MP3 of the Day: Arsenal 88 - "Open Wound"

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​Arsenal 88 is one of these bands I've been seeing on flyers a lot lately, and I'm pleased to share this MP3 with you, our valued readers. Looking over their factsheet I'm impressed by the local pedigree the members bring. Andres Aguero, vocalist, sang for Foolproof; pianist / guitarist / vocalist Klaus Ketelhohn played guitar with the Agency; drummer Mike Batlle played for In Droves and Portraits of Autumn; second guitarist Joe Beraldi also strung for Foolproof; and bassist Rob Vespe played with Going Nowhere. That's about 16 years' experience of South Florida gigging that is not lost on the recording.

The levels are good and the nuances of guitar work spread through the recording give it a good feel, setting up the heavy moments and the breaks. I'm hearing a lot of the members' collective backgrounds here as well, as tones of arena-esque grandeur that would've been so at home within the intimate hallows of the late Cheers.... But that's just me getting nostalgic. It also helped that Mike Marsh (of The Agency/Dashboard Confessional fame) engineered and produced the recording.

Catch them this coming Saturday at the German-American club alongside Hit Play!, Audacity, Not From Concentrate, Your Favorite Franchise and Araka! where proceeds of the show will go to benefit the Sandor Wiener School of Opportunity, which does exceptional work for our special-needs students here in Miami-Dade County.

MP3: Arsenal 88 - "Open Wound"

Arsenal 88. With Hit Play!, Your Favorite Franchise, Audacity, Not From Concentrate and Araka! 4 p.m. Saturday, May 22. The German-American Club, 11919 SW 56th St. Miami. All ages; tickets cost $10. 305-552-5123; germanamericanclub-miami.org