Rumah Sakit "Ruman Sakit 25"
Rumah Sakit were a four-piece rock band based in San Francisco, CA. Formed in 1998 by guitarists John Baez and Mitch Cheney, bassist Kenseth Thibideau and drummer, Jeff Shannon, the band settled on the name Rumah Sakit – a literal Indonesian translation of “sick room” (aka hospital) – and a sound that fused the frenetic energy of Red-era King Crimson with a meditative melodicism that starkly contrasted the vast majority of “math-rock” bands of the era. Rumah Sakit 25 collects Rumah Sakit’s debut album and their long out-of-print Travels In Constants EP into one extraordinary package. Reuniting the band with Bob Weston to meticulously remaster from the original master tapes, Rumah Sakit 25 features new cover art from old friends and collaborators, Jeremiah Maddock and Marty Anderson. The expansive 180 gram audiophile-grade gatefold 2xLP includes full-color printed inner sleeves featuring hundreds of previously unpublished photos documenting the inspired early era in the band’s history, as well as a massive full-size 24-page art book of previously unpublished artwork by Maddock. It’s an exquisite opus that masterfully captures a band who ultimately inspired artists that followed them, and whose members’ later collaborations with the likes of Foals, Pinback, Sweep the Leg Johnny, Sleeping People and HEY!TONAL would underscore how uniquely diverse and prolific Rumah Sakit truly were.
Angel Face "Out in the Street"
Tokyo’s ANGEL FACE is a relentless bugger, and they can’t seem to keep from cranking out hit after hit. As a matter of fact, neither can Slovenly, so yeah, we’re gassed to welcome these most notorious and ruling JAPANPUNKs back for their 2nd full length, “Out In The Street”!
Anthemic power-pop of this ilk has never sounded so desperate. Front-freak Hercules is reaching way down deep to force feed you his soul, while Fink, Toyozo, and Rayco slash, pummel, and kick with the kind of reckless abandon only the most possessed rollers and rockers can summon. The ten blazing and original smashes that done been slapped onto this album are a juvenile delinquent record geek’s most volatile dream come true, from the phased-out stomper “Days in the Haze” to the greaser chant-along “Let’s Go,” this is the sweaty mess and total class you’ve come to expect from these mongoloid masters of musical mayhem who just don’t know any better!
FeMaLe GeNiuS "Jaggef and Fractured"
Julie Hair has been a vital force in New York’s underground art and music scenes since the early ’80s. A founding member of Bite Like A Kitty and 3 Teens Kill 4, her work blends political edge, experimental sound and a deeply collaborative spirit. Female Genius represents the latest evolution of Hair’s uncompromising artistry. Their upcoming record promises incisive lyrics, sly humor, and an unfiltered approach to sound, an extension of Hair’s lifelong commitment to authenticity.
AITIS BAND "IV"
Aitis Band is a combination of haunted houses and that’s what she said jokes. The trio’s funny, morbid, lyric-driven songs literally report on what she said and how scary it was. Since 2019 former Joan of Arc members Bobby Burg (Love of Everything) and Melina Ausikaitis continue their collaboration with the addition of visual artist/musician Ray Borchers. Aitis Band indulge their love of clubbing, teen girl-ness, and tragic figures, both real and imagined, with songs that range from wistful ballads to anthemic noise-fests. They hang in a purgatory between too much art school and just enough 80’s night. Ausikaitis’ vocals slide easily into a funereal bath water that Burg and Borchers slowly turn up to a boil.
Since October 2019 Aitis Band has played throughout the US, sharing bills with Dry Cleaning, Circuit des Yeux, Black Dice, Parquet Courts, Jesus Lizard, No Age, Robert AA Lowe, Ryley Walker, Dustin Wong, Air Waves, Man on Man, and a midwest tour opening for American Football.
The Band’s instrumentation is dueling Roland eg101 drum machines/keyboards and a MicroKorg. Controlling 3 keyboards at once, Ray uses weights to set drones while adding new notes with her hands and feet. Melina plays a stringless fake guitar with a contact mic through Earthquaker Devices effect pedals and sings. Bobby plays bass.