Out Like a Lamb

I have officially put away my gloves, hats, and scarves, which probably guarantees one more freak snow or sleet storm, but I'm going to bet against the odds anyway. It's time to ease from jean jackets and zip up hoodies to shorts and bathing suits under your clothes just in case a swimming opportunity presents itself on the fly.

Granted, this weather is still a few months away, but it's still warm enough most nights to walk or bike to shows, or at the very least have all the windows rolled down in the car on the drive there. On the flip side it's still cool enough out where one doesn't end up bouncing between sweaty, shirtless, hairy guys at a hardcore/punk/metal show (see below). Basically now is the perfect time to go out and gear up before festival season starts.

This Friday, March 25th has Sacramento's Trash Talk at the Ottobar along with Off!, a kind of west coast punk supergroup (how many of them are there these days??) featuring Keith Morris from Black Flag, Steven McDonald from Redd Kross, Mario Rubalcabra from Hot Snakes and Rocket From the Crypt and Dmitri Coats of Philly's Burning Brides representing the east coast.

The hardcore scene is very much alive and well in Baltimore, despite it's decline in other cities where there was once a large hardcore following, DC and Richmond for example. That's not the case here, where some local hardcore bands (Trapped Under Ice, Pulling Teeth) can sell out a show, which means Trash Talk will probably be crazy.

Veterans of the festival circuit, Trash Talk (once on Deathwish, now on their own label) worked with Steve Albini in 2008 and featured Keith Morris in their single East of Eden, and since he's going to be there with Off!, I'm thinking that might be on the set list. Though my days of hardcore are long behind me, and I never was a big fan of west coast....anything, it'd be pretty cool to see members of such seminal bands together in Off! and I'm sure Trash Talk won't disappoint if you are now or ever were into hxc.

For those of you who were never enchanted by screaming staccato vocals over heavy riffs and pounding drums there is a two day event at the Wind Up Space this weekend, beginning on Friday and continuing Saturday featuring different designers and artists, with the Motorettes and DJ KiloConn providing the soundtrack. Spring is synonymous with rebirth and is a big season for fashion, so The Renascence Spring Fashion Show is perfect for those of us who find the spring fashion shows in Milan and London not only gauche but financially impossible. Oh...and I wasn't invited. The Renascence Spring Fashion show isn't invite only, luckily, it's just $12 after 9pm, both Friday March 25th and Saturday the 26th.

Also on Saturday at Golden West are Texas natives Fergus and Geronimo. Members Jason Kelly and Andrew Savage draw on many different styles of music, and their garage-y bubblegum sound is infectious and their songs are part throwback to the doo wop era, part rock n roll. I can't wait to see these guys (like, really), especially for only $7. They're playing with the Jacuzzi Boys and local band Sal Bando.

• Sunday, at Ottobar; East Coast Indie Stage Battle of the Bands featuring The Moon Critters, Skyline, All At Once, Survival Society and many more. Come support your fave local indie band and help them win a spot on the Vans Warped Tour @ Merriweather. Or something. Doors at 3:30, all ages.

• Monday, at Golden West; The Body, Oak, and Whitehorse. I have one word to describe this show: heavy. Doors at 10, $7, all ages.

• Thursday, at CCAS, Death Threat, Alpha & Omega, Expire, Sacred Love, Dead & Dreaming. Some of that Baltimore hxc I was talkin about. Doors at 7pm.