Auto destruct

Why are Maserati named after an Italian car company? I dunno. Like headliners Zombi they're an instrumental combo. They like to use delay, and wrench strange sounds from their Fender guitars with the judicious flex of the headstock. They also put their drummer up front. They appear to have four regular members and a heap of touring help, so I don't have much idea who's who, so on with the pictures.

Drummer Jerry Fuchs (I think) and his well-lit drum kit.



I presume this is touring bassist Chris McNeal stuck in back.



Another one of those guitar slingers.



The whole lot!



Jerry gets some percussive assistance.



Math-prog action!





One of their numerous axemen works the feedback during the finale.



A great set from these guys.

Sleeping with the dead

Last night at Mavericks offered an interesting quartet of acts. First, Dr. Wily and The Robot Masters. This young foursome plays instrumental metal versions of Nintendo soundtracks. I never played enough to Nintendo to recall any of their theme songs so perhaps that's just a leg pull. But I doubt it.



Next up, Sleeping Pilot, the only band with vocals that evening, and the band most likely to have members fall over one another.



I was particularly impressed with instrumental combo Maserati; to me they sound like a less aggressive Pelican, or perhaps a more volatile Mono.



Finally Zombi closed the night off - because of their association with Relapse, they're sometimes tagged to as a metal band. I imagine they appeal more to fans of Goblin. They take their name from the Dario Argenta film Goblin soundtracked, so I'm sure it's not a comparison they'd duck. Phaedra-era Tangerine Dream may figure in there as well.



They were cool, but work better on headphones, I'd say.

• Show reminder: The Sick Fits perform a short-notice show at Irene's with Paul Fenton, producer of their upcoming CD; The Soiree, Flotilla and Acres play Zaphod Beeblebrox.