It’s spring 2025 and feels more like winter, but there’s some weird noise rock in the air mixed with the undeniable bacon odors that come for free with a visit to X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy, WI. Tuesday night, Kickstand Productions, all ages, three bands. Couldn’t think of a better place to be.
For those who are unaware, X-Ray arcade is basically a small concert venue with a bar and some arcade games attached. Dive bar feel and very Wisconsin. Looks like a house from the outside. Directly across the street from Patrick Cudahy (now Smithfield Culinary?) meat factory.
Sneak peak of the stage and as always the rad zombie artwork on the backdrop. Grab your favorite beverage and earplugs, it’s time!
Islander
Openers were a band called Islander that I hadn’t heard of before but apparently they’ve been around since 2011 and toured with some pretty big acts. I hate describing bands in terms of musical genres but they are somewhere in the alt-metal (nu-metal? ugh) spectrum. Kind of made me think if P.O.D. and Chevelle had a baby that had the same melodic singing but screams/guitar are more metal. Lead singer dude is rocking some rad pro-wrassler style face paint and has good presence. Not bad. No setlist but I know they played a song called Coconut Dracula because the name stuck with me and they got some hand waving movement from the audience (song has 1M views on YouTube, wow).
Silly Goose
Middle child of the lineup was Silly Goose who are a rap-rock band. This one young girl who locked down front & center of the stage (and who was dressed in a ridiculously skimpy outfit and very aggressively trying to get the attention of the lead singer) described the band’s style as, and I quote, “Temu-brand Limp Bizkit.” Very accurate and very much not my thing. Respect though they did have a following and the crowd was energized during the set. Even got a small mosh pit going. Kudos for the kids doing things. Setlist here.
’68
Main reason I’m here is for ’68 which is fronted by former The Chariot vocalist Josh Scogin. I was able to see The Chariot back in 2013 before they called it quits and I have to say it was one of, if not the best, live performance I’ve seen. This was…something else. I’d call it more performance art with a soundtrack. I expected this but someone not knowing beforehand would probably be confused. And that’s what makes this fun. Plus face-melting rock noise.
This duo is very firmly in the noise/experimental rock class. Lead singer with vocals and guitar, a drummer, both dressed in tuxedos, both facing each other and not looking at the crowd. Not your typical act. Setlist here (though incomplete).
Backdrop has some interesting graphics that are jittery, flashing, occasionally in style of stereoscopic 3D making me wonder if those old red/blue cellophane glasses would make them come alive.
Their lighting sucks but I think it’s intentionally aggressive to match the musical style. Just two super bright blinding LED work lights. Most of my photos ended up pretty blurred and trashy and that fits. Oh yeah, that thing that looks like a radio on a mic stand is a theremin – for those that don’t know, it makes spooky ghost sounds, basically the digital equivalent to playing a hand saw.
End of the show they had big graphics just saying “THE END” and during the song started removing pieces of the drum kit and other stage items before the song was over. Again, think art performance. Major points for originality. My ears kinda feel like bleeding too so a successful night.
