"Carolina," the first single off the upcoming full-length from local shredders Commander Keen is a big ol’ beef patty sizzling on the grill. It’s not a slow burner; the edges are plenty crispy and standing too close is a good way to get your face melted off. Taking cues from heavyweight punk groups like Titus Andronicus with a heavy dose of Dinosaur Jr. skate vibes, there’s a lot to unpack here from the thick riffs to a rhythm section that just won’t dial it down, no matter how many times the neighbors call the cops. It wouldn’t be unwarranted for you to feel a little bloated and exhausted at the end of it all. But you know you actually want another serving, yeah?
Catch Commander Keen with Terrible, Mouth Reader, and BUMMRcity this Thursday (03.03) at Drkmttr. It’s a packed-out bill featuring some of our favorite locals, and you’d be a damn fool to sleep on it. –Austin Phy