This Little Underground

LOCAL RELEASES

Dubstep gets a bad rap. Much of it’s selfinflicted but, I swear, it can be done well. Homegrown proof of that is electronic music artist Rest in Pierce, the nom de beat of Orlando’s Logan Pierce. While Pierce isn’t a strict disciple of dubstep, it is a core part of his musical vocabulary. His cerebral edge, however, is what places him well outside of the brostep parade.

So named because it’s his first release in over two years, the just-dropped Resurgence mini-album is more than just a reemergence, it’s a notable evolution. While debut album Silver Linings was more of a beat-centric ambient affair, this three-track follow-up is a darker dive.

The three pieces on Resurgence are an exercise in intricate architecture, not sick breakdowns. Amid a beatscape of downtempo drum & bass, Pierce is judicious in the use of the dubstep wubs, employing them with more of an artist’s touch than the headbanger’s hammer of arena dubstep. And rather than smothering groove, the restrained bass work underscores the ghostly atmosphere throughout. Resurgence is a tight collection that’s fathoms deep with a rich sense of mood and detail. The EP is now available on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple Music.

CONCERT PICKS THIS WEEK

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Surfbort, The Black Tones: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are such easy crowdpleasers with their punked-up, fun-loving spoofs of classic songs that they wouldn’t even need any support acts to be a draw. But these openers are inspired underground choices that would make worthy headliners on their own. First, there’s Brooklyn provocateurs Surfbort, whose vivid and gritty garage punk is deliciously degenerate. Then,

This is one of those OMFG-it’s-finallyhappening concerts. While Gorillaz have been a global phenomenon since their start, they’re only now making their Orlando debut. Besides Damon Albarn and the 14-piece band, expect some surprise guests from a roster that changes night to night

there’s Seattle Afro-punk band the Black Tones, the duo of twins Eva and Cedric Walker, that just made the jump up to Sub Pop Records this year. Absolutely no filler here. (6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, Ace Cafe, $25-$40)

Gorillaz, Jungle: This is one of those OMFG-it’s-finally-happening concerts. While Gorillaz have been a global phenomenon since their high-profile inception as a star-powered concept band, they’re only now making their Orlando debut. It’s sure to be especially triumphant as the near-finale of a North American run that’s their first since a 2018 tour that skipped the Southeast altogether.

Besides Damon Albarn and the 14-piece Gorillaz live band, expect some surprise guests from a roster that changes from night to night. Speaking of that, also expect peeks from their upcoming new album, Cracker Island (due out in Feb. 24), which will feature an illustrious list of studio guests that includes Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Stevie Nicks, Beck, Bootie Brown and Adeleye Omotayo.

It took over 20 years, but one of the most innovative and iconic acts in music will now finally be landing here like manna from indie-rock heaven. This one will be historical. (6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, Amway Center, $60-$140)

The Hamiltons, HiGH, Curtains: While this local band sandwich also includes New Orleans group HiGH, all these acts have done split recordings together on Florida punk label Ashtray Monument, so there’s some history and fellowship here. The Hamiltons and Curtains are deeply credentialed Orlando punk bands known to kick it good and hard. But HiGH, who straddle both punk and indie rock, will add some complementary diversity. And the nice surprise of this stocked and solid bill is that it’s a free show with some free beer to kick things off. It’s a full night’s action squeezed into a tight pre-game slot. (6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, Dirty Laundry, free)

Slift, You Said Strange, Timothy

Eerie: This excellent bill is a special envoy from France sent especially for the heavy psych heads. The stoner rock of Slift cherry-picks all the best elements of hard psychedelic rock and rolls it out in skyscraping riffs. You Said Strange, whose debut was produced by Dandy Warhols guitarist Peter Holmström and recorded at the Dandys’ famous Odditorium studio, come from the more shoegaze end of the psych spectrum. Local support by Orlando psych champions Timothy Eerie will keep it all extra woozy. (6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, The Abbey, $20)

BY BAO LE-HUU

GORILLAZ | COURTESY IMAGE

baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com orlandoweekly.com ● OCT. 19-25, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY 35