[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.
I Just Read About That... 