Express 5: Terrior Bute on Milwaukee's Best

TERRIOR BUTE IS NOT the name of a French porn star.

Terrior Bute is a sloppy synth-punk trio from Milwaukee.

"It's a made-up name," drummer Henry Chern says. "We've been meaning to change it."

Jagged and quirky, Terrior Bute has that vexing new- or no-wave something-or-another sound powered by vintage synthesizers and keytars.

"We have a bad habit of breaking keytars," says synth player Jeff Graupner of the seldom-seen but still-slung, neck-worn ax. "If only someone would make one sturdy enough ... we'd buy it on eBay."

The four-year-old band's ruckus is pure raw energy — an assault of synth stabs and rhythm bombast kicked out Milwaukee-style.

"Milwaukee doesn't get enough credit," Chern says, half-jokingly.

The trio, which also includes keyboardist Ryan Coogan, enjoys talking up its hometown and the bands they rub elbows with, but with Graupner's mom's red Toyota truckster available — and with Graupner himself free between semesters at Loyola University Chicago — the time was ripe for Terrior Bute to spread its tectonic techno-rock sound out of town. The trio is out now supporting its new MP3 single, "Domes" (Vicious Pop Digital).

According to Chern, "Domes" exemplifies the group's unity of purpose while alternately serving up a sly nod to the hometown tourist trap. "It's a get-back-to-Milwaukee song," Churn says.

It's always about Brew City.

Terrior Bute took some time to give us two Express 5 lists before its Wednesday concert at the Velvet Lounge.

Express 5 CDs that the band is rocking in its tour van:

1. Spank Rock and Benny Blanco, "Are ... Bangers & Cash" (Downtown Recordings). "It's dirty, man," Chern says of the booty-shaking hip-hop project. "Plus, it's good to have something with a heavy back-beat when you're driving."
2. The USA Is a Monster, "Wohaw" (Load Records) This Brooklyn-based noise-rock duo is noted for its fiery live shows and progressive punk-rockin'.
3. Japanther, "Skuffed Up My Huffy" (Menlo Park). Again, Brooklyn; also a duo, and the band's new one is in Terrior Bute's CD player. 'Nuff said.
4. No Age, "Weirdo Rippers" (FatCat). This Los Angeles dark-pop duo's latest is a sleeper hit that may or may not awaken the masses, but its lo-fi sound quality hits home with those comfortable within the full spectrum of frequency.
5. Kraftwerk, "Computer World" (Capitol). The electronic music classic: "Business, numbers, money, people — Computer World." "It's so great," says Coogan, Terrior Bute's Moog-ist. "I've re-discovered it again."

Express 5 of Terrior Bute's favorite fellow Milwaukee bands:

1. Juiceboxxx. Hip-hoppers and hip shakers alike are abuzz over this up-and-coming rap act. His old-school-ish influences may outdate him by a decade or more, but Juiceboxxx definitely got juice.
2. Big Fun. Currently on tour with the 'Bute, Big Fun is likewise electronically tinged but more power-pop than pissed punk. And the band is a Web-labelmate of Terrior Bute.
3. Squidbotz. The Big Fun boys' vocoder-infused electro-techno side project, Squidbotz assume a universal appreciation for hand claps, hair metal, and heavy bass. Also on http://www.viciouspopdigital.com/ .
4. Cougar Den. Straight up, Brew City hardcore thrash. The Terrior Bute guys say they aspire to the same level of energy and intensity as Cougar Den. Not an easy task in the face of this wall of guitar noise and screaming lungs.
5. Catacombs of Rome. According to Graupner, the band moved to Milwaukee only recently but it has taken it by storm. The group's heavy rock is smart but ultimately riff-worshipping.

» Velvet Lounge, 915 U St. NW; Wed., 9 p.m., $7; 202 462-3213. (U St.-Cardozo)

Written by Express contributor Johnathan Rickman
Photos by Frank Hamilton