Arts & Entertainment
Hampdenfest Reigns, But Shows Go On
Hampdenfest and the Ravens' home opener are your daytime distractions, but the real shows start when the sun goes down this weekend.
The weekend highlight will be Hampdenfest, HonFest’s more mature, less publicly drunk older sister, but there are still plenty of shows going on elsewhere this week in North Baltimore.
Friday’s show at Ottobar, billed as the HampdenFest Pre-Party, features Red Die #9. The band originated in the golden era of Baltimore post-punk. Think Generation X but grittier, or the Vandals but with a dash of FEAR.
This is pure, unadulterated chord and chorus punk rock. Doors are at 8 p.m., cover is $10, and they play along with Piltdown Men, Frottage, and SwampHog.
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If you want to ease into your weekend instead, check out the Songwriters Sessions at 8 p.m. on Friday at Wind Up Space (cover $7). The show features Victoria Vox and her ukulele, but this is not your Tiny Tim Tiptoe Through the Tulips ukulele.
She shares the stage with The Honest Mistakes, Josh & Jess, Danny Malone, and the Waiters and Bellboys.
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Saturday night is a psychobilly freak out at the Ottobar, as the only Danish American rockabilly band, Necromantix, reminds everyone that the upright bass can be played outside of a symphony or a jazz club. Bettie Page bangs and flames aside, everything about this band is over the top. They play with the Howlers and the Recently Deceased for $12, doors are at 8 p.m., show at 8:45 p.m.
Rounding out your weekend is a Royal Sunday at Golden West with the Royal Baths from San Francisco, and Australia’s Royal Headache and Bed Wettin Bad Boys.
The Royal Headaches are retro garage rock band infused with Ramones-influenced surf, while their fellow countrymen are more Replacements sounding.
Not to get lost among the foreigners are the Royal Baths, and to call them just experimental indie would be a great disservice. Hypnotic monotone vocals over layers of guitar with the trance-like beat of the drums make early Velvet Underground to mind, they've also been compared to the Black Keys.
- Monday at Golden West: The Men, Room Runner (ex Double Dagger), and Lady Piss. $6, 10 p.m.
- Wednesday at Joe Squared: Roll Over It, Polaroid Rage, and Ken Gutberlet. 21 and over after 10 p.m.