Some Crazy Garbage

Great band name, though I wouldn't say it's indicative of the sound. This is minimal but noisy experimental synth pop from just north of Sydney in Newcastle, uncovered by the great Altered States Tapes label (also based in Newcastle). Incompetence by Grotesque Circular Dance File Under:

Here's a dark, slow burner from Tiña, the pink cowboy hat band from South London. It's off their forthcoming debut album (out Friday 11/6!) on Speedy Wunderground, the dynamite record label's first proper album release. File Under:

  Happy Halloween, y'all! Here's my go-to spooky Halloween festivities soundtrack, chock full of eerie synths and suspenseful beats. As Aquarius Records says, "this definitely sounds like it could be an actual soundtrack, in fact, someone should MAKE a film just to use this as a soundtrack." Perfect for a costume party, greeting trick-or-treaters, or just sitting alone in the dark (which is what I plan on doing tonight). From the Grave... by Umberto Spotify Apple Music File Under:

  As the story goes, three teenagers with little to no experience playing music met at CBGBs in the late '70s and decided to start a band so they could get into gigs for free. (Why didn't I think of that?) A few friends rounded out the lineup and in their short lifespan, played with the likes of The Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Cramps, Suicide, and Richard Hell! Pretty dang cool. This release is a compilation of all of their clean, catchy, new wave-y/power-poppy punk songs. This band coulda woulda shoulda been big. Invitation To... by The Student Teachers Spotify Apple Music File Under:

Being the masochists that they were, Big Black's solution to boredom was to set themselves on fire. Radical Kitten, a 3-piece post-punk band from a city in southern France, would seemingly just rather skip town. On this track, taken from their debut album, Marin shouts her frustrations over screechy, scratchy guitar and a simple, clean drum beat. That bassline tho! Silence is Violence by RADICAL KITTEN File Under:

Here's a noisy, fuzzy, lo-fi, (almost) all-instrumental psych funk album from a mysterious band hailing from Estonia (sheesh, that was a mouthful). Wailing guitar and electronic blips and bleeps over rhythmic drumming, some tracks sound like CAVE to these old ears. Between them and Holy Motors, who knew Estonia was such a hotbed of cool jams! Beware of Penza Penza by Penza Penza Spotify Apple Music File Under:

(The Swamp) In 2019, at the tender age 42/43, I went to more gigs than ever before. Who knew that it was going to be the end of live music as we know it? I didn't, but I'm sure as hell glad I dragged my old ass out when I had the chance. These are the 25 best of the best. (All pics and vids captured on shitty iphones, all gigs in Chicago unless otherwise noted) 1/19 - Hank Wood & The Hammerheads @ TCC Gallery Video courtesy of Big Plan Pictures (I make the briefest of cameos at the 5:31 mark) 3/1 - Nobunny / Your Pest Band / Ethers @ Situations Nobunny Your Pest Band Ethers 3/28 - Viagra Boys / Ganser @ Empty Bottle Viagra Boys Ganser 5/4 - M.A.Z.E. / BB Eye / CPU Rave / Cell / CB Radio Gorgeous / Twister Flower @ Archer Ballroom M.A.Z.E. Live At Archer Ballroom by M.A.Z.E. BB Eye CPU Rave Cell CB Radio Gorgeous Tw