Britches, Yowie, Gnarwhal and Marnie Stern (playing in that order) represent a formidable and tightly wound playbill -- all the bands are wheeling in roughly the same sonic orbit, but their approaches are disparate, and they are all at vastly different stages in their musical lives.

Wednesday night proved manic at the Firebird. A barrage of openers spread the wild energy over three sets of not so dissimilar genres. 

Try banging your head to Gnarwhal and you'll snap your neck in two. The Nashville speed-rockers pulled no punches during this epic Live at KDHX session.

If breakneck guitar riffs, caffeinated tempos, nonlinear song structures, and howling vocals aren't your cup of tea, Gnarwhal might send you running for the hills, or it might expand your musical landscape.