For Your Consideration

Since I have a garden to start weeding preparation for summer flowers and tomatoes, and it's not going to weed itself, let’s get right to it.

There are several good shows the first week in May, but before April comes to a close this weekend, Parts and Labor is playing Friday at Golden West.

Formed in Brooklyn in 2002 by bassist BJ Warshaw and guitarist Dan Friel, Parts and Labor have toured with Battles, Deerhoof, and TV on the Radio.  Stylistically there are similarities between Parts and Labor and the aforementioned bands, however Parts and Labor manage to do something none of those bands achieve: to meld the experimental noise of the 1990’s with rock melodies and hooks tucked not so neatly into an indie envelope.

Fueled by the pounding precision of Joe Wong’s amazing drumming, Parts and Labor creates a wall of sound so involved it’s hard to believe there are only three people behind all of the layered sounds (Sarah Lipstate a fourth member of the band departed in July of 2009).

There are very few experimental noise bands that make you wanna tap your toes and sing along, so few in fact I can’t think of another one off the top of my head. If you’re in the mood for something different but that you can still hum along with and bob your head to, along with some crazy, off the wall drumming, look no further than Parts and Labor this Friday at Golden West, doors at 10 p.m.

For a different kind of head bobbin, Reagan Youth will be in town Sunday, at the Ottobar; a continuation in the reunion tour series of older punk bands that are realizing social security and the odd album reissue isn’t really a retirement plan.

Reagan Youth, who formed in 1980 in New York, were one of the (maybe even the) first hardcore bands and were key in creating and developing the east coast hardcore scene. Labeled “peace punk” their message is more anarcho-punk, and their sound is a fusion of crust punk and hardcore fostered in the years of Reaganomics in America. Known for their anti-conservative lyrics and attitude, Reagan Youth were an important part of the post punk scene in New York at the dawn of the “Me” Decade.

Upon Reagan leaving office in 1989, the band broke up, and three years later lead singer Dave Insurgent (nee Rubenstein) committed suicide following the death of his girlfriend at the hands of New York serial killer Joel Rifkin. In 2002 bassist Andy Apathy (nee Bryan) died of a fatal heart attack, which put plans of a reunion on hold for another four years.

In 2006 Reagan Youth began their “Resurrection Tour” and after additional lineup changes, are embarking on another tour. This time around they're joined by new singer Kenny Young, bassist Dave Manzullo, and Mike Sabatino.  Short, energetic bursts of frenetic guitar, poppy basslines and furious drums characterized their sound and can be found resonating in the many, many bands that cite them as an influence today. Be ready for such classics as “I Hate Hate” and “Degenerated”.  Doors at 7:30, T.F.M., Just For Now, Angry & Broke, and Stressbomb join them on the bill.

 Two days later on Tuesday,  British chanteuse Holly Golightly will also be at the Ottobar. Named for the character in Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Golightly is one of the most successful singer songwriters to stay beneath the radar of the mainstream of the last fifteen years. Beginning her career in the garage band Thee Headcoatees in 1995, her voice is at times sultry, at times innocent and playful, always clear and beautiful.

Putting out three albums and touring with her band mate, Lawyer Dave, as Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs, they won an Independent Music Award for their 2009 album Dirt Don’t Hurt.  This time around she’ll be playing songs from their most recent record, Medicine County released in 2010. An expatriate living in Georgia, her surroundings definitely influenced this album. Bluesy and folksy and rarely boring, Golightly’s  (and occasionally Lawyer’s) husky voice sings over slow and steady beats, organs, and slightly twangy guitar. Definitely a must see for anyone with a fondness for female singer/songwriters and a beautifully sung melody. Doors at 9 p.m.

• Saturday at CCAS; Sleep Bellum Sono, Texas Instruments, and the Octaves. Whenever I hear "Texas Instruments" I think of graphing calculators in 10th grade algebra. Hopefully this band will give me a more positive association. Doors at 7pm, all ages.
• Thursday- Sunday at The Windup Space, the 8th Annual Transmodern Festival. Provocative art in Baltimore? Surely you jest! Check out the website for more info,