Tom Lynch

The newest entry into two-person dirt rock, deadboy & the Elephantmen take the swagger of the White Stripes and actually use it with musical talent, solid guitar slaughtering and power drums. Dax Riggs' history in the metal scene may have helped--he fronted Louisiana's Acid Bath back in the day--as he certainly has a strong knowledge of melodic theory and substance, and "We Are Night Sky," deadboy's debut on Fat Possum Records, combines garage thunder with haunting vocal harmonies and fat, thick guitars, plus offers a few acoustic, bluesy songs, like the album-best, lullaby-like "No Rainbow." Opener "Stop, I'm Already Dead" has live, rock-star presence from the first note, a fist-pumper of the highest caliber. Its stop-start progression only adds momentum. The blues pieces on the record come off as the most potent--Riggs and drummer Tessie Brunet seem to play directly to the night sky in question. Opening for Wolfmother, a delightfully ridiculous seventies-rock throwback from Australia.

deadboy and the Elephantmen play May 18 at Metro, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203, at 8pm. $16. (2006-05-16)

Also by Tom Lynch

Bang! Bang!ers Ball
One of the more anticipated full-lengths from a local band in a while, Bang! Bang!'s "Decked Out," on Morphius Records, develops quite naturally, pairing the party-rock, playful vibe of the group's previous EPs with an edgier, more complex sound
(2006-05-09)

Big, Big Money
David Sirota--campaign strategist, political operative, ex-chief spokesman on the House Appropriations Committee, senior editor at In These Times and, now, author--releases "Hostile Takeover: How Big Money & Corruption Conquered Our Government--and How We Take It Back" this month, a disturbing, courageous and opinionated attempt at tackling corruption in Washington, by a man who lived it and got out alive
(2006-05-09)

Tip of the Week
"Return to the Sea," Islands first record, which was released last month on Equator Records, brings the Canadian duo into more "It's a Long Drive..."-era Modest Mouse matched with Beulah
(2006-05-09)

Soundcheck
Sweden's Amandine takes from the best of America's folk lords--Bob Dylan, even a little Neil Young--and fuses it with melancholic pop structures, guitars and brush drums, pianos and echoed voice
(2006-05-02)

Left for Dead
(2006-05-02)

From Russia, With Laughs
(2006-05-02)

Tip of the Week
(2006-05-02)

Home Schooled
(2006-04-25)

Tip of the Week
(2006-04-25)

Tip of the Week
(2006-04-25)

Tip of the Week
(2006-04-18)

Soundcheck
(2006-04-11)

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