Icy Demons

Wed., July 30, 8 p.m., $10, with Buffalo Stance and Make a Rising, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

by Shaun Brady

	print	email	reply	rss feed

Published: Jul 22, 2008

Pop/Experimental

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

As pastel-colored and accessibly garish as Crockett and Tubbs' suits, Icy Demons' Miami Ice (Obey Your Brain) corrals its chaotic pedigree — the band was founded by members of raucous experimentalists Man Man and Need New Body — into a sunny pop quickie with more than a hint of ironic wink. Unrelentingly catchy even at its quirkiest, the duo of Man Man drummer Pow Pow (Chris Powell) and Bablicon's Blue Hawaii (Griffin Rodriguez) comes across like the Atari 2600 adaptation of Gnarls Barkley, its eccentric grooves rendered with rougher edges and a more unpredictable sense of play. The Chicago/Philly connection pulls accomplices from Tortoise and Prefuse 73 into its mix of Krautrock bossa nova and bubblegum prog, the perfect solution for those seeking a more booty-shaking alternative to Battles or Dirty Projectors. Full of analog synths and robotic choruses, it's math rock on an abacus. The core duo has assembled a new touring group and, given their live reps, the show promises spectacular excess.

Wed., July 30, 8 p.m., $10, with Buffalo Stance and Make a Rising, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

Return to the Lush Life
All Eyes on the Arts Czar
Soundadvice
She & Him
Aderbat