Back in the summer of 2011, percussionist Ryan Pate, former drummer for the alt/progressive rock act Good News, had teamed up with guitarist Tanner North on a new musical endeavor. They spent the second half of the year writing new material and performing at various open mic nights in and around Kalamazoo. As the year drew to a close, the two recruited bassist Judson Curtis (Of Gods and Wolves) to complete what is now the instrumental trio Lost in Translation.
St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday this year, meaning you really have no excuse to not go out and drink copious amounts of green beer and take in some live music. If you're looking for a night that will have you drinking Bushmills and singing along, I have taken the liberty of rounding out the must see shows for this 17th of March.
There is something to be said about a band that is comfortable in it’s own skin; a band who seems to content to occupy the fringes and wears its awkwardness proudly. The Kzoo rock quartet Stikyfüt could be described as such, drawing maniacally from disparate, seemingly conflicting influences and throwing them with great irreverence into a smoldering cauldron of prog. However, let it not be said they did it without an ounce of self-awareness and tongue squarely in cheek. They’re a cheeky bunch, announcing with the title of their new EP that “Labels are For Soup Cans,” warning the listener that they intend to buck all attempts at classification. And, with the gauntlet thrown by the title, they set out to do just that with their epic, cascading, 7-minute opening track “Nectar.”
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