I was in bad shape when I stepped inside the Riot Room on the afternoon of Sunday, November 24. A spate of terrible news had taken a toll on me. Drawn to the nebulous blare coming from the stage, I pushed through a cluster of about 50 people at the free show to claim a spot in front of a bank of speakers.
Doubledrag, a Kansas City band I hadn’t previously encountered, was toying with the violent feedback drones associated with the Jesus and Mary Chain. The extreme volume made it impossible to tell if Doubledrag was attempting to play actual songs. I didn’t care. Completely surrendering to the caustic sound was profoundly therapeutic. Subsequent sets by the Austin shoegaze bands
Blushing and
Ringo Deathstarr didn’t do much for me. I wasn’t bothered by the absence of funk, soul and swing in Doubledrag’s violent barrage, but the touring bands’ disregard of grooves grew wearisome.
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I write
weekly music previews for
The Kansas City Star.
(Original image of Blushing by There Stands the Glass.)
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