Arts & Entertainment
Labor Intensive
Who needs a grandstand seat to see cars race through the streets of Baltimore? There are better and cheaper ways to spend your time and money: one Australian and three Brooklyn bands set up camp in North Baltimore this Labor Day weekend.
The last three-day weekend seems so long ago, and with everything Baltimore’s gone through lately—natural disasters, Grand Prix drama, pre-mayoral primary election bickering—along with Maryland’s record high un/underemployment rates ... well, a little extra rest and recreation is well deserved.
The first weekend in September is as busy as ever, from one end of North Baltimore to the other, with no hurricane or tropical storm warnings to keep you cooped up inside. So step out, because Friday brings Tournament to town from Brooklyn, aka the hipster capital of the world—sorry Portland, maybe next year. Catch their version of melodic hardcore at Golden West at 10 p.m. for $6.
They're promoting their limited 7-inch release in February on the Compensation Fantasy label. Playing along with Tournament are Unnnh (ex Vincent Black Shadow/Sick Weapons) and War on Women, the only co-ed feminist punk/hardcore band in Baltimore.
Find out what's happening in North Baltimorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The beauty of the three-day weekend means Sunday night is fair game, and that works out perfectly, because this Sunday at the Wind Up Space San Fran’s Hunx and His Punx will grace the stage. Bubblegum garage pop with a Hedwig/John Waters twist, Hunx and His Punx offer up catchy Ramones-esque songs sung by an openly gay man backed by an all-girl group. They’re a decent garage band worth your time, and they play with the K-HOLES (ex Black Lips), Slow Jerks, and Bam Bam for $10 at 8 p.m.
Later next week on Wednesday, The Vivian Girls, an all-girl trio that also hails from Brooklyn and always draws a crowd playing “dream pop,” breathy vocals paired with ethereal infused noise. See them with Deadspeak and Mellotron at the Ottobar for $10 at 9 p.m.
Find out what's happening in North Baltimorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Also on Wednesday, flip the other side of the coin for a night of sludge metal via Melbourne, Australia and head to Golden West for the Dead show. Think along the lines of a Melvins-inspired street punk from the country/continent that brought us Paul Hogan and the Bloomin' Onion. See them with the always insane duo that is the Unstoppable Death Machines (yet another Brooklyn band) and Pandas at 10 p.m. for $7.
Next weekend is Hampdenfest, but there’s plenty to do before then:
- Saturday at the Wind Up Space: those girls take it off again, Gilded Lily Burlesque, 10 p.m., $10.
- Saturday, at Golden West: The Cute Lepers, Sick Sick Birds, and Evie Says, $8.
- Wednesday, at Joe Squared: Tillers Prospect (reggae/hip-hop/old school ska) and T.I.M.O. (acoustic), 9 p.m.