Getting to Know the Armed, the Most Unknowable Band in Hardcore | Hacker News Reader

Getting to Know the Armed, the Most Unknowable Band in Hardcore

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I've been to a few of their shows, what an experience. The last show of theirs that I went to was at Saint Vitus in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. A guy donned a full ghillie suit and was floating around the pit. About a quarter through their set, he set up a folding table in the middle of the floor, sat down, and proceeded unwrap a giant bowl of seafood -- mussels, clams, calamari, you name it. It stunk up the whole place. The whole experience was bizarre, and thats generally been the theme of every show I've been to.

I’ve been to a number of converge shows and followed Andrew WK as I liked his childish optimism and fun persona when contrasted with the more morbid and aggressive stuff. They both put on amazing show experiences.

This project, being based out of Detroit/Michigan makes it seem like it could be an Andrew wk project. He’s well versed in absurdity and image creation. It always surprised me how Andrew wk was in target commercials. The fact that the armed is mentioned in a ford ad makes sense.

I’ve never heard of this band before this post and about to go down a rabbit hole.

Actually the music is not too much to my taste, however I find the public persona and manipulation of their perception to be interesting.

Wow, crazy to see a band I follow show up on here.

If you're finding yourself gravitate to their sound, I would also like to recommend:

- Death Grips

- Perfect Pussy

- Black Midi

- (early) Tera Melos

- Metz

If I think of more, I'll add 'em.

- Lightning Bolt

- Black Pus

- Arab on Radar

- Raspberry Bulbs

You folks may also enjoy:

- Rough Francis

- Shellac

- Rapeman

One of the cats from Rough Francis may have played with the Armed. And they’ve always struck me as the sort of project that Steve Albini would eventually record.

I'm not sure Steve Albini would go for hypesters. He seems the sort of person who would look into what's going on here.

There's an amazing breadth of talent of various kinds going into The Armed, and a heck of a lot of money, but I'm not at all sure this is a band.

Steve Albini will record whoever pays him money. He sets up the mics, runs the board and watches the tape machine as the band plays. He's very principled about this.

This is true, but for Albini there's a big difference between bands he records and bands he likes. He's on record as not liking Nirvana very much, but recorded them on principle. And he's super allergic to any kind of hypebeast music.

Glassjaw are another band I'd add to the list. Though its been many years since they're produced a track.

Edit: wow, they never broke up. Off to the rabbit hole I go.

You sent me down a Glassjaw rabbit hole too. I’d never listened to them but I’m a fan. Thanks friend!

Lighting Bolt is one of three bands I go see every time they come around, I've seen them atleast 5 times. The others are NOFX and Sunn O))

Lightning Bolt is like my hyperfocus button.

Brian Chippendale is amazing.

Deerhoof. If you like Lightning Bolt because of the drumming of Brian Chippendale, you'll probably dig what Greg Saunier is doing behind the kit. He's seriously one of the most exciting new drummers to come along in quite some time.

"Ultrapop" was one of my favourite records last year. Great band, very exciting and worth a listen. Although if you're not a fan of hardcore in general I suspect it won't make your regular play list!

These guys seem to be channeling early Skinny Puppy. The vocal intonation and mix in particular are hauntingly similar. It's good stuff.

Early as in remission/bites or early as in later pre-breakup?

My interest in them started a while back when i stumbled on this video. Quite inspired but a little on the nose as such music has to be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhmBpAlKQxo

For me it was this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXAbE870b8Y

Everything the Armed seem to do has an element of eating food, usually somebody else's food or bizarre food choices.

> sips on a hookah rested gently between the two front seats

I seriously hope this isn't literal. Isn't it like bong water? With hot coals resting on the top?

You really shouldn't read the history of rock 'n roll if a hookah is shocking... ;)

But yes, it's a way of smoking something -- like a bong or a pipe, it's agnostic as to its contents -- through water. Essentially it's a larger, standing bong.

I think they meant that person is sipping on the smoke out of the hose in a figurative sense. I hope they're not actually drinking the dirty water; among other things, I would imagine it tastes awful.

Now I can even get new music recommendations from hackernews!

Thanks, am loving The Armed. Discovering new bands helps me stay young.

Seems like Vice is declining in their pursuit of good stories.

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