PRESALE TICKETS

“Tha Retail Simps are dead. Theee Retail Simps are no more. We now welcome the era of Thine Retail Simps, whose excellent “debut album” Strike Gold, Strike Back, Strike Out arrives October 4 on Total Punk. The ever-changing definite article is obviously a prank. In its way, the Montreal band’s entire name is a prank. “As you’ve probably thought on your own terms, it’s kind of a stupid name in the first place,” says Joe C., who is speaking during a lull at his day job working for a Canadian indie label. “I always like starting new bands, so maybe it's just a way of keeping it fun—to make ourselves laugh.”

Joe insists that Retail Simps weren’t a “real band” to begin with—a recording project that has grown into something gradually more legitimate (despite the seeming lack of reverence the band holds for anything resembling legitimacy). In 2020 during lockdown, Joe had recently landed back in his hometown of Montreal. He recorded a 12” under the name Itchy Self with rock’n’roll journeyman Chris Burns (whose own album came out this year on Joe’s label Celluloid Lunch). Within a couple years, he had more songs; Total Punk picked them up and released the phenomenal first Simps album Reverberant Scratch.

Simps is a band that occupies a space of its own in the 2020s with their ramshackle, rollicking, and oddly rapturous garage rock jams. They make songs that wouldn’t feel out of place on a playlist of tracks from the ’60s. It’s basement party music for crate digging rock’n’roll heads. Strike Gold, Strike Back, Strike Out is the best Simps album so far, which is pretty wild considering what they’ve done to date. It’s a truly collaborative effort with everybody switching up instruments from track to track.” –see-saw.fun

Tyvek (/ˈtaɪ.vɛk/) is a brand of synthetic flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers. The name Tyvek is a registered trademark of the American multinational chemical company DuPont, which discovered and commercialized Tyvek in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

“Despite their diehard DIY ethos, with hand-drawn flyers and unassuming press photos, Tyvek has achieved some solid recognition over the years. Pitchfork has reviewed their records a total of five times, and none have received lower than a 7.6, for whatever that is worth. Fellow hometown hero Joe Casey of Detroit post-punk outfit Protomartyr has this to say about Tyvek’s approach: “You write about where you’re from because it’s what you know but you need to avoid being super blatant about it because you want it to have a universality to it.” That seems to make sense to me, and might explain the appeal of a band that cares so little about being “cool” that they tear a hole in the coolness continuum (they will probably cringe when they read this) and end up becoming beacons of refreshing light in the drudgery of “the music scene.”

It doesn’t hurt when the lineup is stacked, either: the current roster features founder and sole Tyvek constant Kevin Boyer supplying guitar, vocals, and lyrics; Shelley Salant (Shells, XV) with circuitous leads and scratchy chords on second guitar; Fred Thomas (Idle Ray, Winged Wheel) on drums; Alex Glendenning (Deadbeat Beat) on bass; and Emily Roll (XV) on saxophone.” –metrotimes

“The Olympia, Washington-based indie-rock institution K Records is a fitting home for Feeling Figures. Upon moving to Montreal, Slax met drummer Thomas Molander in a French language class and recruited bassist Joe Chamandy (Theee Retail Simps, Celluloid Lunch Records) to firm up the rhythm section. After scrapping the album’s initial sessions, Feeling Figures decamped to their rehearsal space and recorded Migration Magic live in one go. Revisiting older tunes from their Dead Beat Poet Society days and tossing in two covers, the group pulled together a slap-happy album that’s more about feeling the spirit than stressing over perfection.” –pitchfork

Tin Foil is a very good band.

“There’s a sense of healing in loud, distorted music. Like jumping into a freezing lake, many of us leave a rock show feeling the best kind of overwhelmed. And that’s exactly the type of cure that Detroit band Elspeth Tremblay & The Treatment hope to offer to the world. 

For Elspeth Tremblay, the road to being the songwriter of a rock-and-roll band has been both long and winding. After moving to the US from Australia 17 years ago, Tremblay spent time in a number of cities learning to be an artist. She’s a chef, portrait artist, and songwriter – and all those talents blend into her work with her newest band, The Treatment. Now settled in Detroit, she’s joined forces with Ray Slagle (bass), Joe Condon (drums), and Ryan Dougherty (guitar) to form an unorthodox rock and roll ensemble. “

Rob Zinck & the Collaborators

The Bores

“Sons of Arrakis (SOA) is a Montreal-based band that emerged in June 2019, drawing inspiration from Frank Herbert's Dune novels. Their unique sound, which they describe as Melange Rock and Cinematographic Sci-Fi Rock, has garnered attention and established them as a notable presence in the music scene.

