Crib Notes

On Mon., May 11 K Records co-founder, former Beat Happening frontman Calvin Johnson plays a free solo acoustic in-store performance at Vacation Gallery.

The show doubles as an art opening for two local artists, Jen Kordner and Allen Taylor.

Calvin Johnson is also in town on Monday to play a show at the Drunken Unicorn with his latest group, the Hive Dwellers who are touring with Ian Svenonious’ latest project Chain & the Gang. Pine Hill Haints and the Coathangers also perform.

Ian Svenonius has the uncanny ability to reinvent himself with each new incarnation, while maintaining the provocative lisp and satire that has defined him since his days with Nation of Ulysses. Down with Liberty… finds the D.C. humorist/antagonist exploring muffled and slow punk/soul grooves that evoke genius in subversive ways. The album’s opening line, “I see progress in paint peeling…” sets the tone for a poetic poke at post-George W. Bush frustrations. Like modern slave songs, “Reparations,” “What Is a Dollar” and “Deathbed Confession” embrace paranoia and blue-collar burdens with a literal read of Fox News’ vision of freedom and all of the absurdity it has wrought.

Chain & the Gang, the Hive Dwellers, Pine Hall Haints and the Coathangers play the Drunken Unicorn on Mon., May 11. 8 p.m. $8-$10.

(Photo by Hilary Harris)

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If you’re too cheap to fork over $12 to see King Khan & the Shrines play at the Masquerqade on Tues., March 10, or if you just want to see him play for free, head to Vacation tonight around 7 p.m. That’s when Khan & Co. are supposed to start.

However, rumor has it that Vacation has no power today, so who knows if they’ll move it somewhere else. Probably worth stopping by nonetheless. Khan seems to be at his best when dealing with the elements of chaos that seem to follow him.

Vacation Gallery & Boutique. 674 Highland Ave. 404-875-4413.

(Photo by Natasha Papadopoulou)

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Balkans played a 7-inch release party on Sunday night (Feb. 22) at Vacation Gallery & Boutique in the Virginia Highlands, and there was one small problem: there weren’t any 7-inches to be found. The label didn’t get them from the pressing plant in time for the show, which has been an increasingly common problem as of late. Rumor has it that all of the pressing plants around the country are experiencing a huge demand for vinyl right now. As a result it’s taking longer and longer to get records.

The group played anyway, and they wore an awful lot of denim when they did (see above). There were about 25 people in attendance for the 20+ minute set. Balkans craft a jittery and fast-paced punk/surf/fuzzed-out pop grind that teems with energy while they perform.

Guitarist/bass player Brett Miller played with a broken hand, and when he dropped his pick toward the end of the show he just played the string with his fingers. A fine, red spackling, a few smears and a couple of bloody finger prints marred the otherwise colorless face of his guitar by the time he was done.

It’s a sure sign of dedication when a band literally sheds their own blood to keep a show moving along, and all of the pain and frenetic energy the group displayed paid off.

Double Phantom Records hope to have the 7-inches for sale sometime this week, and most definitely by the time they open for King Khan and the Shrines at the Masquerade on Tues., March 10.

(Photo by Chad Radford)

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The work, of Montreal visual artist Luc Paradis, is up on the walls at Vacation Gallery & Boutique as of today (Thursday October 30th).

The opening begins at 7 p.m. A new incarnation of local band the Gaye Blades, dubbed Blade2, which features the band’s normal line-up + Gentelman Jesse Smith playing guitar.

Vacation is located at 674a North Highland Ave. (404-875-4413).

Photo courtesy of Vacation Gallery & Boutique

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