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The Ex & Ken Vandermark played two NYC-area shows (pics/setlist from WFMU Monty Hall w/ 75 Dollar Bill)

photos by P Squared

The Ex & Ken Vandermark @ WFMU Monty Hall 10/23/2015
The Ex with Ken Vandermark

“In Germany we still get called ‘anarcho punk,’ ” he says. “The only problem with labels is they do not open people’s minds, or make people curious. These labels tend to reduce our music. We all listen to so many different kinds of music – not just punk or guitar music, but African, Jamaican dancehall, cumbia, Brazilian, Colombian. All these styles trickle in. We’re just not interested in divisions and genres, which is why we can play with all these different people. All these projects keep the horizon wide and exciting for us.”

It also explains how The Ex has kept performing and recording at such a high level for 36 years, despite a do-it-yourself business model that does not lend itself to wealth and fame.

Financially, “it’s really hand to mouth, with no back-up,” Moor says. “If we don’t play for a year, we’re (in trouble). That keeps our edge, keeps us going in a bit of an urgent way. We have quite simple lives, and I don’t think we ever thought of this as a way to make lots of money. On this trip to America, we’re trying not to lose money. We don’t feel welcome by the bureaucracy. We’ve spent a lot of money getting our visas and forms in order, and if something goes wrong and we don’t get our visas in time, we lose a lot.” – [Chicago Tribune]

Dutch art punk vets The Ex are currently in the middle of their tour featuring saxophonist Ken Vandermark and highly improvisational sets. It hit the NYC area playing Brooklyn’s The Bell House on October 22 and WFMU Monty Hall in Jersey City on October 23. Our photographer hit the Monty Hall show where NYC duo 75 Dollar Bill opened. More pics from the night, including one of The Ex/Ken Vandermark’s setlist, below.

The Ex will be back in NYC in January for Winter Jazzfest.



75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

75 Dollar Bill

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark

The Ex with Ken Vandermark