Hometown: Cleveland
Sounds like: "Son Volt meets Uncle Tupelo meets Cake meets Whiskeytown."
Fun fact: "One of our guitarists once got punched by a drunk hooker who had mistaken him for a pizza delivery boy who she was pissed at for some reason."
Playing: Thursday, March 23, at the Grog Shop
Why you should see them: "We put on a great live show, draw an eclectic crowd, and have kick-ass harmonies, a great female electric violinist, and hard-rocking guitars." -- Steve Keefe, guitars-bass
Band: Crimson Sweet (www.crimsonsweet.com)
Hometown: "New York Cit-tay"
Sounds like: "The kind of glammed-out, stripped-down punk rock that you would listen to if you were armed only with a knife and forced to fight the air."
Fun fact: "When the vacancy rate at our ill-fated resort, the Long Island Sex Octagon, fell below 12 percent, we decided to set our sordid story to music and take it on the road."
Playing: Thursday, March 23, at Turnup Records in Kent (all ages), with Kill the Hippies
Why you should see them: "Because it's better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't." -- Electric Al Huckabee, guitar
Band: Pet Monster ([email protected])
Hometown: Parma/Brooklyn
Sounds like: "The Stitches doing bong hits with Reagan Youth in a suburban basement while rolling around on shards of broken MD 20/20 bottles."
Fun fact: "The two members under 21 both have a DUI charge on their criminal record."
Playing: Friday, March 24, at the Phantasy
Why you should see them: "It's the only time you can get an STD, a drug habit, and a hangover, and secure your ticket to hell -- all at the same time." -- Krooks, guitar
Band: Dropgun (www.dropgun.com)
Hometown: Akron
Sounds like: "The Dead Boys filtered through Motörhead, followed by a kick to the taint. It's dirty, filthy, lowdown rock and roll."
Fun Fact: "Drummer Chris Brown was in his high school band and is a big Rush fan. RUSH!! BWAAHAHAHAAAAHA!!!!"
Playing: Friday, March 24, at the Daily Double, with Jacknife Powerbombs, Blatant Finger, and First Offense
Why you should see them: "We rock way, way hard, and we're dead sexy." -- Paul Hooper, guitar
