Project Prog

Kids love the hard rock. It’s a tried-and-true fact of modern American adolescence dating back to the dawn of the distortion pedal. I don’t make this stuff up . . . OK, sometimes I do, but that’s beside the point. And the point is that there’s no better local venue for eardrum-popping metal, punk and hardcore than the little teen center that could, 242 Main [1]. Operating in the basement of Burlington’s Memorial Auditorium, the club has been a cornerstone of the Queen City heavy-music scene for more than two decades, and has given birth to a staggering number of local bands spanning the genre gamut. This Saturday, the joint will be jumping with up-and-coming B-Town acts, as well as a few serious regional heavyweights. Giddyup.

Leading off is local death-metal quintet Cayuga [2]. According to 242 booking guru Franky Andreas, these dudes are the metal band of the moment in Burlington. I’d trust that recommendation — Andreas is also a member of on-hiatus Judas Priest acolytes Amadis [3], who totally kick ass. To quote Cayuga’s MySpace page, the band sounds like “one million toilets flushing in impeccable synchronicity and perfect pitch.” Well, that and Pantera.

Next up is Andreas’ own prog-metal ensemble, The Terror Sutra [4] — don’t you just love heavy-music band names? This is a new outfit, so I really don’t know much about the band other than it’s composed of members from the late, great Portugal Towers [5], as well as local stalwarts Inertia [6]and Brave the Vertigo [7]. That’s some fine pedigree, indeed.

Moving on to the regional acts, we have Brooklyn’s avant-garde metal outfit Burbis [8], touring in support of their recently released, sprawling, experimental opus, Curse of the Golden Dracula. King Crimson fans, take note.

Winners of the 2006 Emergenza Festival, Boston’s Captain Cutthroat [9] — again, love the name — blend a bizarrely divergent crop of influences (System of a Down, Mike Patton, Pink Floyd and Brian Setzer?) to create an eclectic and utterly raucous brand of experimental rock not unlike Patton’s seminal outfits Mr. Bungle and Faith No More.

Finally, birthed in the fires of Hell, er, Waltham, “dirtcore” innovators Graveyard BBQ have been feverishly spreading the gospel of metalicious riffery and carnal carnivorousness since coming together, ostensibly, as a joke side project in 2003. But guffaws have given way to (semi) serious Satanic liturgy, as in ensuing years the band has toured the country, converted a startlingly large flock of followers and, in an apocalyptic sign of the times, appeared on a recent installment of the massively popular Guitar Hero video game franchise.

Fat Cat
Iconic local hip-hop impresario Kyle Thompson, better known to area club-goers as Fattie B [10], is a busy, busy man. As such, the one-time MC for legendary acid-jazz troupe Belizbeha [11] has taken a step back from the performing limelight in recent months. At one point, there were even whispers of retirement. Fortunately for the increasingly rabid local hip-hop fan base, nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, the dude has more on his plate now than when his portly moniker was accurate. But, to borrow a phrase, don’t call it a comeback.

Thompson has been manning the decks at Club Metronome’s Saturday night ’80s dance-party staple “Retronome” for lo, these past eight years. As the evening’s original audience has begun to age — gracefully, one would hope — Retronome has seen a steadily younger clientele emerge. Thus, the ever-inventive DJ is launching a new series of ’90s-themed retro ass-shakery entitled “A Night at the Roxbury,” with a little help from Lotus Entertainment pals DJ A-Dog [12], DJ ZJ [13] and . Check out the first installment Friday, April 4.

While he is an accomplished turntablist, Fattie B is at his best behind the mike. This Friday at Nectar’s, VT hip-hop’s elder statesman reunites with longtime collaborator Dave Grippo for an evening of funkdafied hip-hop fusion harkening back to the duo’s shared residency at Red Square nearly 10 years ago.

Back in the day, Monday at the Square was the hottest night in town, so this show should be one for the books. On a related note, the MC’s local supergroup Beat Biters have plans to hit the studio in April.

Finally, in true Renaissance-man fashion, the entrepreneur’s clothing line, Steez [14], has been picked up by NYC design moguls Import Images [15] and will expand to include bedding and pillow cases, women’s handbags, stretched canvasses, gift cards and journal covers. And you thought you were busy.

’Nome De Plume
A few weeks ago, I made an offhand comment [16] in this very column about the relative dearth of local acts gracing the stage at Club Metronome. It appears my frustration didn’t fall on deaf ears — either that or I just wasn’t looking sufficiently far ahead on the calendar. In any event, counting my plea for Paddy Reagan [17] to book himself more often at The Monkey House and the new link on Higher Ground’s website [18] highlighting upcoming indie acts, it appears I’m on a roll of mythic proportions. Not to push my luck, but I’m still waiting on that pony . . .

Anyway, local rawk is making a triumphant return to Metronome this Thursday as a quartet of Burlington acts storm the stage of the dimly lit rock palace. Can I get an amen?

First up, Led Zeppelin acolytes Maneuvers [19], whose debut EP The Soothing Sounds of Sirens [20] shows considerable power-trio promise.

Next, we have pre-eminent Burlington garage-rawkers The Cave Bees [21] who summarize themselves thusly: “Long story short: Once, The Cave Bees rocked. Now, they rock harder.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, guys. In all seriousness, this is one of the best local bands going, and always put on a fantastic live show.

Making their first appearance at Metronome since coming perilously close to being banned for life after a particularly rowdy performance last summer, lo-fi garage-punk duo The Breaking In [22] take the stage. I’m going out on a limb and predicting there may be a porn piñata involved. And beer. Lots of beer.

Finally, brand-spanking-new indie-rock foursome evilhero [23] close out the night. Fun fact: The band played its debut show the day after guitarist Shawn Rice’s wife gave birth to the couple’s first child in February. Now that’s dedication.

Speaking of dedication, local clubs will only book local bands if local folks show up and support them. Just sayin’ . . .