Last April, The Pitch issued their long-awaited debut album The Anger Swallow and abruptly imploded. The band is back together for two shows, the first of which was The Local Cookout 2005 last Saturday at The Canopy Club. “Just look around you and grab the nearest object” is how frontman Ryan Lee explained the band’s backdrop, an array of eye-catching flags from Medieval Times of South Carolina. It exemplified a more relaxed attitude than in the past, which gave way to glorious free expression by the quintet.
Making use of the whole stage like whirling dervishes, The Pitch seared through a new instrumental, “Build,” and continued straight into “A Match in My Hand” before pausing for breath and a slow-burner sing-along, “Springtime.” The pseudo-psychedelic guitar and violin-fueled rock emanated unpretentious grandeur, and the strain to overcome an obviously sore throat only made it more compelling. Next week, Sound Ground will look at The Back of My Burning Hand, the surprise follow-up to The Anger Swallow, due in town tomorrow for official release April 30.
Rock sextet The Ending (ex-THC Squared) has a release show for its self-titled EP April 29 at Cowboy Monkey. Also on the bill are i:scintilla, Troubled Hubble and Nadafinga. Show time is 7:30 p.m., and cover is $5. The Ending also appears Saturday at The Canopy Club with Sincerely Calvin, Bullet Called Life, elsinore and The Lifeline for Green St. Records Playlisted Album Release Night I. Show time is 9, and cover is $5.
i:scintilla has two recent releases of their own, in limited numbers. First is the Capsella [Toxin Mix] Music Video DVD, available at C.V. Lloyde Music Center and at shows. This is the video by director Chris Folkens in conjunction with his government thriller Toxin. Second is a live album from the March 14 episode of WEFT Sessions. It spans 56 minutes and includes seven songs (three acoustic, four electric) plus interview segments, still shots and live video from the performance. The David Bowie tribute album announced here in January, for which i:scintilla recorded a cover of “Starman,” has been cancelled. i:scintilla next plays Sunday at The Highdive with Triple Whip, The Elanors, Ambitious Pie Party, Missing the Point, Agent Mos and Black Tie Elephant for Green St. Records Playlisted Album Release Night II. Show time is 7:30 p.m., and cover is $5.
The premiere of the full film Toxin is Friday night at the University of Illinois, Armory 101. The main showing is at 7, with repeat showings at 8 and 9; admission is free. More information is available at dualfilms.com/toxin.
Tonight, Aroma Acoustic Music Series presents Americana singer Mark Clark and folk singer Jim Rowland. Show time is 8, and admission is free. At 10, Mike ‘n Molly’s displays the new Colonel Rhodes lineup with David Gerkin, plus Minneapolis drum-and-bass duo V9R9D and Gainesville popsmith Emperor X. Cover is $4. Tomorrow, minstrel Greg Klyma and WEFT-Buzz Best Male Artist 2005 Brandon T. Washington play at The Iron Post at 9. At 9:30, Nargile celebrates one hundred years of the Illinois Disciples Foundation at a Peace with Justice Benefit featuring jigGsaw, The Weakdaze, The Frame and Decals. Cover is $5. And at 10, Mike ‘n Molly’s showcases Chicagoans The Lesser Birds of Paradise with locals The Invisible and Shipwreck. Cover is $3.
Saturday, Pulsar47 (ex-At Knifepoint) plays its inaugural gig with The Weakdaze and FCAB at McKinley Foundation in Champaign. Show time is 8 p.m., and cover is $5. Also at 8, Corkscrew After Dark hosts Nashville singer-songwriter Jill Sissel with Joni Laurence. Both these shows are all-ages and non-smoking. At 9:30, Embassy Tavern in Urbana offers a free show by Larry Gates of Lorenzo Goetz. Also at 9:30, Cowboy Monkey presents Candy Foster and Shades of Blue; cover is $4.
Sunday night, The Canopy Club spotlights unlikely rappers MC Chris of Adult Swim and The Former Fat Boys, better known as WPGU DJ Shampooh. Show time is 10, and cover is $10. Tuesday night, it houses a rock show and date auction for the University of Illinois varsity men’s glee club. On the bill are Wasteoid Workforce, Doxy, Green Light Go and Vishnu Blue. Admission is $7 ($5 in advance).
