In May, Peelander-Z almost paid the ultimate price for any traveling band. On I-40 in New Mexico, a semitruck rear-ended the touring van transporting the Japanese space-punk trio from Austin. A headline in San Francisco quoted the group’s social media with “lucky to be alive,” but a photo from the scene ratchets that up to “miraculous.” All three musicians were extracted from the mangled remains of the vehicle. Kengo Hioki, Yumiko Kanazaki, and Hideyuki Watanabe all survived, but the magnitude of talent on this bill speaks to their physical trauma and near-death experience. HOF punk (Gamblers), Netflix soundtrackers for Will Ferrell’s The Hawk (OctProj), and grunge greats (16D) pass the tip jar. – Raoul Hernandez
