Gig Alert: Check Out Sleeping in the Aviary at Rubber Gloves Tonight

By Pete Freedman Tue., Dec. 16 2008 at 4:51 PM

Yes, the weather outside is indeed frightful but, if you're done shopping, I can't think of anything better than heading to Denton and catching Sleeping in the Aviary tonight.

The Madison band's core of Elliott Kozel (guitar/vocals), Michael Sienkowski (drums) and Phil Mahlstadt (bass), recently added a fourth member, Celeste Heule, on accordion and musical saw. Comparisons to everyone from Violent Femmes to Nirvana to Neutral Milk Hotel have resulted in SITA finding a firm footing in a wonderfully unclassifiable wilderness where a lot of other great acts reside.

Expensive Vomit in a Cheap Hotel, the band's wonderfully titled sophomore efforts, finds Kozel and crew expanding far beyond the unrehearsed punk/noise of their debut. Songs like "Everybody's Different, Everybody Dies," Windshield" and "Write On" are dripping with lo-fi, indie cool and slacker irreverence. With only a slight hint of pop, the songs of Sleeping in the Aviary, which also just played thee region this past weekend for a gig at the Double Wide, feature odd time signatures, bizarre production flourishes and just the right amount of whimsy.

Also appearing on tonight's bill will be two local acts: Giggle Party and Young and Brave. As long as Rubber Gloves' heating system is working, this should be a fun evening of enjoyable cacophony. --Darryl Smyers