Flashback to Woodstock: Psychedelic powerhouse Bummer Girl leads huge lineup of Memorial Day weekend parties
Listening to Phoenix band's new album is like chugging a quart of espresso, then dumpster diving behind Desert Donuts
HARK!
I hear...a party…
We are on the cusp of the second-biggest (just after the Fourth of July, which conveniently falls on a Monday) three-day weekend of 2022.
Memorial Day is a time for “mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces” (thank you, Wikipedia).
While there certainly will be serious ceremonies, in the Valley, Memorial Day for many means parties, big, small, medium…
There shall be music, comedy, readings and more.
One of the most exciting events is a big local-rock show Sunday, May 29, at the Rebel Lounge.
Bethany Home, featured by HARK Valley here, Freud and Greywoods are on the bill, but the show belongs to… Bummer Girl.
This heavy-duty rock band–think grunge meets psychedelic/space rock, will pummel the audience with its new CD, Welcome to Chicken Town. Click here for links to listen to this spectacularly messy, tripped-out album–which sounds like a solid 8-track casette (remember those?) for time tripping to the Seventies.
The title track is a 6-minute guitar rant; picture Jimi rolling out of bed, sipping a cup of coffee and firing up…
Speaking of psychedelics, Bummer Girl shows its range with the next song on the album, Lil Taki Takes Acid (And Becomes One With The Lizards). It's quite a bit more light-hearted than the dense title track–and about a third as long.
BG continues on the mind-altering groove on the recording’s third track, CustomGrow420. That one and Zoltar clock in right around 2 minutes, with Fever, Chicken Legs and Toe all shorter than 3 minutes. These, and some of the other short-ish songs, have a punk-rock-party feel.
Fever, in particular, should have the crowd at the Rebel Lounge dancing wildly (if not outright slamming).
Later in the album, Bummer Girl returns to epic, freak-out jams with the appropriately named Jam–4-and-a-half minutes of crunchy guitar loops and buzz-fueling bat turns– and another 6-minute epic, Beggars.
This one gave me a flashback to Woodstock…even though I wasn’t there.
Fast forward from the mud of the Sixties to mid-Eighties sludge with the Bummer Girl song P220: pummeling, fuzzy grunge, Melvins style.
Slower and almost morose, Song For the Birds might be my favorite song on the album.
Gnarly and adrenaline-packed, Welcome to Chicken Town is like chugging a quart of espresso, then dumpster-diving behind Desert Donuts (if you haven’t been, start with the Chocolate Coma–or, if you’re a full-on carnivore, the Bacon Blast).
BCSC
Well, it’s about time!
This site’s “new favorite band” Black Caesar Soul Club (click here to read the HARK Valley profile), finally is playing live.
From the previous HV story, published May 4:
Rock n Rolla is straight ahead, hammer-drum, tuned-down rock jam. This one will have crowds dancing at shows, no doubt.
Stroll sounds like an undiscovered Hendrix cut.
The main question: When do we get to hear these killer songs live?
And now, the answer: The funky rock band cranks up songs from its new EP Propers at the Trunk Space Saturday, May 28. The powerhouse bill includes Goodbye Ranger, Fauna Flora and Greywoods.
Open mic
The second annual Her Voice Open Mic–”a platform for women expressionism, there will be vendors, food and music”--gets going at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Spaces of Opportunity Garden, 1200 West Vineyard Road, Phoenix, AZ 85041.
Beer n comedy
What, besides weed (as seen in this HV story), could possibly go with comedy better than beer?
Realizing a golden opportunity, Reid Clark Comedy is putting on a comedy show at the Phoenix Beer Co. Brewery and Taproom.
Click here for tickets.
Big Pete's got the blues
Even if you’re feeling happy–especially if you’re feelin’ good, it never hurts to get the blues, so check out Big Pete Pearson, aka “King of the Blues,” Saturday, May 28, at Westside Blues and Jazz.
Well into his eighth decade on Earth, this man is legit:
“Born in Kingston, Jamaica on October 4, 1936, Big Pete Pearson landed in Phoenix, Arizona in the 1950s by way of Austin, Texas. He was raised by his grandparents in St. John’s Baptist community just outside Austin. His grandfather was a minister and his grandmother was a missionary. Big Pete was only 9 years of age when he gave his first performance at a local bar. He was a regular at juke joints such as the Victory Grill, Charlie’s Playhouse, Big Mary’s Bar & Grille, Ernie’s Chicken Shack and Sam’s Showcase…”
Powerful poetry
Writing is one of the best ways to process trauma.
And so…Poetry from Survivors.
According to organizers of the event, which takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday at The Infinite Temple by Luminis Creative Club, 3335 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016:
“Poetry is a utility to help us describe our emotions. One of which - the feelings that hold trauma and pain.
“This event is to support all victims and survivors who hold this cancer to their hearts.”
Sun cult
While many around America will be celebrating Memorial Day with “Buds and buds and buds” (beer, weed and friends), a non-alcohol, consciousness-raising event enlivens souls Saturday night at Meraki AZ Kava Bar, 1601 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85022.
With summer just around the corner, the kava joint preps with a “collaborative effort inspired by the ancient and sacred practice of sun worship. In this context, the sun invokes an awakening of sorts, representing an activated state of being.”
For visual stimulation, textiles, embroidery and prints from Illuminate will be on display.
Meanwhile, ears will be cajoled by Nutter Tut, YUS, Clyde and AHRS.
Just like the sun, this event is FREE.