VAZ: MISSOULA, NOVEMBER 11TH, MONDAY.

We've written about some of the roots of our borderline obsessive fandom over Vaz and Hammerhead here, and probably some other places. The short version is that Hammerhead (pre-Vaz) kind of set the bar for which all other noise rock should be measured.

To say they're a good or even great band is to kind of miss the point. And to kind of sound like you're exaggerating. They're a fucking truly unique and special thing you don't get to just get off the bus and check out very often. Shit, Vaz have got us swearing. Jeff and Paul have been playing together in bands for about 20+ years, and represent the kind of sonic mind-meld that can only come from that kind of a long-term musical collaboration.

They're in Missoula on November 11th, Monday at 10:30 PM after Trivia. Show's free, donations please. They're touring in support of new record which by all counts is going to shred.

Oh, and they just played on Diane's Kamikaze Fun Machine on WFMU. You can stream that from here:

KYLESA RATTLES MISSOULA'S CAGE.

Picture of Kylesa at the Palace Lounge, October 19, 2013. By Stephan Chase

I've always really liked the phrase Hollow Severer. That for the uninitiated is a rager of a Kylesa song from their Time Will Fuse Its Worth LP. It evokes some kind of creepy Evil Dead skeleton army kind of deal for me.Well, Kylesa pretty much severed us, and turned lots of us into a hollow skeleton army ready to do their bidding. That was the closeout of the OcTotal Fest shows last weekend. Jeesh, what sweaty mayhem.

Picture of Kylesa at the Palace Lounge, October 19, 2013. By Stephan Chase

To be honest, I was waaaaay more immediately taken with theTo Walk a Middle Course, Time Will Fuse Its Worth and Static Tensions LPs than I currently am with the space jam approach of Spiral Shadow and Ultraviolet. I've just never needed a ton of intro before the riffs start, man! But seeing them do their thing, theremin, skateboard-guitar and "visuals" all kind of brought it home for me. They're not the same band they were when they put out those earlier records. They're exploring some different territory. they still thoroughly bring some of the most immediately gut-rattling riffs and rage-inducing power that we can really think of. It sounds a little cheesy, but our penance for questioning will be to thoroughly explore these two new records, and report back. Reggie Shramana swears by 'em.