It's that time of year again for Bubba's birthday show. This year is packed with three stellar acts from the road - Toronto's instrumental math-rock heroes, The Bulletproof Tiger return for the second year in a row, Buffalo's two-piece math-rock wizards, All of them Witches are back for just their second Ithaca appearance ever, and our Albany brothers in Grady Stiles (intense, emotional, complex hardcore?)... plus Mouth To Mouth To Mouth make a special appearance with Gulab of Cattle Drums on guitar. Time to get wild down at Just Be Cause (1013 W. State St., Ithaca, NY 14850 | 8PM | $5).

Local bassoon-driven prog trio BRIAN! have given us the first peak at their upcoming album, which hits this Sunday, April 21st at The Haunt. Check out "It's..." now:

BRIAN! features David Resig on amplified bassoon, Willie B. (Tzar, Johnny Dowd) on drums & percussion, and Bubba Crumrine (Mouth To Mouth To Mouth, Hiroshima Vacation) on guitar, bass, electronics and voice.

The band was founded as a duo of Resig and Crumrine in 2009 and continued as such until early 2012 when Willie B. was brought in on drums.  The trio are pull a strong influence from prog and and the Rock-In-Opposition movement, but also pull from math-rock, 20th century composition, ambient and noise, avant-garde, and heavy rock. Their upcoming 5 track, 37 minute release marks their first recorded material as a three-piece.


Sunday, April 21st @ The Haunt: Meek Is Murder (NY), Lazer/Wulf (GA), Manray (GA), with BRIAN! kicking it off at 6:30PM.  Doors at 6PM | $7 | All Ages

On Monday, March 4th at The Haunt, KEN Mode return to Ithaca for the first time in 10 years on the eve of their tour with Today Is The Day and Black Tusk (both of whom have also past through in recent years). Their latest "Entrench" hits March 19th via Season Of Mist:


We've got a killer line-up of metallic hardcore, sludge punk, noise-rock, and blistering grindcore/powerviolence. Get familiar with the bands and be there at 7PM for the first act!


FIGHT AMP:
Sludgy, genre-bending punk/noise-rock from Jersey.


LOFTS:
Local blown-out noise rock duo.

Hiroshima Vacation (with Bubba Crumrine)

Local grindcore/powerviolence duo expands to a trio with Ithaca Underground president, Bubba Crumrine on electronics.


Monday, March 4th @ The Haunt, 702 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY 14850
7PM Start | $10 | All Ages

Thanks to the huge turnout at CSMA on Friday, November 30th. Glad to see such a broad cross section of Ithaca in support of this special event. More to come in 2012.

Credit & thanks to Lanny Huang & Peter Korolov for the footage and CG Photography for the images.

NYS Non-For-Profit confirmation: 
Ithaca Underground now officially a New York State not-for-profit organization, Federal application is next.

On Friday, November 23rd, Ithaca Underground received written confirmation from Albany that their application for New York State not-for-profit status was approved.  This is the first major step towards the organization's ultimate goal of becoming a 501c3 not-for-profit.  The Federal application for recognition of exemption is complete, but will take some time to receive feedback. The board hopes to receive confirmation from the IRS early in the new year.

As an official non-profit organization, Ithaca Underground will have a greater ability to promote and support challenging and diverse music in an all-ages environment for years to come.

Thanks for your continuing support!

~Bubba Crumrine, President of the Board

What's the good news?  The good news is... the return of BRIAN!

Ithaca-based duo BRIAN!, who have been captivating and confusing audiences around Central New York for the last two and a half years with their experimental compositions,  have expanded to a trio which now includes the one and only, Willie B!

The line-up now consists of Ithaca Underground captain, Bubba Crumrine on guitar, bass, vocals, and electronics; David Resig on amplified bassoon, and the aforementioned Willie B. (a.k.a. Brian Wilson) on drums and percussion.

Willie B. has performed and recorded with many great artists such as Sally Timms (The Mekons), Warren Zanes (Del Fuegos), NYC punk legend Jayne County, and Neko Case. He has toured Europe and the U.S. extensively with Johnny Dowd and surf rockers the Mofos. From punk to jazz to country, Willie's versatility is his strength – which made him a “must-have” for the experimental duo BRIAN! whose compositions draw from avant-garde, prog, and math-rock while incorporating elements of noise and dark ambient music.  Expect Willie to fit in just fine behind the kit, armed with orchestral, experimental, and traditional percussion.


BRIAN! made its live debut in the fall of 2009.  Shortly thereafter, the duo recorded with Michael Stark in the winter of 2009 and subsequently released their first EP in the spring of 2010 aptly entitled “EEEEP” to underground acclaim. Their unconventional set-up, complex music, and unique structure drew subtle attention from rock, experimental, and classical communities. 2011 saw David and Bubba take their composition to new directions and volumes with modification of Dave’s bassoon to full amplification-ready.  Soon after, the material in the works began to hint that the addition of a percussionist could help take the bands’ ideas to the next level.  A search ensued throughout the fall and through a bit of “right place at the right time,” the duo caught wind that Willie was available and interested in the venture.  Two solid sessions later, it was clear that BRIAN! could not do without this one man behind the beat.

In their duo incarnation, BRIAN! has performed with the likes of Marnie Stern, Cheer Accident, Faun Fables, Giraffes? Girrafes!, Sleep for the Nightlife, All of Them Witches, Make-A-Rising, and many more.

The trio will make their debut later this spring and from February 24th-26th they'll a quick tour of Ithaca, Binghamton, Syracuse with hardcore acts Dance-A-Tron and Blunt Guts - from Binghamton and Syracuse respectively.

Dates, times, photos, and new music to come so, stay tuned to their Facebook page for all of what's next.

For questions or booking, contact Bubba at contact@ithacaunderground.com

Live footage from our new pals in Rat Storm (killer female fronted powerviolence from IN), new local band called Crown of Oak (solid melodic, concentrated prog rock - watch out for these guys), my first solo performance, and return to Ithaca for Plasma 36.