For all of the surreal, left-field and at-times difficult music Baltimore produces, it's nice to be reminded there are local musicians doing meat-and-potatoes rock music. Enter Bryson Dudley, whose band (the no-nonsense titled Bryson Dudley Band) headlines the Metro Gallery on Friday.
The guitars on Dudley's 2011 EP "Cold Summer Brew" (download it for free here) have the right amount of fuzz, a nice change of pace from bands drowning in their own walls of sound. These are straight-forward tales of "girls laying out in the sun" ("Swimming Pool") and "hanging out with a few of my friends from the old crowd" (the excellent title track). The EP proves that sometimes — especially during those sweltering, lazy days — uncomplicated garage rock can be the perfect summer soundtrack. (Is it June yet?) If Bryson Dudley has yet to land an opening gig with the J Roddy Walston crew, you have to wonder: what's the hold up?
Two more Baltimore bands — Among Wolves (a band Dudley plays in) and Desert Boys — will also take the stage. Show starts at 9 p.m. 18+. Tickets are $8 and available here.