Eight Gigs: Failure Machine

Bands are normally pretty terrible at describing their own sound to other people. Reno’s Failure Machine, on the other hand, nails it; they describe themselves as “the world’s grossest soul band.” I can think of no better description. Five scraggily-haired, bearded dudes from the filthiest little big city in the world, churning out grungy garage-soul tunes. If any of this sounds like an insult, it’s by no means. The quintet creates an explosive sound that has the thrill of rock ’n’ roll, the danceability of soul and the nihilism of alternative rock. What a combo. 1111 H Street, www.failuremachine.com.