Thee Vicars, Night Beats, Cobalt Cranes, Los Sweepers, Strangers Family Band at:
THE REDWOOD
MARCH 8
9 p.m.
$5

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This EP’s song styles and track order feel classical in form, ala Homer and Virgil, but trade bombast for the correct balance of grit and sheen. With Donovan (Drums) and Kate (Bass) supplying solid, pulsating grooves for Tim and Mateo to splatter colors of guitar tone over, Cobalt Cranes earn themselves a place in the garage pantheon. Listen. Love.

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Earlier in the night, many friends of Bastidas had heard that the band was taking a permanent hiatus. This word came from an unmentionable band member. As I helped the drummer Lee carry equipment in, I noticed the stool of his drum throne falling off its axis. Did this metaphor truly mean the end of the group?

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Maybe it was L’Keg finally turning on the air conditioning, but for me the best part of night was the last band XYX. Hailing from Mexico, the furious bass and drum duo absolutely killed—or they would have killed had it not just been me and maybe 15 people who were watching them. The diminutive drummer Mou worked his set like a pro, playing dynamic beats with incredible fills while singer/bassist Anhelo looped her rapid-fire vocals through a pedal. Her distorted bass lines gave the limited band a surprisingly full sound, which at times was as jazzy as it was punk. “He’s a machine,” a guy from the audience cheered. Even Anhelo’s garb—an oversized “Death to the Pixies” t-shirt and a pair of Everlast boxing boots—suggested XYX were equal parts pedigree and punch.

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