I Just Read About That…

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 24, 2026] Lip Critic / Flatwounds / Bejalvin

I saw Lip Critic last year and the blew me away.  I’d never want to listen to their records, but live, they were incredible.  Noisy and chaotic with two drummers and a guy who plays keys/samples/something.  And a singer who commands the room.  I definitely wanted to see them again, but I put off getting tickets to this show for a while. I jad so much going on this week that something had to give and this was it.  It eventually sold out, so at least I didn’t have to feel like I should have tried to go.   Plus they were opening for Mannequin Pussy in a few months, so I’d get to see them again, at least.

Flatwounds are from Albany.  They combine a kind of hardcore vibe with some 90s grunge sounds.   New York hardcore bounce[like Helmet] with a dark, grunge-flavoured vibe [like Alice in Chains–the vocals are similar with a touch of Stone Temple Pilots].  Their sound has morphed over a few EPs–never going too far from what they do, but exploring different nooks of the stuff they reference.  I dig it.

Bejalvinare a weird hyperpop band (like 1000 Gecs, I suppose) who describe themselves as straightedge electronic fight music.  The vocals are largely growled and the music is mostly glitchy chiptune. It’s the kind of “music” that annoys a lot of people, but which I find intriguing and would enjoy seeing how they do it live.  They seem like a perfect fit for Lip Critic, tbh.

I suspect that this show was a wild night of chaos.