Teenage Strangler

Related Content

• Rick Ross health scares, a big change in the Sonic Youth dynamic: A look at the week that was
  October 17, 2011
• Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs
  May 11, 2011
• DJ Shadow, Fleet Foxes, the Suburbs, and more
  July 13, 2011
• Kurt Vile: The extended interview
  July 13, 2011
• Clinic
  November 10, 2010

More About

• Mumbai
• Sonic Youth
• Wellbutrin
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

For all their whacked-out screechiness and their creepy name, you wouldn't expect Teenage Strangler to be so upbeat. The local trio sound sort of like a happy Sonic Youth. Though not overtly buzzed on too much Wellbutrin, the head-bopping drum beats, accidentally charming mumbled/shouted vocals, and canoodling between ultra-fuzzed rhythms and bright and warbly lead guitars meld into a woozy bliss. The band members claim to have punk influences, but they seem more likely to be descendents of the heady deconstruction of grunge and "alternative" in the early '90s. Instead of opting for catchy hooks and clearly defined song structure, they drench everything in a wash of feedback-laden noise. With Awesome Snakes and Bombay Sweets.
Sat., Dec. 12, 9 p.m., 2009