The last few years have seen an abundance of never-commercially-successful-but-musically-significant acts come out of the past generation’s woodwork to organize reunion tours whereby young truth seekers and fond nostalgists can convene to express gratitude for said acts’ profound impact on the musical landscape. And often this impact is overblown. Some might mistakenly believe that Michael Rother, the former guitarist and surviving member of Krautrock pioneers NEU!, performing their music under the name ‘Hallogallo’ with the help of Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth on drums and Aaron Mullan, falls into this category. But to understand the significance of NEU!’s legacy, it’s important to know that their 1972 eponymous debut—all driving motorik rhythm, pulsing bass lines, and proto-ambient noise—influenced art-rock overlords like Joy Division, Brian Eno and David Bowie. The band split up in 1975, and Rother went on to make more influential work as a solo artist and with Harmonia, but the band’s influence has stretched nearly a full four decades at this point. (Todd Hieggelke)
September 8 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 NorthLincoln, (773)525-2501, 9pm. $20.
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