as local emo-indie pop tarts Falling Off a Building release their newest long-player, It's Time We Acted Like It. Much like Bright Eyes is the songwriting pseudonym for Conor Oberst (or The Mountain Goats for John Darnielle, etc.), Falling Off a Building is the nom de plume for Columbia tunesmith Adam Cullum. And, like Oberst, Cullum is a simple and earnest storyteller with a unique voice that's equally adept at whispering as it is shouting. It's simple, smart, emotive indie pop for the thinking man. And it's awesome.

Also on the bill: Johnstown, Pa.'s, Endless Mike & the Beagle Club, who share more than a few of Falling Off a Building's indie pop tendencies (though they're maybe closer to Death Cab for Cutie); fellow Johnstonians The Static Transistor, who love them the hell out of old-school hardcore punk; and local heavy post-rock act ...for science!, which features members of alaska the tiger, sein zum tode and The Heist and the Accomplice, makes its debut. Damage: $5.

Get Out! :: The International Grapevine, Brave Horatius, Brightford @ The Whig :: 05.30.07

The Whig continues its emergence as not only one of the best bars in Columbia but also one of the best music venues as it brings a stellar folk-rock lineup that includes The International Grapevine, an incredible outfit that sounds like a combination of Neutral Milk Hotel and Pavement on quaaludes with just a pinch of psychedelia. Brave Horatius (we've talked about him before) will be playing some of the best-written songs you’ll hear in town, including some from his sure-to-be-wonderful upcoming album. And let’s not forget the lovely Brightford, whose voice — reminiscent of a more soulful Imogen Heap but without all the electric filtering nonsense — definitely needs to be heard in this town more often. It's a free show, and draft beers are only $2 tonight, so it's officially the most bang for your buck you'll find all week. Listen to all these great acts at their myspace pages:
The International Grapevine

Brave Horatius

Brightford

Get Out! :: iTug at iPop! @ Art Bar :: 05.25.07

So one of the reasons why I haven't posted in a while is that all my spare time has been taken up with getting a playlist of incredible indie dance music together for everyone to get down to tonight at Art Bar. (OK, lots of my spare time has been going to watching two-hour season finales as well. Veronica Mars, you will be missed!) So check out the flyer and head on over to Art Bar tonight so that we can shake our socks right down to our shoes!

Get Out! :: Evil Empire + The Cogburns + Magnetic Flowers @ Art Bar :: 5.12.07

So you didn't get to see the reunited Rage Against The Machine headline Coachella. Or maybe you're just glad that new RATM means no more Audioslave. Either way, you'll want to check out RATM tributeers Evil Empire, comprised of former local rockers Mean Wiener and vocalist Angel Lopez, as they bring some civil disobedience to the Art Bar this Saturday. Also playing are Atlanta's skinny-tie-wearing garage rockers The Cogburns (picture above) who put on the most fun show this side of The Woggles. Finalizing this as one of the most random gatherings of bands in recent memory, indie rock-meets-country outfit Magnetic Flowers - one of Columbia's most promising bands - opens. See you there.

Magnetic Flowers - When Night Comes

Get Out! :: 04.20.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s guide to getting down in the Soda City.

Before the Music Dies :: Nickelodeon Theatre :: Friday, 4 p.m.
Skip out of work early and head to the Nick for this one — filmmakers Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen take a critical look at the pop music industry in Before the Music Dies, which features interviews with the likes of Eric Clapton, Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu and the indomitable Elvis Costello. There's also a noon showing on Saturday. Damage: $5.

The Void :: Hunter-Gatherer :: Friday, 11 p.m.
We all love Sabbath, and this local Sabbath tribute act does it right. Damage: $3.

Jason Stein Trio :: Hunter-Gatherer :: Saturday, 11 p.m.
As Frank Zappa once said, “Jazz isn’t dead, it just smells funny.” So in an age when popular conceptions of jazz are generally limited to Sinatra’s standards and Kenny G’s elevator music butt-jazz, it’s important to recognize exceptional jazz when it appears. Long Island native Jason Stein is a modern master of the bass clarinet — an instrument allaboutjazz.com is quick to point out as “fiendishly difficult” to master — and his fluid, versatile playing makes him one of the notable up-and-comers in post-Ornette jazz. He brings an unusual trio arrangement — featuring Kevin Davis on cello and erstwhile NYC punk Mike Pride on drums and vibes — to the Gatherer in what promises to be a mind-expanding experience. Local freak-jazz aficionado Ross Taylor brought this Windy City trio in, so you know they're awesome. Damage: $5.

Get Out! :: 04.13.07

Get Out! is indierocket!'s guide to gettin' down in the Soda City.


Toast :: CMFA ArtSpace :: Friday, 8 p.m.
Improv comedy is one of the hardest things to do on this Earth. (We should know; we've tried.) So kudos to diabolically funny Columbia improv troupe Toast, who not only improvise with great aplomb, but make it seem oh so easy in the process. Tonight is Toast's long-form improv show (Toast gigs usually involve playing Whose Line Is It Anyway?-style improv games), This Hotel is Totally Haunted. As it's totally improvised, we of course can't say with any degree of certainty what will happen, but we can assure you that it'll be politically incorrect, incredibly dark and absolutely hysterical. (The CMFA ArtSpace is located at 914 Pulaski St.) Damage: $5.

iPop! :: Art Bar :: Friday, 11 p.m.
Dance-floor terrorism at its best, iPop! spins a raucous mix of electro-indie tunes that will make your booty go clap. indierocket! comrade Tug is a regular. Damage: Free.