AIDS WOLF: NAKED ART-JAZZ CANUCKS ATTACK MISSOULA WED. NOV. 26TH
Montreal, Quebec may be better known for the ponderous meanderings of Godspeed You Black Emperor, or the sappy pop of the Unicorns, but for my money, AIDS Wolf get to wear the weirdo crown. In a world where being indie/alternative/punk generally means structuring most all of your music in the standard way that it's been done for the past 60 or so years (blues-based, 4/4 time, etc.), a band that just gets up and beats the shit out of their gear, has a good participatory time, and makes you think is a refreshing change. Speaking of refreshing, judging from the photos of the band (when you google image search) AIDS Wolf seem essentially uncool with clothing.

Amusical music? Free jazz punk? Spazz rock? Not sure.
Compelling, wild and great: Check.

The show's officially free, but as you might imagine, gasoline and food still aren't giving themselves away, so bring along a couple dollars to pitch their way.

If you're into comparisons, I get reminded of Arab on Radar (interestingly another Skin Graft outfit) and lots of the more driving no-wave from the Early '80's.

Faces for Radio: The KBGA Team Hurls Urethane
Here are some photos of the 'Beej crew bowling
(DJ in Training, Dane Hansen)

(top score, Tim Donahue: 127) tonight. That's right. When they're not busy keep the airways ripping with Missoula's only source of anything but crap classic rock, bad screamo, commercial country or baroque, these folks devote an entire DJ meeting to the slurping of suds and chucking of balls at pins. Ahem!
If you need more convincing, simply look at these photos:


To quote Homer Simpson: "U.S.A!"

As a reminder: KBGA is bring Health (L.A./Love Pump
(Niki, the "Sectretary" Promotions Lady)

United) on Monday, November 17th at the Palace lounge and Times New Viking (Columbus/Matador) to the Badlander Wednesday, November 19th and Aids Wolf (Montreal/Skin Graft) to the Badlander on Wednesday, November 26. COME ON!
















More of the Crew!














(Tim and Junie (above) Travis, below)

Bridgebuilder: Blast Off the Rock Excellent
Missoula's home to more than a handful of really good bands (Shotgun Moses, Volumen, Birds Mile Home, Reptile Dysfunction, Knot Knocked Up, Four Horsemen, Sherlocks, Black Velvet Elvis, Vera, etc.) but the band that's been taking the heavy/loud cake for just about a year is Bridgebuilder. They're a power trio in the true sense, playing through huge old PA towers rather than regular guitar/bass speakers, they control a mass of sound that would knock down lesser bands.

Their music has metal roots (quasi-classical sounding intros, Ibanez axes, etc.) but definitely is more along the lines of noise rock, with more frequent starts and stops and mathy changes, rather than being totally riff-bound. They're sort of uh, Helmety, without the churn. Most songs clock in at around two or 2.5 minutes, and their sets by and large are 30 minute affairs that thoroughly leave the crowd wanting more.

They've self-released a CDR called Lay Waste the Siege Perilous, and it's pretty excellent. The mastering/EQing job could've been done with more finesse and less bombast, for a better final product, but the songs help it to stand out and be one of the more exciting records that's come from Missoula in some time.

I think what I like most these guys is the absolutely unaffected in-it-for-the-right-reasons grins they have glued on when they play a show. You can tell they're doing something that makes them happy, and they're well-rehearsed and instense to boot. Check them out.

Josh/Loud MD
Recently on the KBGA loud playlist: Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Signal Lost, Totalitar, Asshole Parade, Bridgebuilder, Pierced Arrows, Harvey Milk