photos and interview by Keith Marlowe

Chrome Cranks @ Cake Shop

The recently reunited Chrome Cranks played two shows over Memorial Day weekend - Friday at the Cake Shop and Saturday at the Knitting Factory. I went to, and photographed, both. Unlike last year's reunion shows, the bands first since 1998, this outing featured many new songs which will be on an album the Cranks are recording this week. I had a chance to talk with William Weber and Bob Bert before their Knitting Factory show.

The Chrome Cranks first formed in Cincinnati around 1988, consisting of frontman Peter Aaron and William Weber on guitar. Weber recalls, "We tried playing with a lot of people, but we never had a line-up that jelled. We wanted to be a really swampy, raunchy band with a raw noise element and it just never came together." In 1991 Weber moved to New York City and Aaron moved here soon after. They added bass player Jerry Teel, from the Honeymoon Killers, and finally Bob Bert, from Sonic Youth and Pussy Galore among others, on drums.

pics and interview continued below...

Continue reading "an interview w/ the Chrome Cranks + pics, video & bloody setlists from the shows @ Cake Shop & Knitting Factory"

"After last year's already legendary reunion shows, New York City's infamous garage/punk-blues/noise kings the Chrome Cranks are once again ready to roundly kick the world squarely in its soft, pathetic, and pain-deserving ass--this time with two more hotly anticipated performances: at the Cake Shop in New York on May 28 and the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on May 29.

2009's visceral and devastating shows in New York and Europe by the Chrome Cranks' best and best-known lineup--vocalist/guitarist Peter Aaron, guitarist William Weber, drummer Bob Bert, and bassist Jerry Teel--were a revelation for long-time fans as well as those who'd missed the band during its 1990s heyday. Indeed, many raved that the Cranks are better now than they were the first time around. Since the reunion the group has remained together, working on material for a new album that promises to be every bit as blistering--if not more--than the quartet's pivotal '90s releases."

The shows are tonight (5/28) at Cake Shop and Saturday at Knitting Factory. More details and a video below...

Continue reading "Chrome Cranks reunion continues -w/ 2 NYC shows (1 tonight)"

Deer Tick @ SXSW 2007 (more by Ryan Muir)

Deer Tick helped ring in the New Year at Knitting Factory in NYC on December 31st. The performance was also part of what was the club's last show ever. Next up for Deer Tick in NYC is a headlining show at Bowery Ballroom on February 13th with the Thalia Zedek Band and The Weight. Tickets are on sale.

Jason Isbell @ All Points West (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Jason Isbell and The Unit (ex-Drive by Truckers) are playing Bowery Ballroom 13 days after Deer Tick. Tickets are on sale.

Right around that same time, Jason and the Tick will join up for a tour that includes shows in Boston, Philly, Toronto, Colubmus and many other places. They'll both also eventually make their way back to Austin to play SXSW where Deer Tick played the official BrooklynVegan showcase in 2007. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick & Jason Isbell - 2009 Tour Dates (shows separate and together, Bowery & SXSW)"

I've mentioned these shows here and there, but never posted the tour dates. Alan Sparhawk of Low's other band Retribution Gospel Choir is on tour and now in NYC. Tonight's (June 17) show at Union Hall is with Ida. Tomorrow is at Mercury Lounge with Thalia Zadek. All dates and ticket info below....

Continue reading "Retribution Gospel Choir (Low) - 2008 Tour Dates (tonight)"

DOWNLOAD: Thalia Zedek - lower allston (MP3)

Thalia & band

Live Skull created abrasive no wave music not unlike their 1970s and 1980s contemporaries Sonic Youth, Swans, Rat At Rat R, The Chameleons, Mars, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks and Band Of Susans. Their music featured angular guitar parts interspersed with bleak, quieter passages, for a haunting overall effect. The lyrical subject matter was usually as pessimistic and harsh as the music itself. Live Skull never achieved mainstream recognition, but retain underground notoriety and share a family tree with other relatively noteworthy groups. [Wikipedia]

Thalia Zedek was in Live Skull from 1987 to 1990. That's when they broke up. Before Live Skull she was in Dangerous Birds and Uzi After Live Skull there was Come, and there have been various other projects since. The most recent one is a band she put together for an album called "Liars and Prayers" that came out on Thrill Jockey in April. Now she's on tour with this band, and you can catch her tonight (Friday the June 13th) at Union Pool with Major Stars. I wonder if she knew that Teenage Jesus & The Jerks were playing in town the same night when she booked the gig. If you miss tonight, there's also June 18th at Mercury Lounge. All dates below...

Continue reading "Thalia Zedek - 2008 Tour Dates (2 NYC shows) (1 tonight)"