THE MAXINES + UFO + AUSTIN ROYALE + FEATURE PREACHER @ EL ROCKO
SAT FEB 24 | 9 PM
Punk and funk, hardcore and hip hop, rap and metal...despite optics or expectations, the commonalities of rebellion and bombast unite. This lineup is how it’s done. The Maxines are on a tear of late, rocking their hometown relentlessly with grungy, crunchy metal. Orlando’s Universal Funk Orchestra drops a heavy funk bomb on Savannah regularly, but not at an El Rocko banger like this. Durham-Brooklyn rapper Austin Royale (pictured) sounds nothing like most modern rap, the highest praise possible. Hints of Danny Brown and bits of J Dilla-deep sampling in one MC is hard to come by. Just as impressive are his forays into live band genre-blending that succeed and hit hard. Local rapper Basik Lee straps on the six-string with Feature Preacher, his rock/soul/funk fusion project. It's a stacked bill that exemplifies the spirit of Minor Threat-Trouble Funk concerts in DC 40 years ago.
THU FEB 22 | 8 PM
Get the weekend off to a loud, raucous and early start with a trio of volume-friendly bands none of us deserve on a Thursday night. Headliners Naw (pictured) is a noise rock band from Atlanta that laughs at subtlety and nuance, giving it to you good and hard, with Amanda Sherman’s strong vocals getting her point across consistently. Sharing the bill are two Savannah bands that take a different approach to hardcore punk. Protozoan is high-treble, 80s-style hardcore with breakdowns, mayhem, speed and a pile of earworm riffs. Think Stormtroopers of Death without the currently untenable commentary. Manarovs aren’t all that different, with traditional punk rock structures and short song durations. The sound is more Ramones, with a visceral middle and bass thud. The hammer blow that accompanies Protozoan’s slashing before Naw says naw to hearing right again. Your ears are in for it, pal.
FLAGMAN VS. FLUMMOX @ THE WORMHOLE
FRI FEB 23 | 9:30 PM
Two bands that deny conventional musical boundaries like King Diamond denies you-know-who, this one is billed as a Battle of the Weirdest. It would seem the odds-on favorite is Nashville’s Flummox (pictured). Styles they pursue include old-school thrash and death metal like Venom, replete with the sinister echo on everything. Naturally, they pair that with pretty acoustic music, bluesy rock passages, less extreme metal, and a healthy dose of rock musical theatrics. Often in the same song. They call it genre-fluid, but it might be musical schizophrenia. Regardless, they pull it off, which is the most confusing part. In the other corner is Orlando’s alternative metal trio Flagman. Points for self-awareness are scored with the self-deprecating website welcome: “a haven of ultimate pleasure and stupidity. Hot licks and spicy riffz abound.” They don’t hide their influences, and you won’t miss them. They name Primus, System of a Down and Mr. Bungle, but you might pick up some “Metal Circus”-era Husker Du and Big Black, which isn’t a bad thing. More defined than Flummox, they do get weird when all heroes collide at once, and things reach the mayhem level. Pre-fight smack-talk could be hype, but with such unpredictable artists in a competitive atmosphere, fisticuffs may break out. In that case, a five-on-three street fight, Flagman is screwed unless they really know how to throw hands.
THE INTRACOASTAL PLAYBOYS @ OVER YONDER
SAT FEB 24 | 3–6 PM
If you’re still not sold on Austin, TX-style matinee shows and day-drinking Lone Stars (combined, it’s well-known you love the latter), try to resist stone-cold addiction after this one. Hot on the heels of their triumphant opening set for Southern Culture on the Skids at the comparatively massive Victory North, Savannah’s own Wu-Tang Clan of old-school country will overwhelm the Over Yonder stage, spilling into the crowd like a Monotonix show. Rumors that Mr. Worley will have the drum kit set up on the bar are unconfirmed, but expect more physical intimacy, as Playboys are wont to be. Dressed to the nines and always prepared for a Laredo wedding, don’t let the rhinestones, sparkle or Ryan's antics distract you. There are more than two centuries of talent on stage at an Intracoastal Playboys show, and they play a bunch of songs better than anyone but the original.
TWO GUYS NAMED CHRIS COMEDY SHOW @ VICTORY NORTH
FRI FEB 23 | 7:30 PM
Popular radio show 2 Guys Named Chris bring their comedy extravaganza to Victory North. If you’re already a fan of the show, you’re set. You know what they think is funny, you also think it’s funny, so there’s a good chance the comics they think are funny will hit. Rob Little (pictured) is a stand-up veteran who also does travel shows and a slew of TV commercials. Mike Speenberg has performed for the US military overseas, with Bill Burr, and his online special racked up 10 million views. Landry, a Canadian, won the Boston Comedy Festival and the World Series of Comedy. He aims for mass appeal and gets it. All of these comics could headline Savannah, but they’re all at one show. Get your fill.
