Hella
un., April 1, 7:30 p.m., with Ponytail and Who's Your Favorite Son God, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.
rock/pop
;)
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You know how Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse is a slicker, gorier version of the bloody B movies that inspired it? That's how Zach Hill and Spencer Seim fashioned Hella's new There's No 666 in Outer Space — like a messier, pulpier take on the whole Red-era King Crimson, Led Zep and Mr. Bungle stuff that got their axes grinding in the first place. Only now, the longtime duo has expanded to a five-piece and powered its sound to include vocals that are shockingly theatrical — hammy even on the heavy but harmonious "Anarchists Just Wanna Have Fun" — for such an already-outrageous roar. Blame newcomer Aaron Ross for parsing Hella's ever-erratic rhythms and jaggedly grand melody lines with words and vocals that never stray from powerful clarity. Get there early for Ponytail — a Maryland girl-led act who genuinely sound like Japan's The Plastics only much, much heavier.
Sun., April 1, 7:30 p.m., $10, with Ponytail and Who's Your Favorite Son God, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.
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