Memorial Day Rock @ Khon’s: Fugitive Kind + Muhammad Ali + The Wiggins

Memorial Day, tomorrow (Mon., May 31st, obviously), and despite the distinct possibility of being overwhelmed by the barbecueing and swimming and picnicking and family and remembering and all, don’t fret — there’s still good music to be had. I’m talking about the evening’s show at Khon’s Bar in Midtown, where Oakland punks Fugitive Kind will be headlining after locals {Muhammad Ali} and {The Wiggins} blow the doors off.

Sadly, I can’t say a whole lot about Fugitive Kind themselves — you wouldn’t believe how many damn bands out there are named after the Brando film, and yet, none of the ones I’m finding online are from California. The Muhammad Ali guys freaking rule, though, funneling awesomely catchy, head-nodding melodies through a blanket of snarling fuzz and fuck-it-all abandon. Then there’s The Wiggins, aka one-man-band Jon Read, who plays these scratchy little cracked garage-pop songs that make me think of a bluesy Half Japanese in their strangeness.

Both the latter bands have new-ish stuff out, btw — Read’s got a self-titled 7″ out as of March on Needless Recs, and I think Muhammad Ali put out both a new 7″ recently and a split-cassette with Dallas’s Leg Sweeper. Bring some cash, ’cause it’s all bound to be pretty well limited-edition stuff.

Definitely worth escaping from the annual family shindig for; the show starts at 7PM, and the cover’s $5.