Nerve Damage

By Tex Kerschen Don't plan on getting any work done on your face or starting that master cleanse from February 25 to -28: That's when Bad Ass Weekend IV slouches into our dear Babylon. You may be needing that extra face leather in the event that a fellow reveler's spiked accoutrement awards you a non-elective piercing whilst in the circle pit, and you may be needing the extra blood sugar to keep up with an intense schedule of events that crisscrosses three Warehouse District venues and nearby screen-printing shop Donkey Paw. This a celebration of everything bristly, blast--beaten and feedback-intensive, a cavalcade of heavy rockers from the UK, Mexico, Canada and all over the USA, including legends such as Skullflower, Warwound, Hellbastard, Excel, Rusted Shut, Black Leather Jesus, as well as modern miscreants like Total Abuse, Protomartyr, Calafia Puta, Cryptic Void, Cop Warmth, Spray Paint, Alimanas, Muhammad Ali, Rosemary Malign, Battle Rifle and many more worthies, old and new. Now is the time, as festival organizer Juan Carlos Newton says, "for the true weirdos to come out of the woodwork." Arrive a connoisseur, depart in ribbons.