Punk Island returns to Governors Island on June 19 as part of the annual city-wide Make Music New York fest (which actually occurs two days later). The main stage will be headlined by UK anarcho-punk pioneers Zounds. The festival is FREE and also features performances by A.P.P.L.E., Stza Crack (of Leftover Crack/Choking Victim/Star Fucking Hipsters) who is playing a solo set, White Collar Crime (reunion show, after 8 year hiatus), and tons more over multiple stages from 11AM to 5PM. The full lineup is below.

Zounds, who are led by Steve Lake (only remaining original member), got their start touring with fellow UK anarcho-punks Crass and releasing an EP on their label, Crass Records. Zounds followed that EP with a full length and 3 singles on Rough Trade before breaking up in 1982. The band's entire history since 1982 is unclear, but you can watch videos of a 1996 performance below, and they reportedly reformed in 2001, though these June performances are also being billed as the band's first-ever US shows. Before Punk Island, Zounds will play a NYC show at ABC No Rio on June 18 with Neon Bitches (feat. Brian of Dropdead) and Zero Content, both of whom also play Punk Island.

Zounds, whose current lineup is pictured above, are set to release The Redemption of Zounds, their first album of new material since reforming. Their 1981 Rough Trade album was titled The Curse of Zounds (also pictured above). According to Steve Lake, "It is as bewildering, absurd, tragic and joyful as it ever was." The album comes out on July 12 via Overground/Plastic Head. Tracklist and album art are below. Check them out along with the full Punk Island lineup, the flyer and some videos, below...

Continue reading "Punk Island happens Sunday (final lineup), Zounds are playing there & ABC No Rio & releasing an LP too"

photos by Lori Baily

DOWNLOAD: Martin Bisi - Mile High- Apple Of My Eye (w/ Bill Laswell on bass) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Martin Bisi - Drink Your Wine, (w/ Bob D'Amico drummer Fiery Furnaces)

Martin Bisi @ Knitting Factory

Martin Bisi played the first half-hour of his set as a suite, segueing from one part to another by frantically laying down one searing loop of guitar feedback on top of another. This time Bisi's band had lead guitar, bass, drums and a caped crusader wailing frantically on what sounded like a little Casio running through a million noisy effects, sharing the stage with a woman whose graceful miming quickly became the show's focal point. In a strange twist of fate, Bisi, like Visconti, is best known for producing great albums for famous bands (Sonic Youth, Herbie Hancock, the Dresden Dolls, ad infinitum), but ultimately it's his songwriting which is his strongest suit. This evening's numbers had a distinctly early 80s, East Village feel, sort of Nick Cave as covered by Blue Oyster Cult, ornate and haunting but also with a sense of humor that ran from cynicism to unaffected amusement. About halfway into his suite he ran through the mythology-based Sirens of the Apocalypse (title track of his excellent 2008 album), barrelling through the lyrics without a pause to take a breath. A more recent track, Drink Your Wine came off with an irresistible sarcasm, a word of warning to a lightweight; a dedication to his daughter, far from being mawkish, was a dark garage rocker evocative of the Libertines but tighter. They finally closed their set with a big riff-rock anthem that threatened to burst into flame after it had finally gone out, but it didn't. The audience wanted more but didn't get it. [Lucid Culture]

That review comes from the December 27th show at Knitting Factory where Martin shared the bill with Larkin Grimm who had Tony Visconti on bass. Extra Life and HUMANWINE also played the show

Larkin and Martin again share a bill this Sunday (1/24) at Mercury Lounge. Susu and Snowbaby are both also on the bill. Brian Viglione of the Dresden Dolls will be playing drums for Martin at the show. Bob D'Amico plays drums for Martin on one of the two free tracks above. More pictures from Knitting Factory below...

Continue reading "Martin Bisi & Larkin Grimm played Knitting Factory w/ Extra Life & HUMANWINE (pics), playing Merc w/ Brian Viglione"