This weekend brings a little something for everyone, music-wise: from ’90s rap legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at the Neptune, to the carpet-bombing noise of the Rita at Kremwerk, to a cassette release for pop-punk supergroup Topless. As always, feel free to peruse our complete music calendar for literally dozens of other live shows around town this weekend and beyond.
FRIDAY
1. Newaxeyes, Jo Passed, Hana and the Goose, Pleasures
“Seattle experimental electronic up-and-comers Newaxeyes blend ambient and alienating sounds to create noisy, grimy-yet-soothing textures. Their offbeat rhythm constructions can at times sound like a darker Oneohtrix Point Never, which is a serious compliment. Vancouver-based Jo Passed (ex-Spriing) plays big fuzz-pop hooks through a feedback-heavy psych gauze, but also reveals his noodle-rock/manic prog roots with histrionic arena-guitar solos.” -Brittnie Fuller
2. PWR BTTM
“New York queer punk-pop duo PWR BTTM’s 2015 album Ugly Cherries was an intravenous blast of catchy garage rock delivered to your nervous system with neither warning nor apology. On tracks like ‘C U Around’ and ‘I Wanna Boi,’ guitarist/singer Ben Hopkins and drummer Liv Bruce make heartache and requited love sound as fucked up and messy as they really are, with an unflinching honesty and ear for hooks that’s more than welcome in our era of overcooked irony and tendency for eye-rolling.” -Kyle Fleck
3. Squall
“Do you enjoy the sound of explosions? (Don’t front, pacifist—you know you do.) Well then, the Rita’s music might be up your debris-strewn alley. Unfamiliar with the work of the Rita (aka Sam McKinlay), I randomly clicked on the video for ‘Anna Christie.’ It sounds like a carpet-bombing in a bass-synth factory, a perpetual vomiting of rancorous noise. After a while, it becomes rather soothing—even if its malignant radio-static ambience signifies the merciless maw of hellfire that is our ultimate fate.” -Dave Segal
