Over the course of its 15-year existence, The Flying Luttenbachers have rolled tanklike over all manner of extreme musical idioms, leaving in their wake the charred corpses of free jazz, no wave, prog, punk and death metal. There have been but two constants: drummer/multi-instrumentalist/composer/dictator Weasel Walter, and his determination to brutally assault the ears and sensibilities of his listeners (and, quite often, bandmates, which would explain the near-hourly lineup changes). Since skipping Chicago for San Francisco, the Luttenbachers' music seems less interested in pummeling the audience into submission than in unsettling it with a coiled, tense attack, especially with the inclusion of Steve Reich-meets-Kerry King guitarist Mick Barr on their latest, Cataclysm (ugEXPLODE). (The touring lineup includes bassist Tony Dryer and guitarists Ed Rodriguez and Rob Pumpelly) It's still an army with a burnt-earth policy, but one that has given up brute force and learned to employ equally devastating strategy.
Tue., Aug. 8, 8 p.m., $5, with Satanized and Mary Halvorson/Jessica Pavone, Avant Gentlemen's Lodge, 4028 Filbert St., www.tonewplanet.com/agl.html.