The Roman Numerals and the Monitor at Mike's. The total number of hipsters I have seen dancing to these bands is vastly outweighed by the number of folks I've seen just plain rockin' out — especially to the Numerals, who have been around longer. God, I fucking love that band. They have no recordings out, so once in a while I have to drop by their Web site and listen to the audio stream of their not-so-new-anymore-but-still-kickass songs.
If you're new to the Roman Numerals, the Boozeday Tuesday matinee today from 8 to 10 p.m. at Mike's on Troost presents a great time to check them out. Granted, it probably won't be as exciting as when the Numerals tear up a club late on a weekend night, but these guys could burn it down at 10 a.m. in an elementary school cafetorium in Blue Valley (if the parents would allow it, which they wouldn't because the Roman Numerals' music is all about the metaphysical connection between death and the orgasm). If only Matador or someone were listening.
Though no less dark, the Monitor is far less serious. Techno facismo is the name of the game for this mostly electronic trio, comprised of Cody Wyoming (Golden Hearted Whores), John Ferguson (Bacon Shoe, In the Pines, Federation of Horsepower), and Devin Blair (Seaside Riot) — three veteran local musicians who decided to get all Orwell on our ass. I have to admit I was skeptical about this group when I first heard of it, and I still wasn't sure after listening to a copy of their three-song EP Survelliance. I thought it was too contrived and silly. But one night (at Jilly's, yet again), I saw them live. The music throbbed, the kids danced, the guys onstage looked angry and awesome, and since then, when I picture the future of the Monitor, I picture a boot stamping on a dance floor forever.
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