Top Shows: The Band Perry, Infected Mushroom and White Lies
The Band Perry
Thursday at the Independence Events Center
The three members of the Band Perry look like Taylor Swift’s siblings and sound like a twang-happy version of Katy Perry. While the trio is one of the most prominent new ensembles in country music, the Band Perry possesses all of the characteristics of a giddy pop band. Sentimental hits like “If I Die Young” and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” have provided the soundtrack for the high school experiences of millions of young fans. Easton Corbin’s brand of country is considerably more conventional. Most of his hits could easily be mistaken for the work of George Strait. Lindsay Ell, a newcomer from Canada, opens the show.
Tickets are $25 and $39.75 in advance through ticketmaster.com.
Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink
Ultra Bidé
Thursday at the Replay
Friday at the Record Bar
Although its name evokes a luxurious plumbing product, Ultra Bidé is actually a Japanese punk band. While the objectives of its most prominent brethren in the Americans have evolved, Ultra Bidé maintains an undiluted punk ethos. The energetic trio is touring in support of “DNA vs DNA-C,” its latest release for Alternative Tentacles, the record label overseen by Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys. The raucous veterans are playing two shows in the area. The regional trash-rock band Drop a Grand open for Ultra Bidé at the Reply on Thursday and at the RecordBar on Friday. All Blood and Mace Batons also join the cacophonous party on Friday.
The cover charge for Thursday’s show at the Replay is $3. Tickets for Friday’s show are $8 in advance through therecordbar.com.
Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink
Nikki Hill
Thursday at Knuckleheads
The fact that original architects of rock’n’roll including Chuck Berry and Little Richard are still alive is astounding. Yet their contributions are too often neglected. North Carolina’s Nikki Hill is doing her part to revive classic songs like Berry’s “Sweet Little Rock ’N’ Roller” and Little Richard’s “Rip It Up.” She and her band interpret the vintage material with the reckless gusto of a punk band. That fervent approach makes the presence of the Blank Tapes on Thursday’s bill seem slightly less odd. The loopy ensemble from California is one of today’s most melodically gifted indie-rock bands.
Tickets are $10 in advance through knuckleheadshonkytonk.com.
Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink
Infected Mushroom
Friday at the Midland
There’s a fungus among us. Infected Mushroom has adopted the familiar rhyme as the title of its 2013-14 “Fungusamongus” tour. The psychedelic ensemble has seen numerous trends come and go in electronic dance music since its formation in Israel 18 years ago. By managing to incorporate the best elements of each new development, Infected Mushroom continues to flourish. Now based in Los Angeles, Infected Mushroom’s appearance Friday is billed as a “3D Visual Experience.” Butch Clancy, a beat-maker who refers to himself as “The Ghost of Detroit,” opens the show.
Tickets are $18 and $23 in advance through axs.com.
Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink
Reggie and the Full Effect
Saturday at the RecordBar
If James DeWees isn’t a true rock star, he’s certainly the next best thing. In addition to a former penchant for excess that has made him an apocryphal figure among tellers of tall tales, DeWees has played a key role in influential bands including Coalesce, the Get Up Kids and My Chemical Romance. The native of Liberty has done much of his best work as the mastermind of the pop-punk act Reggie and the Full Effect. The titles of albums including “Songs Not to Get Married To” and “No Country For Old Musicians” reflect DeWees’ bemused aesthetic. New Jersey’s Dads and Buffalo’s Pentimento open the show.
Tickets are $13 in advance through therecordbar.com.
Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink
Yuck
Saturday at Riot Room
Yuck’s moniker makes perfect sense. A gloriously disheveled mix of indie-rock giants of the 1990s like Dinosaur Jr., Pavement and the Smashing Pumpkins, Yuck’s music is messy. The London-based band’s sloppiness is adored by older fans nostalgic for Clinton-era college radio and by younger admirers who may be hearing the fuzzy guitar attack for the first time. Dead Girls also traffic in the sounds of an earlier era. The locally based band updates the vintage power-pop of decades past. The highly touted young Kansas City punk band Bummer opens the show.
Tickets are $12 in advance through theriotroom.com.
Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink
Houndmouth
Wednesday at the Bottleneck
Anyone who thinks that significant Indiana music natives are limited to the Jackson 5 and John Mellencamp hasn’t heard Houndmouth. The band from New Albany, a town on the Kentucky border, is one of today’s most vital purveyors of Americana. Houndmouth’s grand sound references both The Band and Uncle Tupelo. Opening act Willie Watson is a founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show. His status as a solo artist was given a boost by his feature in the recent concert film “Another Day, Another Time.” Established stars Gillian Welch and David Rawlings accompanied Watson on an exuberant reading of “Midnight Special.” His debut solo album will be issued this spring.
Tickets are $11 in advance through thebottlenecklive.com.
Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink
This story was originally published February 4, 2014 at 11:31 PM with the headline "Top Shows: The Band Perry, Infected Mushroom and White Lies."