Turn it Down: A survey of Lansing’s musical landscape

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Army of God plays ‘Uncommon Ground’ at B414

Basement 414 kicks off the weekend with Uncommon Ground — a night of local musicians playing drastically different genres of music. The show is free and all-ages.

Army of God, a punk band who originally formed in Lansing back in 1984 — right after Reagan was re-elected — will play a set of politically charged tunes. The band broke up in 1987, but is once again playing shows and writing new material.

Also set to perform is Kessenchu, an electronic one-man band fronted by Caleb Shkinwe McPherson. He plays a mixture of techno, noise and speedcore. Headlining the night is Charlatan, who plays original, polished modern rock-style tunes. Comrade will also perform.

Friday, July 8 @ Basement 414, 414 E. Michigan Ave. (behind the Nuthouse Sports Grill on the Jay Street alley), FREE, all ages, 8 p.m

GTG hosts ‘Festivus’ for the rest of us

Local indie label Good Time Gang Records has been keeping busy with some recent vinyl and CD releases, as well as planning GTG Festivus: Part 1 , an outdoor (alleyway) cookout and free rock show inside Basement 414. Local/ Michigan bands set to play (in no particular order) include The Lightning Bugs, The Plurals, The Guest Stars, Sterratic, The Hunky New-Comers, mc NQD, Little American Champ and Drinking Mercury. Also performing will be Trenton, N.J. bands Local Demise, Idiot Boy and mc Raymond Strife.

For those wanting to grab a bite to eat, food will be served between 3 and 4 p.m., with all proceeds going to the touring bands (no alcohol is allowed). The live music starts after the cookout, at approximately 5 p.m. Aside from music and food, new art is on display at B414. Venue information for GTG Festivus parts two and three (set for July 15 and July 30) will be posted at www.facebook.com/thegtg.

Saturday, July 9 @ Basement 414, 414 E. Michigan Ave., show is FREE, food is not, all ages, 3 p.m

Austin rockers start Anew Revolution

Anew Revolution (ANR for short) is a hard-rockin’ band from Austin, founded by former Ünloco vocalist/guitarist Joey Duenas, along with ex-Slaves on Dope members Frank “Frankie” Salvaggio (bass/backing vocals) and Rob Urbani (drums). The three-piece, which plays Uli’s Haus of Rock on Saturday, refined its sound on a couple of independently released EPs, “Revolution” (2005) and “Live at the Machine Shop” (2007). Shortly afterward, the band scored a deal with Koch/E1 Records, and enlisted lead guitarist Shaun Stockton for the band’s debut full-length, “Rise” (2008). ANR has also toured with similar bands like Drowning Pool, Nonpoint, Kittie, 12 Stones and Otep. It released its sophomore album, “iMerica,” in April 2010.

Opening the show are Hollow Drive, From Blue to Gray, 6 Prong Paw and Bloodletting

Saturday, July 9 @ Uli’s Haus of Rock, 4519 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing. $8 advance, $12 at door, 18 and over, 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Lansing blues veterans get down at LeRoy’s

LeRoy’s Classic Bar & Grill has become a local go-to spot for live blues and jazz, hosting live shows nearly every weekend. On Saturday, it hosts the Automatic Blues Band, an uptempo Lansing combo that formed in 1998 and first made its mark playing high-energy shows at the now-defunct Jambalaya’s restaurant. The band plays danceable tunes, heavy on harmonica and guitar. The outfit features Mike Somers (guitar), Gary Day (harp) and Eric Hamilton (bass).

Saturday, July 9 @ LeRoy’s Classic Bar & Grill, 1526 S. Cedar St., Lansing, 21 and over, $5, 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Nachtmystium brings psych-metal sounds to Mac’s

The Chicago-based psychedelic metal band Nachtmystium, founded by Blake Judd (guitar/vocals), has toured the world and received praise from the likes of Pitchfork Media and MTV’s "Headbanger’s Ball."

On July 13, the band plays Mac’s Bar. The group started out being influenced by second-wave black metal ensembles such as Burzum and Darkthrone.

However, since the 2002 release of its first low-fi album, “Reign of the Malicious,” the band has rebelled against current black metal and has gradually evolved into a heavy psychedelic and experimental hybrid — even throwing in some Pink Floyd-ish synths. The band is currently work ing on a new album, “Black Meddle III.”

Opening the show is Sourvein, a heavy, down-tempo sludge band from North Carolina. Also taking the stage are Michigan-based heavy metal bands Of Borrowed Time and Ozenza.

Wednesday, July 13 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over. $12, 9 p.m.

If your band has an upcoming show, post it at www.facebook.com/turnitdown

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