Like many people in the indie music scene, I’ve been acutely aware of the ongoing situation in Standing Rock, North Dakota. I’ve been encouraged by diplomatic progress and was recently inspired by the demeanor of the Native American descendents onsite in an article I read on Rolling Stone. Yet, there is much to be done in resolving this issue and in my hometown folks are organizing events to benefit those onsite defending the land and river threatened by pipeline development. One event, Friday the 16th at Wild Goose Creative in Columbus, OH features three artists I wasn’t familiar with until recently, so I thought I’d tell you about them. It is a part of the venue’s ongoing monthly “Best of the Underground” showcase.

The first I listened to was Galen. Not much is online for people to seek out, but I did happen on this weird music video that gives me the impression of playing some sort of surreal PC game from the late 90s. There was specifically this game called Commander Keen I used to play as a kid and the sound effects and general aesthetic of the video takes me back to that mood.

Queer Kevin is also pretty new to the scene. I only was able to find this one demo, but the vibe I get from this duo is simultaneously relaxing and energizing and shows promise. The duo also champions themselves a “queercore” group, homage to their efforts to amplify one particular group of marginalized voices in the music scene. You can stream the song “Golden Rider” here.

Finally, rounding out the lineup is thecvltist – a producer that specializes in a darkwave sort of electronic music. The style, which the producer (real name Jonathan Thompson) calls “occult house,” lives up to the labels with a dark, ethereal sound that kind of lulls you into an almost trance. It’s the sort of thing I could picture people using some light up hula hoops to dance with, or just sitting in the back of the room taking it in with a hookah pipe.

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If you live near Columbus, you can check out all three artists at a $5 benefit show at Wild Goose Creative in Columbus, OH. All proceeds will benefit the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock, North Dakota. The show will kick off around 8pm.