Circle Jerks slam, man

Upsilon Acrux

Punk was at least partially a rebellion against prog rock, but now it’s drawing new inspiration from the sort of music it once derided. Upsilon Acrux is firmly rooted in aggressive, snarling post-punk, but their music owes its complexity to bands like Magma, King Crimson, and Henry Cow. Of course, the LA-based band isn’t merely a revival act — it also lists technical death metal band Necrophagist and musical cubists US Maple as influences. Despite the dizzying polyrhythms and intricate melodies, this isn’t self-congratulatory or wanky music — these guys unleash an instrumental onslaught that is at once disciplined and wryly humorous.

Abe Vigoda

The latest band to make LA proud is tropical-nu wave act Abe Vigoda. These guys are so new and so exciting that even your grandparents don’t know who they are. Yet! They describe themselves as tropical punk, but I like to think of them as nihilistic rockers — no form, no shape, just chaos. If LA’s new breed of punk popstars such as Health, Meiko Meiko and Pocohauntas make you tremble, then this band are sure to get you very worked up.

Days Off

Days Off is an incredibly catchy but smart punk band from Chicago. While they’re the best of what pop music through the ages has to offer, they’re by no means pop-punk. As infectious as their hooks and choruses are, there are enough off-kilter rhythms and complex guitar work to give their music a layered feel, putting them into a category all their own.

Cool tattoos by Yannou

I must be the only cat in Brooklyn not sporting any ink. Yup, the streets are lined with people rocking all manner of tattoos, some kitsch, some serious, some that probably should have stayed inside the mind of their creators. If I were to get some work done, I’d probably go to Yannou who takes a playful approach to the art of body re-styling. Read more

Empire Of The Sun’s Secret Playlist

We checked in with Luke Steele from Australian duo Empire Of The Sun and asked him about the music that was inspiring him right now. He started with the Holger Czukay song, Persian Love [listen below]: ‘There is so much depth in this track. It’s like the magician chef who can transpose flavors when people’s expressions change during meals. It’s a dream of spices’. Read the rest of Luke Steele’s Secret Playlist.

Mad Hot Ballroom

Set in the bustling metropolis of New York, this brilliant documentrary by Marilyn Agrelo takes an insiders look at the annual ballroom dancing contest that sweeps through the public school system every year, wrapping a select group of Gotham kids up in the excitement and emotion that characterises the event. Who would have thought such a traditionally staid pursuit could be so dramatic?