THE BIRTH OF ACHTUNG RECORDS

EX-CULT LIVE ON WFMU CASSETTE

Two weeks into a grueling US tour with Ty Segall, Memphis Punks Ex-Cult stopped by WMFU to do a live set on the Cherry Blossom Special show with Terre T. Eight songs were laid down, five from the self-titled album on Goner Records, one from the group’s debut single, and two previously unreleased tracks.

This live recording perfectly captures the band’s harnessed aggression, and is the first of its kind for Ex-Cult. The tape also features a lyric sheet, marking the first time any Ex-Cult lyrics have been available for public consumption.

FUN FACT: This recording session occurred on the 34^th anniversary of John Simon Ritchie’s death, known to some as Sid Vicious. ACHTUNG RECORDS 001.

Tracklist:

KNIVES ON BOTH SIDES

MPD

DON’T FEEL ANYTHING

NEW VIRTUES*

SID VISIONS

TIES YOU UP*

SHOT THE BEEHIVE

YOUNG TRASH

PLUS Interview with Terre T and Ex-Cult singer Chris Shaw

*Previously Unreleased.

For press inquiries email Chris at: Achtungzine@gmail.com

 

POSH ISOLATION

  

 

Before the World Fell

Here's a new track from VAR, a project featuring the singer of Iceage (Elias Rønnenfelt) and Loke Rahbek (Posh Isolation). "The World Fell" works in the same vein as alot of Lust for Youth songs, another electronic project featuring Rahbek released through Sacred Bones Records. However, "The World Fell" has a lot more bite than the dreamy Lust for Youth full length, and the vocals have a bit of a 13th Chime vibe going on, keeping the track from heading into club-jam territory. The VAR LP No One Dances Quite Like My Brothers comes out on May 14th, and apparently it's described as "soundtrack music for a play that has only begun to be imagined and is light years away from being consummated." That's the album artwork below.

EVIL ARMY ON TOUR

 

The band that once featured Jay Reatard on Bass (as the charming Jimmy Blitzkrieg) is back on the road with a new single. "I, Commander" was originally released on CD as the "Armory Demos," but unless you live in Memphis You probably missed out on that. After some time off it's seriously awesome to see one of the best metal bands in the country back at it. If you're unfamiliar with Evil Army (shameful) then start with the self titled LP on Get Revenge, then Pick up the "I, Commander" single from Hells Headbandgers or get it Here. Be sure to catch the band live if they're heading through your slum.

Remaining Dates:

4/9 Orlando FL- Wills Pub

4/10 Palm Beach, FL- Speakeasy Lounge

4/12 Atlanta, GA- Star Bar

4/13 New Orleans, LA - Siberia

4/14 Mobile, AL- Alabama Music Box

4/15 Birmingham AL- Matthews Bar and Grill

 

 

Here's the title track off the single, "I, Commander"  

 

  

Check out a track from Winter Coffin, the short-lived side project of Evil Army also featuring Jimmy Blitzkrieg.

 



WELCOME TO MEMPHIS

NEW MEMPHIS PUNK

Before bands like Toxie, Ex-Cult, and Manatees starting carrying the Memphis punk torch to various shitholes nationwide, there was Sector Zero. And while the band almost always had a different drummer and played to virtually no one during their existence, the three piece cranked out dual guitar punk rock that at times came close to the negative and paranoid snot that bands like Electric Eels or The Vacants played so well. This recording features Jay Reatard on drums, so basically you've got Zac Ives (Final Solutions) and Eric O bouncing songs of the late face melting champion Jay Reatard. Bet it was reeeeeeal hard for that trio to come up with ideas... Goner Records did the honors, and some orange vinyl is probably still up for grabs if you act fast. Welcome 2 Sector Zero.

"Black astrologers see the future, Black astrologers see the past," screams True Sons of Thunder's frontman, an elderly gentleman who goes by "Rich Wad". If you're unfamiliar with True Sons of Thunder, this single on Goner is just as good a place as any to start. Imagine the lurch that played bass for Flipper (see photo below courtesy of my boy Edward Colver, arrow by me) moving here and getting all Kim Fowley by handpicking the gnarliest dudes from Memphis to start a noise punk group and you'll start to get the idea. Like the runaways but with more criminal history. And more pubic hair. There are 50 stamped covers by the bassist available somewhere.  This band fucking rules bro.

FREAKIN WEEKEND

As you might be aware, the Tennessee underground music community lost one of it's most valuable members when Ben Todd (b.1988) passed away earlier this month. We (Ex-Cult) learned of Ben's passing in Denver, about an hour before we were set to play the last show of our US tour with Ty Segall. I cant think of a worse way to to hear the news, and obviously both bands were devastated. Ben did a lot for both Ex-Cult and Ty these past two years, and everything seemed so effortless for him that I think sometimes I took it for granted.

Ben did it all, from releasing great records to putting on insane shows to playing in a plethora of killer bands. We lost a great one to start out 2013, but in honor of Ben's unwavering dedication to underground music, the show must go on. Let's celebrate the life of a true music fiend next weekend in Nashville.

Get tickets and the complete line-up here.

(Hint: The Black Lips, White Fence, Ex-Cult, Jeff The Brotherhood, and Jeffrey Novak are playing, among many others)