I just got back from the Box Elders show at Monster Island Basement, and it was pretty good. If you want to see photos and read my review, however, you’ll have to check Break Thru Radio on Friday. In the meantime, I’m recommending this show for tomorrow because Grooms (originally Muggabears) is a weird, noisy rock band that’s been around for a few years now, and may finally be achieving their potential. This show is part of Death By Audio’s maze art installation, so you may have to navigate walls and barriers in order to actually see the bands. Anyways, Grooms play difficult music. It isn’t easy to listen to, but if you give it a chance it can be rewarding. In the past I haven’t been completely convinced of their ability to capitalize on their own talent, but this new song “Dreamsucker” definitely holds my interest. It’s quirky and schizophrenic, with weird clicks and sudden turns, but it also has a melody that you can sink your teeth into. It looks like this band may finally be maturing, and now would be a good time to check them out. Plus, Video Hippos are playing, and it’s a well-documented fact that Video Hippos are sweet (projections and rock music! wow!). Anamanaguchi is also playing, but I don’t really love them, as well as a few other bands that I’m not familiar with yet.
