Fri 1/31 @ 9PM
Bass Drum of Death is one of those band names that’s just a little too ironic and pretentious for its own good.
What you really get here is a one-man garage band (enhanced with additional musicians for the road) that makes claims of being “punk rock,” even referencing Cleveland’s ’70s/’80s punk rockers the Pagans.
In fact, its music has more in common with the country blues of Mississippi where John Barrett — who basically IS the band — hails from. It’s simply, insistent, raw-boned music, heavily on feeling than finesse.
His promo claims that he recorded last year’s self-titled sophomore album by going into the studio himself (his usual practice) and “smashing out punk rock.” But that solo practice yields a result much closer to an isolated Mississippi bluesman howling out his demons on a sagging porch.
Barrett and Co. will be at Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Three Cleveland bands — Total Babes, Ma Holos, and Mystery Meat — are also on the bill.