Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC

Critic's Pick: Purling Hiss

By Elliott Sharp

Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Mar. 2, 2011

Photo by Olivia Vaughn

Philadelphia’s Purling Hiss is well-versed in the snarling excess of Detroit slime rock. Each song from 2010’s Hissteria emerges with a piercing feedback bite that implies the fuming vision of MC5’s Rob Tyner telling the Grande Ballroom audience what time it was on that epic Halloween night in 1968. But while Hissteria celebrated the sonic confrontation of the Stooges’ Raw Power, Public Service Announcement showed Hiss’ Mike Polizze bidding (temporary?) farewell to manic rapture. Like a soldier perched in the jungle still gripping his gun because he missed the surrender memo, the album plays like a renegade DJ broadcasting from an AM station trapped somewhere in between Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage and the Ghostbusters soundtrack. The references of the schizoid dream—5150’s wankery, Lewis Carroll, “Crockett’s Theme”—beckon memories of going blind on Double Dragon and overdosing on Doritos in your parent’s basement. Which vision Purling Hiss crafts tonight is anyone’s guess.

Thurs., March 3, 8pm. $8. With Watery Love. Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St. 215.291.4919. kungfunecktie.com