Tonight the Jungle Gym will play host to a night of firsts, the first show from a collective Buffalo regulars, Alpha Hopper, as well as an introduction to Facility Men. Alpha Hopper is a female-fronted driving punk project complete with shrieks and howls, featuring members of JOHNS, The Fucking Hotlights, and PANG. Fans of Pissed Jeans, METZ, or The Jesus Lizard should definitely cram themselves by the radiator. In addition to Alpha Hopper is Facility Men, a band we wrote about in January, whose sound is Fugazi brash with early Les Savy Fav hooks. Also on the bill are scene vets, Fatal Figures, whose sleazy punk rock will round out an excellent night of fuzzy sounds. If you were a fan of Blowtops, this is some of their members most recent project. Doors are at 9pm and it's free dollars. 

Celebrate the Vernal Equinox at the Jungle Gym tonight with three excellent bands. The Rice Cakes, hailing from Providence Rhode Island, play melodic indie rock reminiscent of early Aloha and other similar acts floating around during the early 00's. Their most recent single, "Floor Boards," features alternating male and female vocals accompanied by syncopated drumming and math rock-lite guitars. Not to be missed.

Rounding out the bill is the Jungle Gym's top notch house band, Pang. Pang is raucous, quick and anchored by howling vocals and a rush of ideas. Finally, the enigmatic Dream Journal (as in, there was no information online that I could directly attribute to this band) will also be performing.

The Rice Cakes w/Pang and Dream Journal
The Jungle Gym - 357 Breckenridge Street, Buffalo, NY
9pm
Donation to support bands

The term "Krautrock" refers to Europe's response to American music in the early late 20th Century; typically academic composers got jealous of us, 'cause you know how we rock so hard and are awesome, and they sought to develop (or just incidentally developed) a style of music stripped of any strains of jazz or blues or folk or whatever. It was mechanical, drony, synth heavy, and every bit as trippy as the stuff Americans were doing with their jazz and blues and folk roots. But just like all genres of music, it evolved and mingled with other styles, like when it met disco at a party in Detroit and nine months later techno was born.

There is this band called CAVE from Chicago that is starting to gain a reputation for reconciling 'krautrock' with more American threads of sound: the drums switch from jazzed-out perma-fill to steady motorik, underneath stormy post-punk guitar/bass, and synthlines that would be equally at home on a Doors record as a Dan Deacon one. The band is a tight, psychedelic unit that'll make you want to think and not think at the same time, so do check to them at The Vault tonight (702 Main St., 8pm, $5?), with fellow space cadets Running, Pang, and Gut Pole for a mind-bending good time.

The Jungle Gym, Breckenridge Street's DIY space for music and other shenanigans, is hosting a menagerie of bands this evening for your listening enjoyment.

Headlining tonight's events are Summer People from nearby Binghamton, NY.  The band formed in 2008 and has been touring or recording seemingly nonstop since then.  Their sound is rock for sure, but the gravelly croon of the vocals splitting through the mix adds an extra dimension to the music.

Also performing tonight are a variety of bands from across the country performing music in the realm of punk/rock.

Goldmines has traveled here from Celveland, OH for tonight's show... which is a lot closer than Olympia, WA; the city Generifus has hails from.  Rounding our tonight's lineup are Pang and Dream Journal, both local outfits that enjoy a good thrashing of a guitar.

Show starts at 8PM with a suggested donation of $5

Tonight, the Vault will be hosting an eclectic and noisy array of bands sure to add a mild dose (don't want too much now) of chaos to the early part of your week. And really, what part of your week wants more for chaos than the early part of the week?

Parasol hails from Boston. Their most recent 7", Scoot Over, is a giddy and loud burst of infectious energy.

Formed in the dark recesses of the Jungle Gym, Pang's music is a mix of rage and chaos. Not much is known of Pang, as not much is on the internet. However, I found some footage that seems to indicate that the band is comprised of the people who recently wrapped my television in saran wrap and garbage during a house party. Don't worry, my TV is fine.

Finally, Buffalo's Real People will be performing a set of gravelly rock.

Parasol w/Pang and Real People
The Vault
702 Main Street
$6.00