No Age

Weirdo Rippers (Fat Cat)

L.A.’s experiencing a renaissance, and it’s hard to pinpoint just what the “sound” is. Acts like No Age exist as an example. Drummer Dean Spunt and guitarist Randy Randall, formerly of the Wives, take matrimony to the next level with Weirdo Rippers, 11 songs from five previous vinyl-only EPs on five different labels. Songs are brief but flow seamlessly, skate thrash (“Everybody’s Down”) into melodic distortion into fuzz pop, instruments cranked to the max on “Boy Void” and “Neck Escaper.” “My Life’s Alright Without You” sounds tailor-made for a 1960s girl group, except the guitar dirties it up; highlight “Dead Plane” lures you in until drums and guitar suddenly detonate. With No Age dropping its Sub Pop debut this year, it’s not hard to imagine them on the roster circa 1989. (Thursday, March 13, Habana Calle 6 Annex Backyard, 1am; Friday, March 14, Bourbon Rocks Patio, 12:30am.)

***

This article appears in March 14 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US