Digibot have been aurally assaulting injustice and idiocy at Madison performance spaces of every stripe for about a decade (other than a brief break a couple years back, the "Dark Ages" to their fan base). Smacking the basic punk rock form upside the head, the group's live shows have long been known for on-the-spot songwriting using chords shouted from the audience or selected from the "chord wheel," a spin-able, cracked cymbal.
Sometimes there are costumes. Sometimes they break into impromptu interpretive dance using the immediate surroundings. Sometimes there is trouble.
Though Digibot's songs usually tackle serious subjects, lyrically they more often than not filter their outrage through humor, making the listener consider more deeply what he or she is laughing about. "Wave to the Satellite" off their new album, Brutal, is a prime example, encouraging a one-finger salute to government monitors up in the sky.
Digibot's standard lineup (when they haven't switched instruments mid-set) features Mike Hess on vocals, Tim Radl on guitar, Andy Russell on bass and Bart Tulpo on drums. They'll celebrate the release of Brutal on Thursday, May 31, at the High Noon Saloon. The show starts at 9 p.m., with The Kites (releasing a new disc the same night as Digibot for the second time) and Chicago's Bang Bang also performing.
A MP3 of the track is available in the related downloads at right.
MadTracks highlights and provides MP3s of songs performed by local musicians. All tracks here are provided with permission of the artist. If you are a musician based in the Madison metro area and are interested in sharing your work as a MadTrack, please send a message.
