Dig ‘in: Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek, Versing, Edging
Check out what the No Wristbands team is listening to and what’s in our show calendars this month on our latest Dig ‘in.
INCOMING
Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek - New Future City Radio (International Anthem LP)
Thank a higher power that there are labels such as International Anthem to release such eclectic records as NFCR. Masquerading as an underground pirate radio broadcasting “24/7 from unknown rooftops,” well pedigreed artists Damon Locks and Rob Mazurek gather samples, grooves, beats, voices, and their own instruments to cook up this multihued affair. Mazurek’s exotic trumpet arrives with “Breeze of Time” juxtaposed with spoken word and drone…ending with MLK intoning “grappling with problems… we are all here this evening.” Simply, this is audio painting, impressionistic strokes of sound dialogue-ing and questioning. A muted social conscience threads throughout the record with positive messages and good times vibes. The DJ announces “Let’s remake the city using our own design,” as a prelude to another standout track “The Concord Hour.” Seamlessly, it all flows on and after 18 songs and 40 minutes, I hit repeat. “Redirect explanations—suspense in the grip of suspense!” -Wade Iverson
Versing - Tape II (self-released cassette EP)
Poking up from the flood of releases that is Bandcamp Daily, Seattle indie rockers Versing get it all right on this self-released 5 song. Kicking around since at least 2016, which saw the release of their debut, Nude Descending, Versing traffic in noisy power pop that on Tape II (release #4), stretches into woozy My Bloody Valentine territory. Not a dud in the bunch, “Circles” is great, as well as “Distractions,” but the standout is “Nowhere,” which has radio hit written all over it. Alas, as their unsigned status reflects, no rhyme or reason exists in the independent music world; who gets signed, who secures good support gigs, representation…it’s an arbitrary world, largely. Nonetheless we have the gift of music from Versing. “When you’re out / On your own / You’ll get nowhere”…never sounded better. -Wade Iverson
Edging - Good Sex Music (Dick Jail Records LP)
Edging resides in the company of fellow Chicagoans Spread Joy, Cel Ray and Heet Deth, trafficking in a warped and unhinged post-punk apocalypse. On their second album Good Sex Music, following 2021’s Concrete Cumming, Edging deviate from the norms of society. It’s a wearying route to take, symbolized by the downtrodden circus clown in the animated video of their song “Post People.” Thought crimes have become a reality in a nation that’s increasingly attacking personal liberties. As a transgender artist, vocalist Faith Callaway has dealt firsthand with the culture of oppression and discrimination, and along with her partner and bandmate Will Sallee, they continue to kick against the pricks. Packed with pummeling riffs, punk fervor and agitating sax courtesy of Tyler Meneese, Good Sex Music brazenly announces itself to the world, unconcerned about carrying on with anything that passes for polite conversation. -Bruce Novak
UPCOMING
The Courettes
Where: Liar’s Club / Directions
When: September 27, 10:00 PM
Settling in for a listen to The Courettes is like having full reign over selecting tracks on a well-stocked AMI Continental 1960s jukebox. The married couple of Flavia (vox/guitar) and Martin Couri (drums/vox) are overt in their admiration of girl group rebels and garage rock dwellers. A blending of The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and The Sonics’ “Have Love Will Travel” represent the perfect pairing of sounds for this duo who hooked up in Flavia’s native Brazil a decade ago when they were together on tour with separate bands. Their musical partnership commenced when Flavia penned their first tune, “I’ve Been Walking,” while traveling to see Martin in Aalborg, Denmark, which became their permanent home in 2015. After capturing their nascent raw sound on their first two albums, the Couris began incorporating shades of (Phil) Spector in their 2021 Back in Mono release where they allowed themselves to add layering overdubs and keyboards from producer Søren Christensen. After making their first US appearance at SXSW earlier this spring, The Courettes are returning to the States for a week and a half tour that begins in the midwest and concludes out east. -Bruce Novak
High Sunn
Where: Cobra Lounge / Directions
When: October 2, 6:00 PM (all ages show)
Justin Cheromiah received a Tascam 8-track recorder for his 15th birthday and hasn’t looked back since. The Bay Area musician has been a prolific bedroom artist going under the name High Sunn and now sports a full band which has opened up options for studio recordings and touring. Building upon inspiration from the likes of Wavves, Beach Fossils and Pavement, Cheromiah has developed a distinct sound that he describes as sad/emo pop. Like the anime and manga that Cheromiah treasures and sometimes utilizes for record graphics, his art offers a wide-eyed view of life and romantic travails. The band’s Sky Memori tour takes them out of the west coast for the first time and into uncharted territory in hopes of expanding their emerging footprint. -Bruce Novak
Vintage Crop
Where: Cole’s Bar / Directions
When: October 3, 9:00 PM
Tracing the trajectory of Vintage Crop from their 2017 debut, TV Organs, across the next three albums culminating in last year’s Kibitzer, it’s encouraging to note the band’s growth while not sacrificing their bite and razor-sharp wit. Starting out as punk provocateurs, Geelong, Australia’s Vintage Crop have become more observationists than instigators. The patter of vocalist Jack Cherry (who also fronts the worthy Dragnet) brings to mind Eddie Argos of Art Brut—clever, cutting and communicative. Their “Springtime” b/w “Mercenary” single that just dropped this month finds Cherry expanding his range and Vintage Crop sounding as vital as ever before. -Bruce Novak
UNCOVERED
The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics!!! (Etiquette Records LP)
Imagine, if you will, spilling into Tacoma’s Red Carpet club circa 1964 and crossing paths with the Sonics. Initially, renderings of “Do You Love Me” and “Walkin’ the Dog” catch your ear, but before you’ve had time to throw back your first beer you’re jolted unexpectedly by the unholy racket and a lung-shredding singer who’s picking his own poison and losing his mind. Launched in 1960 by teenage guitarist Larry Parypa as an instrumental combo, the Sonics underwent a makeover in 1963 with the arrival of keyboardist Gerry Roslie, drummer Bob Bennett and saxophonist Rob Lind from another local outfit, the Searchers. In due time, Roslie came to the forefront as the group’s unhinged singer.
Their debut album, Here Are The Sonics, captured on a two-track recorder is as raw as tartare. Bennett’s drumming is barely contained; his snare rolls explode with machine gun-like carnage. Unlike most white musicians of the day that approached black soul and r&b songs with with the intent of making them more palatable to a wider audience, the Sonics’ renditions give no quarter to please milder tastes. The lasting point of distinction though can be found in the Roslie-penned originals—their titles alone portend something wicked coming your way: “The Witch,” “Boss Hoss,” “Psycho” and “Strychnine.” Nearly sixty years on, few things sound more reckless than being under the influence of the Sonics. -Bruce Novak
We recommend listening along over at our Spotify page. Here’s this week’s content: