Former Critics and Riot Course star in a Michigan double header at the Silhouette Lounge on Monday, 14 August 2023.

Locals Twelveyes and Mattias sandwich the four-stack bill on a bannar night.

The “Go To Hell” Tour rolled through Silhouette Lounge on a Hump Night.

If you’re a band going on tour, why not go with another band you trust? ‘Trust’ in most senses of the word. Musically, to put on a good show that fits your vibes. Generally, not to lift money out of your pocket while you’re sleeping to spend on magic beans.

Michigan’s Former Critics launched their tour with fellow punks Riot Course from the Wolverine State. From the Winter Wonderland State. From the Great Lakes State. From the Mitten State?

And if you’re a band going on tour in a territory you don’t know, why not go with another band that’s familiar with the local highways and byways? Worcester’s Twelveyes will accompany Former Critics for a few local gigs, starting with Monday’s show at the Sil. They know their way around the water cooler.

Music news aside, shout out to Demetrios Ypsilantis. Hero of the Greek War of Independence and namesake of Riot Course’s hometown, Ypsilanti. Ypsi for short. It’s on the outskirts of Ann Arbor, which is on the outskirts of Detroit.

Who were the Greeks fighting for their independence? The Ottoman Empire. Thanks, Wikipedia!

Twelveyes

Worcester’s Twelveyes showcased a new song on Monday night. If their Bandcamp library is any indication, this emo punk trio likes to add to their discography one track at a time. You can stream their music in different combinations of singles and splits (one with Square Loop), following the release of EP Look Up in 2017.

A new track is not necessarily the harbinger of a longer release, an album or whatnot, but you never know. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one lead single.

The guitarist was fighting some wonky tuning due to fresh strings. You’d think that newly-strung strings would hold their pitch best. Bright! Shiny! Clean! On the contrary, fresh strings need time to settle into place. Kind of like a newly-built house that needs to sink a bit into its foundation.

Riot Course

Ypsi’s punk trio Riot Course bounced around the room like a dodgeball on fire. The rhythms are punk, the mood a bit emo, and the textures alt rock. You can hear more on their EP Skin Deep. Shades of Makeout Palace.

Former Critics

Detroit’s Former Critics dropped their debut LP Ring of Salt (is that a margarita ref?) in December. It’s a tough month to get attention for new releases. Most of the music press and bloggos are sorting through “Year End Wrap Up” nonsense. They’re reviewing old stuff, not new stuff.

At its worst, “Year End Wrap Up” content can be a kind of navel gazing strategy for recycling content. But it does give writers and editors a little time to step off the content treadmill, to digest the themes of the soon-to-be-elapsed year, and recalibrate for the future. To refine and improve their approach.

Bands are probably best served by releasing music whenever the hell they’re ready to release it. You can also play it the other way. No one is releasing music in December, so we’ll release music in December. Horse Lords released an awesome album Comradely Objects in December and they’re doing just fine, thanks.

So the “Go To Hell” tour is a nice East Coast coming out party for Ring of Salt. Extra points for hitting the road in the dog days of August.

Check out the video for Former Critics’ “Candy”.

Mattias

Local act Mattias had the late crowd digging their set. Seems like there’s always a game of musical chairs on one slot in any tall bill. It looked like Bikethrasher was initially scheduled to play; then Day Grazer was slotted in; at some point the band became Mattias. Mattias to the rescue! And all was well with the world.

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