June 20, 2009, 8:00pm
Cafe Bourbon Street
2216 Summit St.
(614) 268-9377
$7
Ages 18+, under 21 pays $2 surcharge at door
Mika Miko
http://www.myspace.com/MikaMiko
With a name that means “storytelling” in Japanese and influences that include Black Flag, the Necros, Reagan Youth, and Bad Brains, Los Angeles’ thrashy-but-danceable Mika Miko feature Jessica and Jennifer Clavin, Jenna Thornhill, Michelle Suarez, and Kate Hall. Except for Hall, all of the ladies of Mika Miko played in Dead Banana Ladies, and various members played with other L.A. acts such as the Ride, Silver Daggers, and Slitwrists. Jessica Clavin and Hall both played in Wake Up SF, and when Mika Miko’s previous drummer, Jon Erik, left the band, Hall was drafted to replace him. The band began playing shows with bands like Wives, whose singer/bassist, Dean Spunt, volunteered at the all-ages club the Smell and ran the PPM label. PPM released the band’s self-titled debut 7″, which showcased Mika Miko’s raw, aggressive, but not unfriendly sound. Kill Rock Stars signed Mika Miko and released their 2006 debut album, C.Y.S.L.A.B.F., in conjunction with PPM and the Australian label Deleted Art. The band spent that summer and fall touring, while PPM released a Mika Miko/Shoplifting split single later that year. In 2007, the band released the 666 EP, which featured six songs recorded on 6/06/2006, and also performed at the CMJ Music Marathon. The following year, 666 was reissued by PPM with tracks from their other singles and EPs for the label. - ©1992-2009 All Media Guide, LLC
The Strange Boys
http://www.myspace.com/thestrangeboys
Brainwashed by years of exposure to an American Bandstand cassette (a circa 1966 show, apparently) in their mother’s car, brothers Ryan and Philip Sambol started bashing out their own take on British and psychedelic rock while still attending high school in Dallas, TX. With Ryan on guitar and vocals and Philip on bass, the brothers honed their retro sound on their own before enlisting Matt Hammer for drums and Greg Enlow for guitar and keys, forming the group now known as the Strange Boys in 2004. The fellas quickly asserted themselves in the fertile Dallas/Austin indie scene and released their debut EP, States Newest Noise Makers, in 2004. Relocating closer to the action in Austin in late 2006, the Strange Boys sought out the Gris Gris’ Greg Ashley to man the board for their first full-length release. In 2007, amid work on the aforementioned full-length, the group issued the 7″ EP Nothing on Milwaukee’s Dusty Medical Records. - ©1992-2009 All Media Guide, LLC
The Ipps
http://www.myspace.com/ippsare
IPPS.Uggah. There’s therapy in “Yr Thick,” a Sunday afternoon reggae attempt where all the liquor bottles are broken on the floor already and no one seems to give a damn. The Davis couple (2/5 of Necropolis) held a BBQ and subverted the entire Columbus discography in the CDR vaults-party room with pukey sunshine and more broken liquor bottles, maybe some downers. This doesn’t sound like a suicide of last sips mind you — it’s kind of a new beginning. The other vowel-less song here “Wr Dead,” will submit you to a very familiar narcotic slumber, drones and all. Who’s for sure if this is a knee-jerk to the Necropolis stasis or simply a way to kill the boredom? I’m not calling a Necropolis stasis here, they kind of started it all (i.e. CDR) and their underground game-plan (for that scorching Hackled Ruff follow-up) is respected with the utmost secrecy and discern. So if you love Necropolis you’ll not be surprised that Ipps frequently run off the rails, though most of the time in slow-motion. Especially In the case of “Bluebirds Over the Mountain” a slurred blues last-call.
There’s nothing to prove in the extended nyquil jam of “Go Away,” that’s the charm (or sedative) of Ipps – to drown out “that other noise.” This is a “home” project, maybe cooked in the kitchen for all I know, maybe seriously getting some steam for all I know. For all I know, I have yet to see this live, and for that please forgive my sin (old age?). There is a spiritual connection with Ipps as I listen to the “tape” on the same “pioneer” I would have listened to them on be it 1995-99. We need more tapes.
Looks like they’re playing June 20th at the Summit on an excellent bill — both the Strange Boys and Mika Miko will be playing. - World of Wumme