WHY HAVEN’T YOU HEARD OF KOWLOON WALLED CITY?

I’ve been to San Francisco once, and as a born-and-raised New Yorker I was kinda surprised that I sorta liked the place – in a totally heterosexual Jesse-from-Full-House-way. At one point during this trip, my gracious hosts intentionally drove me through the Tenderloin, a notorious neighborhood home to roughly 300% of the city’s vice and poverty. Given that Kowloon Walled City rehearses in this classy part of town, it’s no surprise that the band draws inspiration from its squalor and sin, and that makes the music just terrific.

Since, generally speaking, consumers are lost and frightened without reference points, let me describe Kowloon Walled City in the following three words: Unsane meets Zozobra. (OMG! DID THAT JUST BLOW YOUR MIND?!) Frontman Scott Evans formidably roars his lyrics over a meaty sludgy noise rock stew that relies heavily on downtuned guitar riffage, though perhaps my favorite player here is bassist Ian Miller, who somehow manages to play hard and deep enough for his throbbing groove to penetrate the dense, moist mix. Turned on yet, baby? Well, you oughta download the Turk Street EP for FREE and, if you like it, mayhaps you’ll want to own a copy on CD or 10″ vinyl, both available at the band’s adorable little webshoppe. Consider it the Christmas gift your family is too ignorant to buy for you.

-GS

[Gary Suarez superpoked your sister. He also writes for Brainwashed and barely manages the consistently off-topic No Yoko No.]