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Melt Banana

[PUNK] This Japanese collective is proof positive that punk energy transcends cultural barriers. Based around two central figures—vocalist Yasuko Onuki and guitarist Ichirou Agata—Melt Banana churns out a mind-bending sonic assault that’s experimental and noisy one minute, then listenable in the punk tradition the next. Agata’s distorted loops and pedal-borne skronk provide suite-like gateways into more standard song structures played at dizzying speeds. Onuki quips, yelps and squeals—mostly in English—giving the uninitiated something to try and hold onto.

Silent Graphic Novel Reading Party

[LIT] If you’re a graphic novel collector, you probably know that those things can be expensive. Maybe you’re dying to read the latest installment of Sandman or Transmetropolitan, but you just can’t (or refuse to) swing the price tag. Well, the fine people at Dreamland want to help you out: On Saturday, May 16 grab some of your favorite graphic novels and bring them over to Dreamland where they’ll host a Silent Graphic Novel Reading Party.

Big Gigantic

[ELECTRONIC/DANCE] Cringe-worthy buzz words like livetronica and jamtronica are unfortunate—bands like Disco Biscuits, STS9, and Lotus are often branded with these tags. If we can all agree never to use these regrettable portmanteaus again, then we’ll all lead healthier, more satisfying lives, and we’ll be able to talk about talented bands like Big Gigantic with a little less stress. Without resorting to using those nasty genre titles, Big Gigantic are actually exactly that—a live band, drummer Jeremy Salken and sax player Dominic Lalli—backed by electronic beats and synth lines.

Yelawolf

[HIP HOP] Alabama-born hip hop artist Yelawolf is looking to capture the hearts of millions with his new record, Love Story.

The Body with Full of Hell

[METAL] For the last 10 years, Thrill Jockey Records duo the Body have been creating music that can be described as nothing less than crushing—emotionally and sonically. “They’re also one of the loudest bands I’ve ever seen,” says Andy Czuba, promoter and a satellite member of hardcore punk band Full of Hell. The Body’s latest full length record, 2013’s Christ, Redeemers is challenging, to say the least.

Spotlight: The Slums

The Slums practice in a beat-up building with beer cans stacked high on basically every flat surface but the foosball table, which remains open for impromptu games. It’s got all the sleaze of a well-worn frat house minus the bland, privileged pretension of actual fraternity members.

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