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Lung/Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends “Adult Prom”

sfilzen — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:01:36 +0000

Lung/Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends “Adult Prom” 2023. Learning Curve Records, multi-color splattered vinyl. Split LP, with Cincinnati’s metal/punk cello duo Lung on Side A and noisy power pop via (now) Milwaukee’s Conan Neutron on Side B. Despite living in Milwaukee I’m not sure that I’ve seen Conan Neutron perform (maybe??) but we have seen Lung many times – twice this summer! – including this past Saturday night at X-Ray Arcade (Cudahy). It was a particularly wild show – the first Lung performance I’ve been at with a mosh pit (it was a local band’s record release party and their fan base is very young and exuberant) – and Lung were top-notch as always, with extra-energy most likely provided by the super-receptive crowd.

Lung at X-Ray Arcade, September 2024

Adult Prom is a great, if unusual, split LP. Lung’s side is heavy – it can’t help but be with all low-end drums and cello. Lung covers a Conan Neutron track, “The Impossible Task” from the 2020 Dark Passengers album, making the song sparse and sinister. My top pick on the Lung side is “Anyone Else,” which is also a bit sparse and sinister but has a classical music edge that makes it ultra-unique for a “rock” record. Conan Neutron’s side has a much more traditional grungy rock-n-roll sound (as compared to Lung), with guitar, bass and drums (plus sitar! so not that traditional). They cover Lung’s “I’m Nervous” from the 2021 LP Come Clean Right Now and it’s my favorite on the Conan-side. It’s ass-shaking: they keep the low-end and add some cocky alt-rock swagger. Lung’s Kate Wakefield also duets with Conan on “Fridging;” their vocal styles could not be more different but the song totally works. Actually the entirety of Side B is pretty great and I really need to make an effort to get to one of their shows since they’re now based here in Milwaukee.

“Wild Antics” is the first track on Conan Neutron’s side, it’s a great song but including the video here because it’s silly and it was directed and edited by the infamous Milwaukee indie filmmaker Mark Borchardt, subject of the cult classic American Movie (1999).

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Lung “Let It Be Gone”

sfilzen — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:22:18 +0000

Lung “Let It Be Gone” 2022. Romanus Records, limited edition tricolor variant. One of my favorite low-end two-piece art-garage-rockers out there. We had the pleasure of catching Lung last weekend up in Green Bay at the GBUFO Invasion Fest – I think this is the at least the fourth or fifth time we’ve seen them live. Let It Be Gone is the fourth full-length from the ultra-original Cincinnati band that consists of Kate Wakefield on electric cello/vocals and Daisy Caplan on drums. They are spectacular to watch: dynamic and dramatic doesn’t even begin to describe their performances. Even though both are essentially stuck in chairs/on stools, they and their bodies go all in. Kate is a trained opera singer and clearly has theatre stage experience – her expressions can be seen at the back of the room, in poor lighting. And that voice!! I think she held a high C for, like, a full minute at the show. Daisy is a monster at the set, providing both rhythm and melody with a drive that never stops. Let It Be Gone captures most of that energy. The opener, “Jump Ship,” is one of my favorites and they’ve played it at the past few shows, including last weekend – it’s incredibly memorable. “The Prettiest Machine” is a staccato’d stomper and super-angry and “Siren Song” is weirdly and wildly anthemic with full-stop tempo changes and soaring vocals that are just beyond – I love it (I’m pretty sure this is the song that she held that high C on). And while not one of my favorites (it’s still pretty damn good), the video for “Rag Doll” is pretty great and gives a glimpse into the band’s aesthetic and, possibly, psyche. As great as this record is, trust the saying “Ya gotta see Lung live” – your mind will be blown.

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Lung + SKRT

sfilzen — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 17:31:44 +0000

Lung + SKRT Split EP, 2021. Romanus Records. Split EP, Tricolor variant, limited to 50. We caught one of our favorite new(ish) bands, Lung, last night at Shank Hall (they, along withe speed metal band Speedealer, opened for the hilarious tribute/parody band Mac Sabbath who play (mostly) Black Sabbath covers dressed in over-the-top McDonalds costumes). Lung played an amazing – as always! – set which mostly included songs from their recently released LP Let It Be Gone (which I’ll have on vinyl within the next week or so from Romanus). But they also played at least one track from this split EP, the live favorite “Wall” which encapsulates everything that makes Lung one of the most exciting and innovative bands out there: dark grungy energy courtesy of the drum-electric cello duo topped by Kate Wakefield’s operatic voice (literally: she’s a classically trained opera singer as well as an accomplished cellist). The other four Lung tracks (“The City is Lying,” “Stalemate,” “What Are You Asking For?” and “Stranger Now“) are also not available on any of their other recordings. You either need this EP or, better, see them live (it is a must-see experience).

Daisy Caplan of Lung, Shank Hall

Kate Wakefield of Lung, Shank Hall

Until now, I was not familiar with SKRT, an art-punk trio from Ohio. Their sound is loud, messy and unique noise rock. Singer Ashley Pooler (also on guitar) is ferocious, wailing over weirdly jagged rhythms courtesy of Abbie Romero on drums and Micah Kemplin on bass. My favorite of their four tracks on the split is the excellently titled “Snowsuit for the Apocalypse.” “Black Adderall” is also really cool, really weird – lots of tempo and energy shifts, from a funky groove to a swinging melody to some dissonant piano and spoken whispery words but that only seems to be on the vinyl version, not the YouTube digital recording linked here. Like Lung’s selections, these tracks are only available on this EP (they only have one other release, a 7-song album from 2016, Toxic Schlock).

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Lung “All The King’s Horses”

sfilzen — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 18:46:44 +0000

Lung “All The King’s Horses” 2018. Sofaburn Records, on clear vinyl. One of the most exciting and original bands currently out there, Lung plays super-dark, heavy art-punk/noise rock. The dark and heavy: Lung (from Cincinnati) are a two-piece featuring Kate Wakefield on electric cello and Daisy Caplan on drums so it’s all low-end. But soaring over the top is gorgeous art and beauty in the form of operatic vocals. Literally. Kate is a trained opera singer so her range is insane. We had the absolute pleasure of seeing Lung perform twice this past weekend at Mile of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin, one of our favorite music events that we missed terribly last year when it was canceled. It was Lung’s first time at MoM and they, like us, loved it (we got a chance to talk to Kate, Daisy and Daisy’s partner/band manager, Rachelle Caplan for awhile when one of their sets was cancelled due to rain). Anyone who ever sees Lung play live will tell you this: “You have GOT to see Lung.” (Our first time seeing them was two years ago in 2019 at Romanus Fest – our jaws fell to the ground and we were instant fans.) Their recording material is amazing but seeing and hearing them play these songs live is a mind bending, spine vibrating experience. Daisy bashes the beejezzus out of his kit and somehow also manages to – I think – take samples of Kate’s voice in real-time and then make layer upon layer upon layer of harmonization. Unreal. And though Kate is pretty much stuck on her seat with the cello, her performance is mesmerizing and dynamic: she uses her entire body to play and makes intense eye contact with the audience that draws you even deeper into the music.

All The King’s Horses is Lung’s second release. (I believe we picked up their brand new album at the show but we’re still decompressing from the weekend.) They played several of my favorite tracks from the LP including “Brock,” “Butcher” and “Bodies of Water,” I’m not sure if they played “The Overgrowth” and “Horsebath” but those tracks are killer as well. They definitely did not play the sole cover on the record, David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans,” because Mile of Music has a no-cover-songs policy; only original music is allowed. I think Lung will be back in the area in a couple of months and we cannot wait to see them again.

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