Music

A Very Merry Squad-y Xmas

the day after Christmas is gonna get weird and awesome

Tyler Griggs |

Marijuana Deathsquads tellin’ it like it is.
Marijuana Deathsquads tellin’ it like it is.

Relentlessly aggressive, wildly unpredictable, and essentially experimental, Marijuana Deathsquads is an odd ensemble of Twin Cities musicians featuring Ryan Olson (Poliça, Gayngs, Digitata), P.O.S. (Doomtree), video artist Isaac Gale, and no less than two drummers each on their own kit. Marijuana Deathsquads shows defy genre, an experience better realized by the pummeled eardrums and swaying bodies of attending thrillseekers. Clumsy and all too-easy words like “beats producer” and “electronica” have no use here, where strange and bedazzling electronic whoops mock melody, drum kits go pulverized, and unsettling, distorted vocals seem to threaten alien abduction. Sexy atmospherics provide some occasional reprieve, but before long those sensual grooves amp up into weird, noisy freakouts that get crowds dancing, thrashing, or wondering: “What the heck is with these guys?!” The Deathsquads showcased as much over Christmas last year, where they played a show at the House of Rock once before on Dec. 26. Following that the Chippewa Valley saw the group again at Eaux Claires Fest, closing the first night at the fest’s auxiliary stage with thunderous blasts of percussion and flashing lights. This time around the group are joined by rapper P.O.S., Andrew Broder, and DJ Slamdunkapher each with a set of their own. Doors open at 8pm.

Another Deathsquads Christmas feat. Marijuana Deathsquads + P.O.S. + Andrew Broder + DJ Slamdunkapher  • Dec. 26 • 9pm • House of Rock, 422 Water St., Eau Claire • $10 • 21+ • house-of-rock.com.