Purling Hiss are headlining the last showcase that is part of R5’s Free Summer Concert series at Morgan’s Pier, ushering out the summer with creaky, crackly fuzz-rock whose colors bleed together like tie-dye. Led by lo-fi acolyte Mike Polizze (also from Birds of Maya), their recent single for Weathervane Music’s Shaking Through, "Lolita," is a departure from the band’s amorphous sound. Purling Hiss are still reminiscent of the early 90s, but the track sounds like it came from another band entirely. With a clear-cut swagger, and a plaintive, aggressive rant that rises above the grit of some truly raunchy guitar work, it’s strange to hear Purling Hiss sans static, fuzz pedals and muffled vocals, but they’ve made this rock-and-roll gem pretty much irresistible. They’re preceded tonight by Bandname, who definitely belong on somebody’s last-beach-trip-of-the-summer playlist. Morgan’s Pier, 221 N. Columbus Blvd. Doors, 6:30pm, 21+ (Photo by Tim Bugbee) – Alyssa Greenberg
