Mark the calendar. A few concerts/releases/fun times to look forward to in 2025

Plus, a throwback video with La Niña and a hardcore Why Not Wednesday with Inspite.

Jan 19, 2025

It’s mid January and already it’s stacking up to be a good year for us Bandgeeek types. Here’s a quick list of things you’ll wanna put in your mind calendar now (that is if you, like me, rely solely on your mind for these things, instead of like, using some kind of actual written calendar or app).

Werebear’s new EP, drop date TBD

This one is a long time coming for fans of the human-shapeshifter themed lo-fi punk project, led by Macondo drummer (and Spanspek organizer) Cristobal Carrillo.

It’s the first new music from Werebear in nearly 10 years, save for the Christmas song it released in 2021.

Carillo teamed up with sound engineer Steven Ordiano, at Studio Six Audio for recording and mixing. The EP is currently being mastered Eric Peters (ex-Sleepover Disaster/current Big Sur) with artwork (possibly/hopefully) from Robert Amador.

When can we expect to get a listen? “Still will be a while,” Carillo says.

Martirio, “Fuerza Ancestral,” on cassette in Feburary

Here’s one for the (cassette) tape fiends (looking at you The Fresnan); Martitio will release its “Fuerza Ancestral” EP on cassette in February.

The seven song EP was released on Bandcamp in June as “a testament to the strength, resilience, and struggles of ‘undocumented’ indigenous people, whose experiences often go unheard.” The sentiment is needed more now than ever, it seems.

The album is loud, aggressive, sub-three minute songs, played at breakneck speeds.

Tommy Stinton, solo show, Feb. 12, at Strummer’s

Ragin’ Records has show up in the past, curating some really cool events (the Melvin’s King Buzzo playing an art show on the Veni’s patio; Mike Watt doing a free jazz-improv performance with his trio).

On Saturday, the store announced it’s bringing in Tommy Stinson for a solo at the Strummer’s bar (as opposed to the venue proper). Stinson is an icon among the college-radio/alt-rock scene, as a founding member of the Replacements. He also went on replace Duff McKagan in Guns N’ Roses and was in Soul Asylum for awhile, before hitting it hard as a solo act.

Tickets for the show are on sale now over at Eventbrite. There is a VIP option that included hang-out time with the bassist. According to this Ragin Records post, that might include dinner. So …

Tower Porchfest sign-up happening now

A Save the Date has already gone out on Tower Porchfest 2025, so y’all are probably already aware it’s happening April 25.

So, this is more for those interested in A.) hosting a porch or B.) finding a porch on which to perform. Applications for porch hosts (ie. the festival actual curators) are open now. You just need to fill out a questionnaire, sign and waiver and get to it.

Those looking for a porch hookup, go here.

Watch now: Throwback with La Niña circa 2017

Over on Facebook, Erica Najera shared this video of her band, La Niña, playing the Fuss Fest in 2017. It’s a truncated version of a song you can see in full over on Steven Thomas’ Facebook page.

Editor’s note: Spend some time looking through the archive Thomas has put together. Holy hell.

La Niña was the short-lived band from Najera, drummer Tony Montanez and guitarist Kyle Riker. I still think about the single show I saw them play at Tokyo Garden (and I still wear the t-shirt I bought at said show).

Watch now: Why Not Wednesday w/InSpite

Meanwhile on Instagram, Meno Digital released a recap video of January’s Why Not Wednesday, which featured a performance from the hardcore band Inspite.

It’s a quick video with recorded music overlaid (as opposed to the live audio) that shows the band performing along Fulton Street to what looks like a massive/excited crowd. Editor’s note: Instagram won’t let me embed the video easily for some reason. Sorry.

Bandgeeeek!