Kent’s Sofa King Killer celebrate their ninth anniversary
with a CD-release party marking the reissue of most of their catalogue,
including two out-of-print releases. The sludge-metal veterans have
unearthed leftover copies of 2004’s full-length debut, Midnight
Magic, which was released on London’s Retribute, an Ohio-friendly
label that issued albums by Apartment 213 and Accept Death. The label
folded last year, but underground foundry Relapse Records purchased the
catalogue and may reissue the disc. The band’s 2001 Crusty Mother
F*ckn Rock and Roll split with Leechmilk was released on Teepee,
the cult stoner-metal label that’s home to Sleep and Witch.
Drawing on the Eyehategod template, the quartet — drummer
Bradley Thorla, bassist Paul Bartholet, guitarist Chris Cheira and
singer Ryan Burgy — deals in downtempo doom and the agonies of
addiction. They are currently working on a new album. They tracked
drums at Akron’s Tangerine Studios with producer Ben Vehorn (Love as
Laughter, Black Girls) and are now slowly piecing together the rest in
the living room studio of Black Keys soundman Jason Tarulli. The
release show is 10 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Annabell’s (784 W. Market
St., Akron), with Cleveland’s Own Weather and Michigan’s Beast in the
Field. It’s 21 and over; there’s no cover.
Run-DMC’s Darryl “DMC” McDaniels will warm up for his Rock
Hall induction with a performance at the Hard Rock Café (230 W.
Huron Rd.) Saturday, April 4. The show is a brunch benefit for his
Felix Organization/Adoptees for Children, which sends children without
parents to summer camp. Tickets are $15. Visit hardrock.com/cleveland for
details.
Brothers Lounge (11609 Detroit Ave.) is hosting a Battle of the
Unsigned Bands Concert Series Thursdays from April 2 to May 28.
Visit brotherslounge.com for
info.
The Unsparing Sea will celebrate the release of their In
the Crystal Canyon EP (produced by Six Parts Seven guitarist Tim
Gerak) when they open for Blind Pilot at the Beachland Tavern (15711
Waterloo Rd.) Thursday, April 2. “I think the new songs are a lot more
sonically diverse.” says singer-guitarist J.R. Bennett. “Tim
really let us stretch out musically and experiment while retaining our
identity. Some of the new stuff is a little more upbeat and positive
too.” Show starts at 8 p.m.; admission is $5.
Below Jupiter has wrapped work on its second album, Step
Into Home (Act II), slated for April release. “Musically, it
continues the eclectic approach of the first album,” says
singer-keyboardist Josh Emmet. “Two songs are uptempo
piano-rock. Four songs have an Americana folk feel. And four songs have
a strong classical music influence. Some may view three as politically
controversial.” Five unmastered new tunes are posted at myspace.com/belowjupiter.
This article appears in Apr 1-7, 2009.