The band's debut album, Volume I, released on July 15th, 2022, made a significant impact, quickly climbing to the number 1 spot on the Doom Chart in July 2022. This achievement solidified their status as a formidable force in their genre. Ending the year on a high note, Sons of Arrakis secured the number 8 position in the Doom Chart's year-end recap for 2022, further cementing their standing.

In January 2023, the band embarked on the Interprovincial Wormhole Tour, captivating audiences throughout Ontario with their electrifying live performances. Expanding their reach, Sons of Arrakis ventured to Quebec in March 2023, for the second leg of the tour, leaving a lasting impression on audiences with their captivating stage presence. Continuing to prioritize their connection with fans, Sons of Arrakis returned to Quebec in June 2023 for Orbiting the Void Tour, showcasing their dynamic energy and unwavering passion.”

Suede Brain are a 3 piece heavy boogie explosion.

Angels of Mars: “"If you are familiar with subgenres like doom, stoner, sludge - it’s definitely that. The grooves are solid - the layers make it really shine." –galacticdust.com

CLEEN

––With a single EP as an a cappella screamer-crooner to his name, Ed Schrader brought on bassist Devlin Rice to form the two-piece Ed Schrader’s Music Beat after the two met on the legendary 2008 Baltimore Round Robin tour. Rice’s presence instantly brought aesthetic focus to Schrader’s disparate musical tendencies. The primal screams were made driving and heavy and the visionary chants became post-new wave mood pieces. The evolution is unmissable on their first two records as a duo, Jazz Mind (2012) and Party Jail (2014).

On the Dan Deacon-produced Riddles (2018), the band exploded their sonic palette with the addition of synthesizers, player piano and a dedicated percussionist bringing to life a tracklist produced and co-written by Dan Deacon. Upon its release, the record garnered widespread acclaim. NPR called it an “odd and captivating piece of work.” Pitchfork called it “a defining point in their career.” Rolling Stone praised it as “a noise-punk album that bursts with psychedelic twists.” SPIN called it “a memorable and eclectic record ... one that can bleed and weep and still make you want to get up and scream.”––

Time Creep is back!

“Selma Oxor was formed in 2007 with Alexico and Violeta Hinojosa… by 2012 the trio separated to focus on other projects and that is when Oxor became a solo project. She has been called "Mexico’s New Queen of Electro Trash Goth" by Remezcla Musica, comparing the former member of Bam Bam to Grimes or Dani Shivers…MTV Iggy called her music "deliciously dark and vampish" and noted the change in aesthetic, adding "Leticia’s dark and sultry moans of not giving a fuck opened the pathway to more fans, as she paraded herself as the trick you won’t ever forget." –wikipedia

“In a move similar to acts like INSANE URGE or the SCHIZOS, Detroit’s FEN FEN have decided to scrub most of the garage punk gunk out of their sound, opting instead to play their hardcore straight. And it was absolutely the right move—this record rips! They’re not doing anything here that you haven’t heard before; this is essentially Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables/Adolescents/Wild in the Streets worship with some beefier guitar timbres, but it’s extremely well-played and the production is just so crisp and immediate. I think what really sells this one for me is the vocal performance. My dude’s really going for it! It ends up sounding like Jello Biafra dialed back to non-cartoony levels mixed with—and I’m sure I’m going to lose everybody on this point of comparison—NAPOLEON XIV (the teetering-on-the-brink-ness of it all and the quickening cadence really gives me “They’re Coming to Take Me Away” vibes). I love it. Also, as residents of the Motor City, they’re apparently required to NUGE it up every so often—listen out for the excellently out-of-character hard rock guitar solo that wraps up “Nothing to Say.” My one complaint is that this LP has about five more songs on it than I (and I imagine most punks in the 2020s) have the attention span for. But otherwise, yeah, killer shit!” –maximum rock and roll

“Fan Club seems to be an aesthetic recalibration by the Seattle-based folks who have spent the better part of a decade making snotty hardcore under the unlikely name Lysol. Same folks, new sound. Listeners of that former band will already have heard some hints of more rawkin’ tendencies in their most recent output; check out “Sick as a Dog” from Lysol’s Soup for My Family (2021) or “Grease Paint” from the excellent Down the Street cassette (2023). Fan Club gathers up those retrograde and recalcitrant notions, coats them in Aqua Net and several layers of eyeliner — and whammo! There you have it: five tunes and seven minutes of glammy punk, a lot more Mott the Hoople than Minor Threat. And that’s a good thing.” –dusted magazine

Easers

Darkeater

Snugglebunzzz

Fenrot

Archimime

A project driven as much by hardcore music as by the activism of its members, Deli Girls consists of Danny Orlowski in collaboration with various producers. Recognized for nearly a decade on the New York DIY scene for their queer freak and anti-establishment values, Deli Girls make sense of this chaotic world by combining Orlowski's intense screams and distorted vocals with elements of digital hardcore, punk-noise, rap, and nu-metal.

