Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC

Critic's Pick: Acid Mothers Temple

By Bryan Bierman

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted May. 1, 2012

Acid Mothers

Despite what your dealer tells you, most jam bands aren’t very good, no matter how much cheap peyote you’ve stuffed inside your sad body. Thankfully, the Japanese collective Acid Mothers Temple have been inverting this trope for almost 20 years, with an amalgam of wild psychedelia, noisy metal, hardcore punk and flowing ambience that continuously holds your interest. Led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto, the group is really an umbrella name for more than 10 off-shoot bands, full of dozens of revolving members and a giant discography. The current touring incarnation is the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., and like the rest of the group’s strangely funny work, it creates Hawkwind-sized riffs that force you to think about unknown planets and alien gods, even if you’re sober—which is really the true test for a jam band.

Wed., May 2, 8pm. $13. With Phantom Family Halo + the Clang Quartet. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. johnnybrendas.com