Naomi Punk w/ Joystiq, True Commando, Phosphenes
Trumpet Blossom Cafe — Thursday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m.
Olympia, Washington’s Naomi Punk will be playing the Trumpet Blossom tonight alongside locals Joystiq, True Commando, and Phosphenes opening. The show marks Naomi Punk’s second show in Iowa City (they opened for Mac DeMarco back in March of 2013), as well as Joystiq’s final show before guitarist and vocalist Paul Osgerby leaves town.
Naomi Punk have been garnering praise for their latest release, Television Man, out on Captured Tracks. Taking an angular post-punk approach to grunge, their songs can still offer surprises after a dozen listens. Their tracks feature strange, lengthy chord progressions and highly percussive guitar playing, as well as a healthy serving of dark, near-nihilistic lyrics.
Joystiq is an Iowa City three-piece, comprised of guitarist and vocalist Paul Osgerby, bassist Donald Halbmaier, and drummer Carlo Kind. The band formed in January as an attempt to form a “female-friendly power-violence” group, with a female vocalist (or guttural screamer, as the case may be), though that particular lineup fell through relatively quickly. Instead, Joystiq settled into a unique hardcore sound, with a broad set of influences ranging from jazz to the Butthole Surfers.
Osgerby and Kind were also residents of the Black Magic Rectory, a regular spot for house shows in Iowa City in the past year. The boys moved out of the Rectory in August, and the end of their time in the house, perhaps predictably, coincided with the end of the band. Thursday’s show marks their first time playing a show above ground, having only ever played in basements or Public Space One.
The trio have come a very long way for having played together for less than a year. With a predilection for lightning fast songs, their first set lasted just 8 minutes — so make sure you show up early tonight.
The show begins at 8 p.m. with a door price of $5. It will also be the first all-ages show at Trumpet Blossom.
