Preview: the week ahead (18th-24th April)

Compared to last week, the upcoming one seems a bit more quiet. But there are also some promising shows so let's see what we have.


Wednesday
Architecture In Helsinki at Maria: Everyone knows by now that this group is not from Helsinki. But who cares. They play unusual danceable music that fits Maria perfectly. The question is whether they'll fill the venue, given that they've been kind of off people's radar. Well I hope it's going to be a great party because AiH are one of my favourites when it comes to analog dance music.
The Monochrome Set are a wavy early post-punk band that used to exist since 1978 and reunited now already for a second time in 2008. I'm usually a bit prejudiced against reuniting bands, but since I saw the great Chameleons (now called the Chameleons Vox) earlier this year and really liked them, this could be worth a visit. They play at West-Germany and I'm sure it's going to be well crowded.





Thursday
Zs and Hubble at West-Germany: Zs play experimental and jazzy no wave stuff. They sometimes sound like free jazz, sometimes like noise rock with a crazy saxophone and sometimes like a drone ambient noise band. I'm sure this is not going to be boring. Hubble is the solo project of Zs guitar player. Check it out, I definitely will be there.
Al Burian at Bis Aufs Messer: Mr Burian is coming back to give his third performance at our favourite record store. Your guess is as good as mine as what he's got in store for us this time and whether it's going to involve any music at all. But last time he performed a reading there, he blew my mind, unexpectedly so. So go early, enjoy, and still be in time for Zs.

Saturday
Ovo, Jealousy Party, Ratbag & Anton Maiof and Rocchetti & Janek at NK: Ovo are a duo and play mean and harsh noise or almost metal guitar and drums music. They wear crazy masks and crazy clothes. I saw them once opening for Lightning Bolt at Festsaal Kreuzberg and I left the room before they finished one song. I know that doesn't sound encouraging, but maybe you want to give them a try before giving too much about some random blogger's opinion.

Ten Volt Shock and Electric Electric at Schokoladen: Ten Volt Shock seem to exist since forever. If you are into groovy noise rock you should consider another Schokoladen visit this night. They are great live. They are currently on tour with Electric Electric from France, who play crazy math rock. They listed "Trance" as genre on their Myspace page, listen to it, they are not joking.