There’s always room in punk for acts with a hyper-referential, tongue-in-cheek theme to their work. I first checked out Minneapolis’ Citric Dummies when I saw the title and cover of their 2023 LP Zen and the Arcade of Beating Your Ass, a clever nod to Hüsker Dü’s 1984 double album Zen Arcade and the masterwork from Cleveland’s 9 Shocks Terror, Zen and the Art of Beating Your Ass. The latest release by these Dummies is another sly grin called Split With Turnstile, proving again their knack for crafting relentlessly catchy thrash without taking themselves too seriously, much like Circle Jerks, Adrenalin O.D. or the aforementioned 9 Shocks. If hijinks are your thing, Thursday’s show marks the final Snooper gig of 2025, a big year for them as they dropped their sophomore album Worldwide this fall before a tour with The Hives. This might be your only chance to see Snooper and their collection of stage props and costumes in a room as small as The End. Local openers Family Dog put out my favorite 2025 EP by a Nashville punk troupe in July, before releasing Familial God earlier this month. The Dog’s second release is another rabid scorcher drenched with guitar feedback and dissonant dissent.
8 p.m. at The End
2219 Elliston Place
