Naan Violence at the Lamplighter

Arjun Kulharya returns to Memphis with new music.

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Two and a half years after Naan Violence released its debut album at the Lamplighter Lounge, the band is back with a sophomore album, and the release party will once again be at the smoke-filled Midtown dive. In a 2013 interview with the Memphis Flyer, sitar player and band founder Arjun Kulharya said that he wanted to push Naan Violence past what audiences might be expecting from the type of instrument he plays.

    "With this band, I wasn't interested in playing traditional music," Kulharya says. "I really dig Sun Ra and I think that probably has something to do with our sound."

    Now, after a few jaunts across the country, Naan Violence will release Naan Violence II, presumably another collection of spaced-out sitar sounds complete with flute arrangements, tablas, and analog synthesizer. Speaking of synthesizer, new-ish synth band Zuul will also be on the bill, along with locals NOTS (who also have a synth player). Rounding out the bill is Kulharya’s newest project, the fully electric Death Panels, whose performance will be recorded live. The show is free to attend, but buying merchandise from all the bands is, as always, highly recommended. Check out a video of Naan Violence playing live in Brooklyn, New York, below.

    Naan Violence, Zuul,  NOTS, and Death Panels, Saturday, January 30th, at the Lamplighter, 10 p.m.