February 27 is Industry Friday at Riverwest Commons, 815 East Locust: A Hunger Task Force Benefit Concert featuring: B.L.A.X., a professional team of spoken word specialists…w/ dj knotts and others tba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thai Joe’s is hosting Lime Lite, Reggae Edition February 3 with the best in roots, rap, and reggae music. Sounds by djknotts and special guests, hosted by Adebisi. On February 20, Chicago’s hottest emcees are coming to Thai Joe’s, including Usuall Suspectz, Mike Flo, Profound, Iomos Marad, Abysythe, and Miltown’s own Armagideon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The MIGHTY DJANGO HI-FI, Milwaukee’s longest-running sound system of Jamaican music, will operate Sundays until further notice at Quarter’s, 900 E. Center St. at Bremen from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Selecters are Eric Blowtorch and Joe the Ambassador. Admission, as always, is free. Call Quarter’s at 263-4140 if you must. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The brief kazoo intro to Union Pulse’s “Eine Kleine Rockmusik” is baffling, yet funny. The light-hearted beginning quickly gives way to more serious themes as several tracks focus on missed opportunities or failed relationships. Union Pulse’s sound conjures up memories of Live, circa “Throwing Copper.” Lead singer James Redding has a deeper voice than Live’s Ed Kowalczyk and that gives him a certain authority on the album. This is important because the overarching sense of dread and desperation has the potential to become too depressing. However, Redding effectively comes off as one who speaks from experience. For instance, on “Time for Love,” Redding sings, “She left before sunrise, I woke to find / a half-mug of coffee, black and cold / the sheets are all crumpled, the pillows warm / and I’m half dead beneath the fold.” The last track of the album, “Last Goodbye,” continues the lovelorn theme: “I’ve been beat and I’ve been broken / I’ve won bets and I’ve lost friends / but from all the words you’ve spoken / I just hope this ain’t the end.” The album as a whole is an effective exercise in finding ways to let go of the past. I would be hesitant to recommend “Eine Kleine Rockmusik” to couples just embarking on a relationship. However, if your relationships tend to come crashing down, this is a good CD to have around. Find out more about Union Pulse at www.union-pulse.com. – Thomas Durkin