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Acumen
Nation, Arrow Down
Valentine’s,
Thursday
With
the release of The Fifth Column in May 2002, industrial
metal-mavens Acumen Nation justified the comparisons to Prodigy
and Static-X that have been made throughout the quartet’s
eight years of existence together. After an initial legal
battle over the “Acumen” moniker, More Human Heart
became the first album released by the newly-dubbed Acumen
Nation (under the Conscience label in 1997), and the band
continued to inject their cyber-heavy sound in each of the
albums that followed. The band are touring in support of this
year’s Lord of the Cynics, released in September, and
will be joined on stage by Arrow Down. The 18-and-over show
will begin at 8 PM. (Dec. 18, 8 PM, $10, 432-6572)
 Great
Day For Up CD-Release Party
Valentine’s,
Friday
From
Norway to Germany to Italy, fans of heavy music are singing
the praises of Great Day for Up. Well, we’re certain about
the first two; honestly, we couldn’t translate the Italian
review, but the clear references to Mr. Bungle, Helmet, Primus
and Frank Zappa can’t be bad, can they? GDFU, as they’re known
to those in the know, received this far-flung praise for their
first release, Ready Rock, a thick and propulsive combination
of technical skill, raw aggression and an unlikely blend of
street smarts and artistic ambition. (How many other bands
of this ilk could get away with a Talking Heads cover, as
GDFU have been known to do?) Tomorrow (Friday), the band will
celebrate the release of their latest, God Loves a Sinner,
their first for the Boston label Curve of the Earth Records.
Lending some additional volume will be Small Axe, the Hidden
and Shift. (Dec. 19, 8 PM, 432-6572)
Beer
Drinkin’ Holiday Hoopla
King’s
Tavern, Saratoga Springs, Saturday
This
festive freebee treat at King’s Tavern—one of Saratoga’s most
enjoyable venues—boasts a sonic smorgasbord with a little
something for everyone. The Sixfifteens will bring their angular,
quirky rock, while 1000 Year Plan (formerly Eighteen Hundred
and Froze to Death) will import their jagged, instrumental
math-rock from NYC; End of a Year rock like an early Dischord
band while Sugar Eater are on the pop end of the punk spectrum,
and Grand Habit are shoegazers with style to burn. The Sixfifteens
also promise to join forces with Hans from End of a Year for
a few songs, but you’ll have to show up to hear which rock
powerhouse they’re going to dust off for the occasion. (Dec.
20, 8 PM, Free, 584-9643)
eN~DoR~PHiN,
the Sofa Kingz, Divest, Imprint
Valentine’s,
saturday
Local
metal-rockers eN-DoR-PHiN will release their long-awaited
new EP, 3 Greater Than 4, at Valentine’s this Saturday,
and a host of bands from around the region will lend their
sound to the evening’s festivities. A talent for blending
haunting keyboards, pleading vocals and a barrage of guitar,
bass and drums have earned the trio a comparison to rockers
such as Tool and Type O Negative, while several years of relentless
touring throughout the Northeast have earned the band a dedicated
following. Joining eN-DoR-PHiN for this 18-and-over show will
be the Sofa Kingz, Divest and Imprint. Copies of 3 Greater
Than 4 will accompany the $10 admission charge. (Dec.
20, 8 PM, $10, 432-6572)
 Gloria
Deluxe
Club
Helsinki, Sunday
Cynthia
Hopkins, a veteran of composing and performing music for movies
and theater, formed her band Gloria Deluxe in 1999 with Kristin
Mueller, Josh Stark, Chris Bonner and Philppa Thompson. The
band were designed to highlight Hopkins’ accordion playing
and songwriting, and they employ less-than-everyday instruments
such as saws, washboards and spoons. Their theatrical live
performances have given them a unique presence on the alt-country
scene. David Cote, from Time Out New York, has an interesting
way to describe Hopkins’ stage personality: “Imagine Lotte
Lenya’s kid sister shacking up in a cheap Atlanta hotel with
Tom Waits and spending her time slumming with visionaries,
addicts and murderers.” Check them out when they stop by Club
Helsinki on Sunday. (Dec. 21, 8 PM, $10, 413-528-3394)
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