By Shawn Parow

Ace Fu Records’ The Family Business, Sin-e, Jan. 24

So now we have a monthly concert series.  As I stood outside Sin-e just before the first show, Goes Cube guitarist David Obuchowski confided in me that their evening plan involved “making everyone’s ears bleed.”  I, the experienced concert-goer (with ears that have withstood Mogwai) that I am, accepted his challenge.  After opener The Gritty Midi Gang offered up a set reminiscent of The Postal Service without Ben Gibbard’s wussiness, Goes Cube stepped up. With the gauntlet thrown down, I went in sans earplugs, which was a good idea for somewhere around 15 seconds, when I twisted in a pair to save my hearing as their songs smashed out like lottery numbers—Goes Cube Song 17, Goes Cube Song 25.  

When they finished, I ambled outside to recover.  Dazed but not down, I returned inside two cigarettes later for headliners The Art of Shooting, who burst forth like an army of Kim Gordons, rocking the crowd’s collective face off to close out the evening.  Later that night, as I fell asleep, my ears were ringing quite awesomely, but they were 100% not bleeding.  Valiant attempt, Mr. Obuchowski. Valiant attempt.