Late last month one of the hardest-working bands in town, La Armada, digitally released Anti-Colonial Vol. 1, their first new music in four years. The album blends crusty hardcore and monolithic metal with a whiff of the rhythms of the Dominican Republic—where La Armada formed in 2001 (they moved to Chicago in 2008). Front man Javier Fernandez sings about injustice and corruption in Spanish and English, and his furious but playfully elastic vocals make him sound like an heir to the throne Serj Tankian seems to have vacated. On Saturday, April 14, La Armada headline an all-ages record-release show at Cobra Lounge; Fister, Knaaves, and Bad Blood open. Anti-Colonial Vol. 1 will be available in stores Friday, April 20.
Every time Gossip Wolf checks out the northwest Indiana scene, there’s another awesome, trashy punk band to get excited about! Case in point: zonked-out Hammond trio the Fritz, aka bassist Dani Leopardo (Cyber Pink, Pentas), guitarist-vocalist Clay Fritz (Pukeoid), and drummer Joe Seger (Big Zit, Raw Nerve, CB Radio Gorgeous). They tear through ripping mashups of Damned-esque riffs so fast it’s amazing they don’t get motion sickness! After years of demos, last month the Fritz dropped a self-titled debut LP on UK label Drunken Sailor, and it’s packed with burnout leather-jacket jams. On Friday, April 13, the Fritz play a release party to benefit local folks being harmed by SESTA/FOSTA, laws that aim to fight sex trafficking but mostly make life harder and more dangerous for sex workers; also on the bill are Dagger, Accela, and Deodorant. The show is at a DIY space, so e-mail dan.leopardo@gmail.com for details.
On Saturday, April 14, the 16th annual CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights takes over the Plumbers Hall at 1340 W. Washington. Expect lots of vinyl dealers with primo wares, plus tables from local labels such as Bernice, Patient Sounds, Maximum Pelt, Already Dead, and Hausu Mountain! v
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