by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Daughters, AIDS Wolf, Discord of a Forgotten Sketch, Expectorated Sequence at El Salon, May 6:

First up were locals Expectorated Sequence, who laid down the Locust/Dillinger Escape Plan/Naked City noisecore that has all the mathematicians doing the herky-jerky these days. Not bad, but they could still find a little room for more of a signature sound. More importantly though, just what the hell does "expectorated" mean, anyway? Kids, call yourself Thee Sandwyches or Superdupertramp, anything other than your current moniker. Geez! Fashion highlights: none

Badly named brethren Discord of a Forgotten Sketch continued in the same vein, but added some skronky jazz sections that played well with the stop-on-a-dime time signatures and quick, oscillating dynamics. DOAFS's hardcore chutzpah had the crowd in the palm of their hand throughout their set. Fashion highlights: Matching white turtlenecks. If you were completely deaf, you'd be convinced you were seeing the Kinks in '66 - how fuggin' cool is that?!

Third up were Spin article stars AIDS Wolf, who set up stage on the floor in the middle of the audience. Despite a malfunctioning amp at the beginning of the set, the Wolf licked their wounds and laid down... some of the best damn speed reggae music that this city has seen since Me Mom & Morgentaler! Playing mainly songs off of their soon-to-be-released new record Cool Runnings, singer Chloe Lum bellowed out the ska disco call "pick it up, pick it up" as the audience, largely made up of McGill poli sci students in white baseball caps, skanked merrily along. Friends later told me that this new style of music is actually called "ska," but I just call it good-time music that will soon have every rude boy and Chelsea girl screaming, "AIDS Wolf are gear!" Fashion highlights: Chloe Lum's Fred Perry shirt, desert boots and mod parka ensemble. You go, girlfriend!

The remaining noiseniks all stuck around for Providence's sonic terrorists, Daughters, and despite the previous skankfest, the audience was still up for some brutal sonic punishment. After a legendary show at Casa a while back, Daughters still managed to raise the bar, delivering some controlled chaos that hit like a nail gun. In the aforementioned Dillinger/Locust camp, Daughters proved to be the tits with one of the best drummers this side of Cryptopsy lending a bit of metal tinge to their noise. Having just signed a deal with Hydrahead, Daughters will be the big daddies of the underground soon enough, and this show was plenty of proof as to why. The only bummer aspect of this otherwise flawless show was the singer's growing disinterest in the crowd as the set progressed, and the massive amount of time taken between songs. Fashion highlights: Singer's plumber crack, snakeskin cowboy boots, Cannibal Corpse patch and the bass player's mask of Cornelius from Planet of the Apes (what? that was a beard?).

I BRAKE FOR GOTH CHICKS! jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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