There are two of them; the guy plays guitar, the girl plays the drums and sometimes sings. The guy is unassuming Yankee transplant Jay Roach, the girl is North Carolinian firebrand Mary Joyce. Lazy comparisons to other co-ed twosomes are right out because what we have here is a case of the shreds: total weedily-weedily, liberally spiced with some fresh chugga-chugga. Joyce brings the solid Chicago-style deep-dish drumming that seems to surprise even her, while Roach is responsible for the Yngwie Malmstrom shreditude. The impressive intensity of Maximum Busy Muscle's music is in sharp contrast to their shrug-and-smile demeanor, and that makes it that much sweeter. They're playing at your friend's house, go see them.

Jeff Tobias

For more info see www.myspace.com/maximumbusymuscle.

Next show: Check website for updates