It's the Joan of Arc Variety Show starring Disappears (and Vacations, and Tim Kinsella, and Owen, AND A SPECIAL SUPRISE GUEST!). Chicago's Disappears (fronted by Brian Case, currently of The Ponys and formerly of 90 Day Men) are an excellent band that rock all sorts of swirling guitar reverb. Perhaps you saw them open recently for The Jesus Lizard? Anyway, this music sounds as if it's transported straight from those hazy basement club nights when little Lou Reed and crew played for their illegally blissed-out pals.

These four rock out quite nicely, especially when their decibels inch extremely close to straight-up noise. Yet, even with minimal pop melodies buried beneath all the raucous effects, the prevailing mood Disappears sets is one of darkness. Something sinful is going on here, but I'm not sure what it is.

Maybe echoes have always felt evil to me. It's kind of the same feeling that Crystal Stilts gives me. I'd like to label this as something like shoegaze-noise-goth, but that just sounds dumb. Oh well, guess I can't call them anything other than a good band. Besides The Jesus Lizard, Disappears has played shows with heavyweights like Deerhunter, Department of Eagles and Times New Viking. Give them a try and I think you'll like them. Be careful though. Caring is creepy.

BUY TICKETS TO SEE DISAPPEARS AT THE EMPTY BOTTLE!



Disappears play Empty Bottle, on Friday, January 22nd.