Cloud Nothings
Don't miss an opportunity to see Cleveland's very own indie talent, the Cloud Nothings on Saturday, April 17. The date is also internationally celebrated as Record Store Day, and you can observe the festivities in North Collinwood's Waterloo Arts District at Music Saves and Blue Arrow Records. There are going to be special releases, sales, giveaways, and free live performances, to boot. Cloud Nothings, who have been piquing the interest of and delighting even the most skeptic connoisseurs of the indie genre, deliver lo-fi, pop friendly, fuzz-filled hooks guided by a youthful exuberance. The band is led by Dylan Baldi and Adam Upp, and their 2010 debut eight-song LP Turning On is generating serious buzz. You will undoubtedly feel the electricity pulsing from this cloud. Other notable local acts performing on Record Store Day include The Lighthouse and the Whaler, Prisoners, The Muttering Retreats and Tasty Cakes.
Cloud Nothings - "Little Raygun"
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The Styrenes
When it comes to Cleveland's punk rock history, there are many bands that spring to mind. A select few rise to the top of that list, namely The Dead Boys, Pere Ubu and Rocket From The Tombs. If you are like me and missed out on Northeast Ohio's punk heyday of the late-70s, then the opportunity to see two of Cleveland's finest punk progenitors is something you don't want to miss. This is most definitely the case when The Styrenes headline The Beachland Ballroom on Sunday, April 25, with Home and Garden providing more than ample support. For the uninformed, the Styrenes were one of the first proto punk bands on the scene back in the 70s, having members of just about every Cleveland punk band in their membership including the Electric Eels, Pere Ubu and The Pagans. Described as Syd Barret fronting Pavement, it is quite clear that no band today is imitating the Styrenes unabashedly raw sound, which seems to break rules on every song. Not only is this one hell of a blast from the past, but it also serves to recognize the band's 35th anniversary.
Generationals
Bands from Louisiana inevitably conjure up images of Spanish moss, weeping willows, zydeco music and Mardi Gras. The Generationals have the best of these elements buried within their lush compositions, which channel the classic 60s pop stylings of Phil Spector and his famous wall of sound. The blend of soul and pop, complete with organ, ample handclaps and plenty of easy strumming, is the breezy, unpretentious soundtrack that will be the perfect accompaniment as we transition from Spring to (a real) Summer this year. Although not the headliner, it is a real treat to have The Generationals grace Cleveland with their presence. The group opens for one of the best bands in the Elephant 6 Collective, Apples in Stereo, at The Grog Shop on Tuesday, April 27.