LEYA, the avant-pop duo of harpist Marilu Donovan and vocalist/violinist Adam Markiewicz, have defied expectations throughout their career, obtaining a singular, legendary status for their unmistakably beautiful and disturbing work. Through two studio albums, two EPs, a mixtape, a porn, and a flurry of collaborations, they have traced almost every genre of contemporary music. The duo’s long list of cohorts includes Eartheater, Actress, Ecco2K, Brooke Candy (via PornHub), Sega Bodega, Varg2TM, claire rousay, Okay Kaya, Chanel Beads, and many more.

Few artists celebrate Detroit’s musical legacy and ineffable influence on contemporary music like the producer and DJ known as2Lanes. A consistent presence in the city’s  electronic music community, 2Lanes has worked as much behind the scenes as behind the decks, collaborating with a diverse set of local artists on everything from production to promoting shows, and of course, screenprinting his infamous ‘hardgroove revival’ tees. Since firmly planting roots in Detroit a decade ago, 2Lanes has been dedicated to lifting the city’s global electronic music presence, spotlighting its unsung techno heroes and visionary young creatives.

“Formed in 2000, when Doomy G. Blackthrash met Vic. Mike joined in 2002. After a 14-year run with that line-up, their only personnel change took place when Sean joined as the new drummer. Sauron are heavily influenced by German thrash bands. In the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Sauron was Morgoth's abominable lieutenant during the First Age. He was also the creator of the Rings of Power and the Dark Lord of Mordor, whom the Fellowship of the Ring sought to defeat.” –Encyclopedia Metallum

Ripped from the bowels of Hell!!! MRSA take you into the sickening dark world of horror films. Exposing you to the terrors that lie within the human condition. They know what scares you. Curated by your host (singer) Dean Corpse. The wretched undead serial killer vomiting his obsession with fright flicks. 
 MRSA brings the horror experience to life. Death Metal has never had a full horror theatrical experience like this! Each song is performed to the particular theme of a selection of films. The performances sometimes include scare actors, full effects and props.

Wastelander

“Experiencing this album, as a first time listener of Nuclear Tomb, is pretty jarring, since the band aren’t going for the conventional thrash/death metal attack to see you pinned to the wall; rather, Nuclear Tomb opt for a more cerebral, Voivod-inspired sound where their guitar tone makes it abundantly apparent this is not your typical old school sounding thrash attempt. While the band do play fast, they don’t seem to get so completely carried away in their tempo that they forget they’re here to engage and entertain you, and seeing how Nuclear Tomb write some pretty weird riffs, it’s good to see they’ve got their eyes focused on the important things. The guitar work always feels like it’s forever scraping the very edge of sanity and, at any moment, the band could break out into riff-induced insanity which they seem to be perfectly adept at portraying herein. Their soundscape doesn’t feel boisterous as much as it does piercing; Nuclear Tomb immediately pull you in by the sheer malignancy their sound induces and, out of brazen curiosity, you can’t help but be lulled further into their record.” –the razors edge

“The Namby Pamby is composed of sisters McKenna and Emily Parks and their longtime friend Payton Knerr. All coming from musical backgrounds, quality time and a passion for their craft ultimately brought the Fort Wayne-based trio together late 2021 before coming to life in their January 2022 live debut.

The sound of this feminine folk phenomenon is emotionally driven, and often defined by nuanced vocals, experimental chords, and jazz-like drumming that orbits arresting lyrics. A shared small town Indiana charm channels into each nearly tangible story, unionizing their individual musicianship and permitting a continuous expansion on their inimitable style.”

Local mid-fi musician Conor Lynch (with full band): “putting this album on is like finding the perfect shady spot under a tree and realizing you don’t have to get up and leave for the rest of the day, if you don’t want to. it’s all in your hands. you can sit and wave as everything passes by. Favorite track: Cockaigne.” –LB

“Chloe Drallos has been making music as Zilched since the summer of 2017, and at only 23, has been established as a scion of the underground.

“Initially inspired by the likes of The Jesus and Mary Chain, Hole and The Cure, her debut EP Pulling Teeth was released in 2018 and provided the first glimpse of Zilched’s dizzying, wildly unpredictable noise-pop. A sound that was only amplified and solidified in 2020’s debut LP DOOMPOP. Released on Detroit label Young Heavy Souls, DOOMPOP was met with positive reviews and exposed Drallos’ sound to a national audience.

