FRIDAY, APRIL 3
Acid Mothers Temple, Kinski at the Echoplex
Acid Mothers Temple: Conjuring galaxies of ultrapsychedelia
Simgil
The curious, infectious German electro-punk duo Stereo Total
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A “freak-out group for the 21st century,” Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. were founded in 1996 by members of the Acid Mothers Temple music-art commune. Led by electric guitarist/violinist player/visionary Kawabata Makoto, the group has released entire galaxies of ultrapsychedelic albums that vary quite substantially in quality, including the truly epic glories of In C, its radical reworking of Terry Riley’s famous minimalist piece (which includes their own “In E,” and, on the CD reissue on Squealer, the 19-minute bonus track “In D”). AMT pays wicked tribute to the halcyon days of the late-’60s to mid-’70s English/American progressive and avant-rock bands and new-music pioneers, including but not limited to Sun Ra, Gong, Hendrix, Floyd and Soft Machine. Its earlier Hawkwind-meets-Zappa improvised hippie crud has thankfully evolved into more heavyweight conceptual works like the brutal monster sludge of Starless and Bible Black Sabbath (Alien 8), and last year’s Pink Lady Lemonade — You’re From Outer Space (on Riot Season). The band’s various lineup transmutations are pretty hard to keep track of, though the faithful know that the live event will be a guaranteed major mind meltdown. (John Payne)
Lamb of God at the Palladium
Like some B-movie made flesh, dark things that previously skulked only in heavy metal’s dank, fetid corners are now staggering boldly into America’s mainstream. Witness hairy Virginian vets Lamb of God headlining the Palladium with their malicious cauldron of Pantera-ish groove, earnest thrash, organic hardcore and wafts of leaf-lazy Southern sludge. Irony-, humor- and apology-free, it’s LOG’s very commitment and intensity that make them progressive, squeezing perhaps last drops of blood from the genre’s sacred stone. Wrath, the band’s sixth opus, has moments of choreographed subtlety — the almost obligatory acoustic opening; the faded bluegrass intro of “Reclamation” — but that’s not what we came for. It’s the ludicrous lack of restraint in Lamb of God’s belt-fed kick drums and alternately sinewy/strangulated guitars and the ancient anger of Randy Blythe’s Cookie Monster vocals that make them flag bearers in pure metal’s current counterattack. (Paul Rogers)
Also playing Friday:
BUSDRIVER, TIM FITE at the Natural History Museum; THE HAUNTED, MERAUDER, THE AGONIST at the Key Club; OMAR SOSA at the Jazz Bakery; DR. LONNIE SMITH, BIG ORGAN TRIO, BOOGALOO ASSASSINS at the Mint; LITTLE BIG TOWN, ZAC BROWN BAND at Club Nokia; JON BRION & FRIENDS at Largo at the Coronet; JOHN BROWN’S BODY, BLUE KING BROWN, MISHKA at the Roxy.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
The Dex Romweber Duo at the Redwood Bar and Grill
As singer-guitarist with the Flat Duo Jets, Dexter Romweber scratched out a uniquely twisted version of rootsy garage rock that launched an entire wave of bass-free revivalists. Jack White has often cited the ’80s North Carolina duo as the primary inspiration for the White Stripes, and, while he doesn’t appear on the Dex Romweber Duo’s new CD, Ruins of Berlin (Bloodshot), plenty of other punk and alt-country icons stop by to lend a hand. Country sirens Neko Case and Kelly Hogan sweeten a version of Billy Sherrill’s “Still Around” with floating angelic harmonies, and Southern Culture on the Skids’ Rick Miller adds some surf-guitar sizzle to the instrumental “Lookout.” Exene Cervenka duets with Romweber on the folksy jangle “Lonesome Train,” while Cat Power fills the ballad “Love Letters” with her trademark mournful blues. The Dex Romweber Duo, which includes sister Sara Romweber on drums, is fleshed out on record by bassist Robbie Link, and guest Bob Pence adds some snazzy sax to the murky instrumental “Cigarette Party.” But Ruins of Berlin is ultimately Dexter’s show, as he delivers original songs like “People, Places and Things” with an ominous Nick Cave croon. (Falling James)
Stereo Total at El Rey Theatre
The German duo Stereo Total return to town with more of their curiously infectious electro-punk anthems. They haven’t released a full-length album since 2007’s Paris-Berlin, although a new single, “Anti Love Song,” is supposed to come out soon on Kill Rock Stars. In recent years, these sonic saboteurs have hosted a fanciful radio play, Patty Hearst: Princess and Terrorist, and performed a special show of songs by Kurt Weill, and singer Françoise Cactus has spent much of her time exhibiting her art at galleries in Europe. Paris-Berlin was a delightful collision of punky declarations like “Plastic” and such charming pop tunes as “Miss Rébellion des Hormones.” Best of all was the pair’s utterly groovy version of Serge Gainsbourg’s “Relax Baby Be Cool,” which they transformed into a modern dance song via keyboardist Brezel Göring’s electronic beeps and whistles and Ms. Cactus’ sensual purr. They’re touring with the goofy, sweater-shrouded hip-pop of Iowa’s Leslie & the LYs. (Falling James)
