Tuesday, August 8, 8 PM
Slaughter Beach Dog, Shannen Moser, Bat Boy @ Strange Matter – $10 in advance/$12 day of show (order tickets HERE)
The rather goofily named Slaughter Beach, Dog (that’s how it’s officially rendered, as if it’s some goofy thing one of your friends says to you when you’re on a road trip) have a serious pedigree, making it a lot more understandable why people are so excited about a band that makes such a silly first impression. Fronted by Modern Baseball’s Jake Ewald, Slaughter Beach Dog (that comma just makes the grammar weird in some situations) were originally formed as a creative outlet when Ewald couldn’t quite get comfortable with writing about his own life difficulties anymore. What Ewald came up with, once he shifted his focus to a set of fictional characters united by a loose narrative, was a set of melancholy tunes that were far more indie-informed than the emo-punk sounds of his other band. For a band with a goofy name, the sound of debut LP Welcome was surprisingly serious.
More recently, Ewald has continued his string of deceptive titles with a new EP called Motorcycle.jpg. These downcast tunes are carried by indelible melodies and a strong sense of mood–and not really a good mood, either. But it sure is relatable. Labelmate/touring companion Shannen Moser is also very good at creating relatable moods, taking a punkish approach to an acoustic, finger-picked sound much more strongly linked to the dark tradition of Appalachian folk and country music. Moser’s songs are every bit as evocative as Ewald’s, even if they take a slightly different route to get there. Local openers Bat Boy will attempt to get on the touring artists’ wavelength with some chunky, moody pop punk. Honestly, if you’re down with the other artists on this bill, this opener will be way less of a stretch than you might think. Show up on time and give em a shot!
