It’s been two years since Gossip Wolf mentioned an event by the Black and Brown Punk Show Collective, which advocates for POC in the DIY scene—but it would’ve been flat-out negligent to overlook this weekend’s two-day festival at ChiTown Futbol, entitled Or Does It Explode. The fest’s 21 acts include more than punk—Saturday’s bill features local rapper and self-described “gender abolitionist” Sol Patches, for instance. Both nights’ headliners are Chicago hardcore heroes: Los Crudos on Saturday and La Armada on Sunday. But you should show up early, and not just because it’s cheaper—some killer acts play each afternoon, among them Sol Patches and nervy postpunks Bruised (on Saturday) and posthardcore band Xille Xille Xille and gnarly crust punks Red Moon Rising (on Sunday). Suggested donation is $20 to $30 ($15 to $25 before 7 PM) or $30 for a two-day pass. A portion of the proceeds benefits radical black community organizers Assata’s Daughters and the Chicago BTGNC Collective (which stands for “black, trans, and gender-nonconforming”).
When guitarist Ryan Weinstein (the Cairo Gang, Coffin Pricks) decamped for Los Angeles in January, Gossip Wolf feared it was the end for Hydrofoil, his semi-improvised space/surf-rock trio with Doug McCombs (Tortoise, Eleventh Dream Day) and Bobby Burg (Love of Everything, Joan of Arc). But last week, the Mag Mag label (run by Miami band Jacuzzi Boys) dropped a green one-sided Hydrofoil flexi called “Skylawn Preservation Union,” and it’s a totally far-out, fuzzy jam! Weinstein says Hydrofoil is still afloat and hopes to keep playing shows.
This month Moniker Records dropped a new cassette EP from Lil Tits, and as usual for this local punk trio, The Usual bristles with ferocious sludge! On Saturday, August 26, the band celebrates with a set at Sarah Squirm’s monthly Helltrap Nightmare party at the Hideout. v
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