When a rubber band is stretched to its breaking point, the snap back into place tends to sting. No-wave music capitalizes on this moment – the sting of the return from an extreme to the norm. Historically prominent no-wave acts such as DNA, The Contortions, and Mars produced music that challenged sonic expectations and whose repertoires continue to provide a framework for contemporary artists seeking unabashed musical exploration. Philadelphia sound artist SKGB’s use of a Game Boy as a primary instrument runs counter to much of the joyful pop that makes up what people have come to call chiptune music, his own music sounding not unlike a Game Boy infested with rabies – an erratic and over-driven songcraft that injects no-wave sensibilities into cheerful retro-gaming palettes. SKGB will be hosting a stacked line-up of no-wave acts tonight at Kung Fu Necktie such as the delightfully grisly Philly duo Ursula and the New York-based outfits Cellular Chaos and Radio Shock. The evening promises to be a solid outing for those who want to transcend their own expectations by temporarily transforming the Fishtown watering hole into a discordant dance hall. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $7, 21+ – Josh Kelly
