Pharmakon—aka Margaret Chardiet—hails from the underground New York experimental scene, where she co-founded the Far Rockaway, NY collective Red Light District at just 17 years old. She creates powerfully visceral recordings aimed at challenging the listener into feeling something. In a genre dominated by males, it’s both refreshing and terrifying to see that amount of furious and focused noise coming from a young female. Just don’t let her appearance take you off guard. She’ll overwhelm your senses with a sonic assault on par with the likes of Swans and Throbbing Gristle.
Chardiet spent the first few years of her career creating DIY CD-R’s and cassette tapes for a small crowd back in New York. Her latest and most widespread album, Abandoned, was released on May 15 through Sacred Bones Records, the exciting young Brooklyn label that has released albums from the likes of The Men, Zola Jesus and Religious Knives. Abandoned has garnered positive reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and Consequence of Sound. The intensity on the album begs to be experienced live for those who want to break free of their comfort zone. Chattanooga will get the chance to experience that intensity in person when Pharmakon comes to Sluggo’s North on June 5, with label mates Lust for Youth and a slew of other experimental bands sure to challenge your brain. Just don’t come expecting to feel comfortable. Chardiet will personally make sure that does not happen. - Carson O'Shoney
• Wednesday 06/5 Sluggo’s, 501 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 752-5224.