The Lab

The Lab is a nonprofit experimental art and performance space located in the Mission District of San Francisco.

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Duma & Only Now

  • The Lab 2948 16th St San Francisco, CA, 94103 (map)

Saturday, March 12, 2022
7:30pm doors / 8:00pm show
Tickets $20 (discounted or free for members)
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Masks, proof of vaccine & booster shot (or negative COVID-19 tests taken within 48 hrs) required for entry.

Join us at The Lab to welcome Duma, the Kenyan extreme noise-metal-gabber duo of Martin Khanja (Lord Spike Heart) and Sam Karugu, for their first U.S. appearance. Emerging in 2019 from Nyege Nyege Tapes – the progressive label and festival from Kampala, Uganda – Duma (Darkness in kikuyu) draws on harrowing Swahili death metal, industrial noise, and electronic experimentation. Their self-titled debut album was released August 7th 2020 on Nyege Nyege Tapes with accolades from Metal Hammer, Pitchfork, The Wire, and The Quietus. 

Only Now is the vision of Kush Arora, based in Berkeley, CA. His sound is an unremitting emission of razor cut rhythms, primitive channeling, and ritualistic electronics. He has just released the first volume of his ‘Indian Unclassical’ series, pushing the boundaries of power electronics and Indian classical music. Last year he released a doom / ambient project titled ‘Anamnesis’ with guitarist Peter Arensdorf from King Woman. On the horizon are upcoming tracks for Hakuna Kulala (of Nyege Nyege Tapes). Arora's work has been featured on the BBC and in The Wire, The Quietus, The Guardian, FACT, Resident Advisor, and Bandcamp Daily.

Earlier Event: March 1
Senyawa
Later Event: March 29
Fennesz & KMRU