Her new record Earthly Delights is a testament to the maturation of Drallos’ uncompromising creative vision. Rounding out this goth pop slanted alt-rock with elements of grunge, Earthly Delights is a dazzling display of poetic lyricism as Zilched weaves an intricate tapestry of romantic imagery, metaphor, and religious allegory that softens the blow of her sometimes brutal honesty. Poised between the lure of destruction and the promise of catharsis, the album explores the purgatorial nature of bargaining with love and with oneself.


At its heart, Drallos’ music is an explosive, ethereal Lynchian dream sequence that embodies the notorious ethos of her home in Detroit.” –zilchedmusic.com

Immaculate Conception are a heavy band on Hardcore Psychedelia Records featuring members of other local favs Cloud Rat, Jail, and Wild Shape to name a few.

Womb Worm worm womb worm worm skronk skronk worm wonk post wonk shrink wave no wave worm wave wave womb post womb worm worm.

Frente Norte: “If you were to pick up this record on cover art alone you’d assume that it was some kind of metal band and, well…you’d be wrong. Like way off. There’s a lot to unpack here. The vocals are gruff, but musically, this is kinda poppy but very simple-sounding; I don’t mean that in a disparaging way. It’s kind of all over the place musically and the vocals shouldn’t work with what’s going on here, but for some reason they do, and they are the biggest reason that I like this. The lyrics are sung in Spanish, which I think adds to the charm here. If they were sung in English, I think it would lose something. I think this record will be seeing a lot of time on the turntable around here.” –maximum rock and roll

The Temple Greys

The story of The Peawees begins in La Spezia, Italy, back in 1995, when three teenager join forces and release a debut album clearly based in punk rock. From that point the band has toured the USA, UK and Europe releasing records on various labels all over the world. The Peawees are today recognized as one of the strongest bands on the european rock ‘n’ roll scene

No job is too big, no job is too small, he is neither a father nor a son. Call Craig Brown Band and they will get the job done. Rolling Stone says Craig Brown Band is “dive bar-ready insurgent country and ragged, punk-fueled folk-rock with witty lyrical musings about the mundane.”

Jeremy Porter and The Tucos are a rock and roll band from Detroit, Michigan. They sound like guitars and whiskey, hooks and heartache, energy and passion. You'll find everything from Cheap Trick to Gram Parsons, Hüsker Dü to Uncle Tupelo, Merle Haggard to AC/DC on their turntables. The racket they make is a little bit of each. It's Detroit rock and roll, even if Detroit isn't quite ready for it.

Monthly horror schlock screenings from the incredible Slimeball Cinerama!

Carbon Decoy: would you believe these guys are acid-rock AND stoner-rock ?? Believe it.

––After forming in the outskirts of Pittsburgh during the summer of 2022, Sunny Daze & the Weathermen have been hard at worksculpting their distinctive "flower punk" style, combining elements of garage rock, neo-psychedelic, alternative, and post-punk. Eclectic, energetic, and hard to pin down, Sunny Daze & the Weathermen are a unique force rising powerfully out of the Pittsburgh scene.––

Velvet Snakes have a smooth and slithery sound

We take 60+ musicians from all over town, write their names on bingo balls, and put those in a big container of some kind. Then we blast em’ with a leaf blower or however a Powerball machine works… and wala! We have 15 brand new bands! (This part will be happening LIVE on-stage on Wednesday April 9)

The new bands have two weeks to learn 1 original and 1 cover, a band name, a schtick, costumes even?? Then perform in a marathon showcase on this night! Saturday April 26, 2025!

THE ROCK LOTTERY RETURNS after nearly 15 years!

Bimbo is an art-rock & post-punk duo est. in '24 by siblings Gretchen & Dawson. They released their first EP--Bimbology--in November of2024, with EP 2 slated to bereleased in spring 2025. They tour around frequently, but their home base is Marquette, Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior.

MRKT play drums and keyboards in a Robert Wyatt meets Keith Emmerson kinda slurry. It’s danceable and loud, even though they don’t use any vowels. It does make it knd hrd t undrstnd thm thgh

Time Creep is back again, again!

Sun Urchins bring their unique “Three-piece indie grunge” sound to us all the way from Rhode Island.

ZEM has a snotty, ramshackle, Raincoats-esque sound and a brand-new split album with Prude Boys

CALLING ALL SPUDS YOUR DEVOLVED PREGAME POSTGAME NO TICKET SOLACE HOLE FOR DEVOS FIRST RETURN TO DETROIT SINCE 1988. WE WILL HAVE DEVOLVED FILMS, DEVOLVED MUSIC, ALL NIGHT. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ENERGY DISSOLUTION, WEAR YOUR ENERGY DOME.