As the semester draws to a close, and we witness the end of Club Laga, a few venues around… As the semester draws to a close, and we witness the end of Club Laga, a few venues around Pittsburgh are still kickin?. Japan?s finest spazzcore/noise rock act Melt Banana will be coming to town with Mike Patton?s side project, Fantomas, on Thursday night. The show begins around 8:30 p.m., so it?s nice for people to be able to sneak out for a show before finals comes up in a few short weeks.

Melt Banana is probably more popular here in the states compared to their home of Japan. Contrary to popular belief, vocalist Yasuko O. sings, screams and speaks in machine-gun English phrases. Most think that she does this in her native Japanese tongue, but it is in English.

Guitarist Agata is the band?s most unique member. While the rest of the band members have their own quirky secrets, Agata wears a surgeon?s mask, or some other form of mask, at every show. This is because he is rumored to have a communicable disease, which only lets him remove his mask when he?s eating. It remains on him for the rest of the time.

Melt Banana?s latest album, Cell Scape, is a lot more accessible than their previous material, but still difficult to get into for those without an open mind. If you want a real raw example of what they do, pick up their seminal Speak Squeak Creak, which was mastered by Steve Albini (Smashing Pumpkins, Shellac, Nirvana, Mogwai and many more). Their live shows are energetic and frantic, especially with covers. Imagine their sound to be similar to the Beach Boys? ?Surfin? U.S.A.?

Fantomas? latest release is the full-length Delerium Cordia. The band features ex-Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton, who has been extraordinarily busy as of late. Patton has spent a great deal of time working with his other side projects, which include Tomahawk (and their phenomenal 2003 release, Mit Gas), as well as an EP with the Dillinger Escape Plan last year. The band also features ex-Slayer drummer, Dave Lombardo. But the only way to really describe this band, which formed from the ashes of Faith No More in 1998, is weird. It?s not the same kind of weird, which Melt Banana brings to the table, but rather its own unique brand, which adds much flavor to the whole show.

If you?re looking for something besides all that boring rock and think that Laga?s closing was the end of the Pittsburgh concert life, you need to get yourself down to Nick?s Fat City this Thursday. It promises to be a wonderful night of wackiness and raw energy onstage. See you kids there.