GRAPE JUICE PLUS: “The Simian Syndrome is the debut album from Chicago duo Grape Juice Plus. Featuring Barry Bennett on drums, keys and vocals, and Eric Klotz on guitar, these guys are not the usual guitar drum rock duo like Black Keys or Japandroids. What you get is a highly original, experimental band that pushes the limits everywhere. This is an album of edgy, discordant, improvisational music, with plenty of depth, ranging from rock cliches to African tribal rhythms. This is one of the most creative albums so far this year and will challenge listeners at all levels. A definite must have.” ——– Floorshime Zipperboots

Grape Juice Plus. What is it? A haunted liquid to stimulate the auditory nerves? Ape Astronaut Zira’s favorite libation? The end of 2017 saw them sharing a bill with Stick Men (featuring Markus Reuter and King Crimson ' s Tony Levin & Pat Mastelotto ). This is the mighty GJP'S first show of 2018!

Barry Bennett: drumming, synths, vox Eric Klotz: guitar Tony Churchill: projections (live)

Born out of a series of Monday morning sessions, both musicians were looking be pushed to new areas of their improvisational sand boxes. Bennett, a fixture of Chicago’s free rock scene dating back to the classic band, MiLkBabY. Klotz, emerging from the world of jazz and fusion. Well, they found some new sand. this one populated by apes on horseback. Http:// barrybennettsounds.com

Matt Tate: Simply put, one the leading voices on the Chapman Stick and touch guitar in the region. With his band, Pavlov(3), he has shared stages and bills with Bladerunner (Zorn, Laswell, Lombardo), Stick Men (Levin, Mastelotto, Reuter) TU (Gunn-Mastelotto), Secret Chiefs 3, Cleric, Kayo Dot, Yakuza... This will be a Solo performance.