This Little Underground: New local releases + concert picks

LOCAL RELEASES

Moki Tapes is a young Orlando-based label forged from the national inferno of the summer of 2020. In response to all the disaffection and discord, Julio Felix and William Powell — both notable locals as members of ferocious noise-punk supergroup Witchbender — formed the label as a means of community involvement. With it, they got meaningful and active by releasing compilations stocked with mostly Florida music to aid crucial homegrown causes like the locally launched All Black Lives Fund and Pouring Out Refreshing Outreach (PORO), an Orlando organization providing food and housing for those in need.

Their latest comp, titled …third, just dropped and is again raising funds for PORO. Much more than just good intentions, though, this latest 12-song collection continues Moki Tapes’ outstanding music curation, with strong material from Florida powerhouses like Wreath, the Ludes and, of course, Witchbender.

Just as notable, this edition also unearths some obscure local gems, like future-soul artist Sashauna. Among these are even some exclusive premieres of exciting new Orlando acts — one all-star joint launched here is Haley’s Court, the mighty alliance of Terry Caudill (3D Boy, Flashlights, etc.) and Jonathan Zegilla (Sad Halen) that debuts with fuzz-tastic single “What Else Can I Do (But Cry).” Another fresh discovery is heavy band Weak, the brand-new vehicle of local figure Danny Forester (best known these days as owner of Mills 50 coffee camper Framework Craft Coffee Bar and partner at the Nook) that emerges here with crushing single “The Swamp.”

As a mixtape done with tasteful selection for a vital local cause, Moki Tapes’ …third is an all-around win. It’s available now on Bandcamp.

Man, you know shit’s gotten heavy if the Supervillains don’t wanna party. The popular Orlando ska punkers have just reemerged with experimental new record Drones, a six-song EP written under the pall of the pandemic.

Rather than their usual hijinks and high times, this expansive concept record revolves around the running theme of impending peril via aerial technology, taking inspiration from subjects like aliens, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. In tone, theme and sometimes even style, Drones is a darker, more out-there voyage than we’re used to seeing from the Supervillains. But it’s an interesting and nuanced side of a normally good-time band.

Drones is streaming now. And this weekend, you can see some of it live at the Supervillains Christmas Kegger and Toy Drive (7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, Ace Cafe, $10$25).

BY BAO LE-HUU

MOKI TAPES FOUNDERS JULIO FELIX AND WILLIAM POWELL | PHOTO BY WILLIAM POWELL

Moki Tapes is a young Orlando-based label forged from the national inferno of summer 2020. Moki has just released a new comp stocked with mostly Florida sounds to aid crucial homegrown causes

CONCERT PICKS THIS WEEK

R.I.P., Soundbar. And showgoers, please mask up.

Nothing, Bambara, Midwife: For the past decade, the neo-shoegaze excellence of Philadelphia’s Nothing has been a leading sonic force. Brooklyn band Bambara will further rock the night with their noise and noir. And the spectral haze of Denver act Midwife will put you in a spell suspended between shoegaze and slowcore. This show is a last-minute move from the recently closed Soundbar, so be patient about potential logistical hitches. (7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, The Haven, $18-$20)

The Pauses, Pohgoh, Virginity: Few Orlando acts have set the standard like the Pauses. To celebrate the decade mark of their landmark debut LP, A Cautionary Tale, the flagship indie-rock band will perform this Orlando classic in full, accompanied on cello by J. Robbins bandmate Gordon Withers. In the longstanding Pauses tradition of doing things with a flourish, the stage will replicate the elaborate living room set they used for the original release show, designed to depict the scene inside the burning house on the album cover.

Whatever the fuck DeSantis says, please be cool and heed this show’s totally reasonable request that attendees provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within 48 hours of show. Masks required. (8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, Will’s Pub, $10)

Kairos Creature Club, Timothy Eerie,

Dewars, Get With This: Powered by members of La Luz and Boytoy, Kairos Creature Club are an intriguing garage-psych band that splashed onto the scene last year with a conceptual interactive video series for single “Voodoo Success” that you navigate like a choose-your-own-adventure journey. KCC will be making their Orlando debut alongside some notable Florida natives. (8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, Will’s Pub, $10)

baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com