W8ING4UFOS with Flea Circus, and Okapi

CRITIC’S PICK:  W8ing4UFOS, Flea Circus and Okapi at Eyedrum. 

Yearning for a musical adventure off the beaten playlist? Make plans to visit eyedrum on Monday, Dec. 16 for a triple bill guaranteed to lead you astray. By now, everyone recognizes W8ing4UFOs as Atlanta’s preeminent no-fucks-to-give chamber rock ensemble. One of the fun factors about seeing the band of misfit boys and girls led by Bill Taft in person is that, due to life’s vagaries, you can never be certain what the instrumental lineup will be. Here’s hoping the whole crew shows up at eyedrum including that weirdo guitarist from Athens. Every time I’ve seen Flea Circus, they’ve honed their trippy jazz-rock thing to an ever keener edge. Can’t wait to hear how sharp they are this time around.

An okapi is an endangered mammal native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which looks like a cross between a giraffe and zebra. It’s also the name of a duo featuring cellist Lindsey Miller and contrabassist Scott Gorski who play intricately composed, intensely ruminative music, which they hope will “stimulate a universal confrontation with reality, with the hope of inspiring consciousness, healthy growth, and individual empowerment.” – Doug DeLoach