Xerobot are generally classified as a latter-day no-wave band, but their bizarre yowling and herky-jerky math-rock can’t really be stuffed into the box of a single style, no matter how odd or angular. The Madison-based band were active throughout the 90s, then moved to the west coast in 1999, where they subsequently split up. While still in Wisconsin, they played Chicago regularly, blasting out spasmodic but meticulously constructed snippets of weird dorky aggression that nodded to the new wave nerdery of Devo, the crazed noisecore of Melt-Banana, the off-kilter punk-funk of Firehose, and the postdisco deconstructions of the Contortions before flailing off into their own joyful staccato assault.
In 2021 Chunklet Industries released a self-titled compilation that includes Xerobot’s only full-length, 1996’s Control Panel, along with a bunch of live tracks and other odds and ends. Nearly 30 years after its release, the record still sounds gloriously and uniquely unhinged: Singer Greg Peters squeals like a chipmunk in a blender while guitarist Dave Broekema, drummer Steve Coombs, and bassist Eric Landmark stab and scrape their way through fiendish compositions that seem to be made entirely of serrated edges and gaping clown smiles.
Xerobot are also touring again. In December, they dropped a marvelous video of their first rehearsal in 25 years, where they reconstruct their music and energy to a remarkable degree. “Warts and all, warts and all,” Peters mutters between tunes, then spins in circles in front of the microphone. The instant the band explodes to life, he starts to shake and shriek with the feral frenzy of yore. Ordinarily you can only catch lightning in a bottle once before it’s gone, but sometimes—if you’re just weird enough—the magic never goes away.
Xerobot Bobby Conn and James Marlon Magas open. Fri 8/15, 8 PM, Burlington Bar, 3425 W. Fullerton, $19.90, 21+
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