The Bizarros and the Tufted Puffins

Date and Time for this Past Event

• Friday, May 20, 2022  8 p.m.

Location

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Details

Akron’s Bizarros had substantial impact on the early indie scene, through their hard-edged records and singer Nick Nicholis’s Clone label, which released records by The Waitresses, Human Switchboard and others.

In a classic case of bridesmaidery, the Bizarros – who reformed in the 21st century – were more influential than popular.

Playing serious, intense, sometimes hypnotic rock with poetically inclined verbiage and pre-Gang of Four jabbing guitars, Bizarros music was strong and affecting. Their half of From Akron (a 1977 album they shared with Rubber City Rebels) is pretty raw and hard to enjoy.

But by the time of their 1979 self-titled album (released by a major label, self-produced with an engineer, wrapped in strictly amateur artwork) the band had developed considerable polish, which they used to good advantage without compromising their strength.

Five subsequent releases followed, the last in 1981, and The Bizarros took a 23-year hiatus, reemerging in 2003 with You Can’t Fight Your Way Up Town From Here.

The Tufted Puffins is a re-emergence of musicians from numerous local bands of note in the volatile 80's and 90's Cleveland / Kent / Akron scene. It was a time when Devo, The Dead Boys, The Pagans, Tin Huey, and Pere Ubu were local bar bands. The music is a high energy blending of Garage Punk and Rock and Roll. Having been through it all before, the Puffins are in the perfect space to focus on the music and ignore the BS. As a part of the burgeoning Cleveland music scene we're surrounded by great bands and venues and audiences that other towns would kill for. It's a band of seasoned musicians who just want to play for the pure joy of raucous music.

But don't be fooled into thinking this is another lame punk revival band! The Tufted Puffins take the stage with a fierceness that only veteran punkers understand. Forged in the fires of the Cleveland punk tradition; angry aggression mixed with sarcastic goofiness; the Puffins bring a fresh new sound along with true authenticity. Jagged hooks, screaming guitars, pounding drums, all mix with a new sense of melody and tricky song writing that gives the Tufted Puffins their own unique sound.

Make no mistake. The point of a Tufted Puffins show is big sweaty aggressive fun. We leave it all on the stage every show. The audience sweats as much as the band. That's the Cleveland way to do it!