Show Preview: Chain and the Gang at Emo's [Saturday @ Emo's]

If the name Ian Svenonius doesn't immediately ring a bell, you'll probably know of his many projects over the years, starting with the influential Nation of Ulysses in the early '90s and continuing onward with the minimal r&b punk of The Make-Up and the more abstract Weird War.

Behind each of these groups Svenonius acts as a mouthpiece and ideologue, pushing an "anti-imperialism" doctrine that spills over from his lyrics and onto the page with writings like The Psychic Soviet. His latest musical project is Chain and the Gang, which takes his lo-fi punk and blues leanings to the next level. Their latest record, Down With Liberty... Up With Chains! is appropriately out on K Records.

Speaking of K, Calvin Johnson's project The Hive Dwellers have joined Chain and the Gang for this tour. Opening the show are noise-pop lovin' locals Peel, who, after riding high on the release of their debut and follow-up EP, have been a little slippery and up to who knows what lately. This show will be the perfect opportunity to find out.

Chain and the Gang: [myspace]
Peel: [website] [myspace]