CMJ 2011 Preview: Death @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

The official CMJ Music Marathon 2011 schedule just went up over the weekend, so we'll be posting a lot more shows we're excited about as the week progresses. I write to you today on the subject of Death. Not the '80s metal band or the final stage of life. I'm talking about the early '70s Detroit punk band that often does not get the credit they deserve. Formed in 1971 by the Hackney brothers (Bobby, David and Dannis), Death were in a class of their own, predating many of the bands that are often credited with inventing the sound of punk rock.

In 1974, the band entered the studio with the intention of recording a twelve song LP to be released by Columbia Records. Clive Davis, president of Columbia at the time, insisted that the band change their name to something more commercially acceptable, which the band refused. Their decision would ultimately result in Davis withdrawing funding for the album, and only seven of the planned twelve songs being recorded. The recordings from those sessions sat in limbo for close to forty years, up until Drag City released them in 2009 as ...For The Whole World To See. The songs are an extremely important document of the very early beginnings of punk music, and an exciting collection of songs by any measure.

After the album's release, Death reformed to play three shows with new drummer Bobbie Duncan (David Hackney passed away in 2000 from lung cancer), and they've since intermittently performed to incredibly grateful crowds. Luckily, Death will be headlining Music Hall of Williamsburg as part of Afro-Punk's CMJ showcase on Tuesday, October 18. Tickets for the showcase are still on sale for only $12.90 after fees, an amazing deal to see a legendary act perform in an intimate setting. Get on that ASAP.

Below, check out some videos of Death performing at SXSW in 2010, as well as a panel discussion with the band...

Interview: Exene Cervenka (X, The Knitters)

by Anjelica LaFurno

Legendary Los Angeles punk band X will be celebrating the 31st anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album, Los Angeles, performing the album in its entirety during the Los Angeles tour with tour dates from September to October 2011. The tour will bring the band to New York City twice on September 30 and October 1 at Irving Plaza. Tickets are still available for both. If that isn’t enough to excite a fan or anyone appreciative of American punk music, then the added bonus of viewing the film X: The Unheard Music before X’s live performance certainly will.

The 1986 documentary dissects the Los Angeles music scene X dominated, complete with live footage and interviews. Even more awesome, the band will also be performing 45 minutes worth of other songs from their rich catalogue (Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun) during these particular dates. We chatted up with punk royalty Exene Cervenka (vocals) via email about her own iconic role in punk history, the difference between now and then, and also X’s future.

Photos: The Dead Milkmen @ Warsaw

The Dead Milkmen @ Warsaw - April 9, 2011


Now that was just crazy. I had heard the infamous 80's punk band put on a great live show, but I had no idea the Dead Milkmen incited non-stop moshing and crowd surfing as they did last night (4/9) @ Brooklyn's Warsaw at Polish National Home. That "Moshing Not Allowed" sign must've been a joke (a funny, sick joke) because security did virtually nothing to stop it, or maybe they were just too scared to. In addition to classics "Bitchin' Camaro" and "Punk Rock Girl", the Milkmen also played fan favorites "Serrated Edge", "Nutrition" and an amazing cover of Gary Numan's "In Cars." My only complaint was that the show was a bit short, they went on at 11 and were done by 12:15. But if you take a look at the setlist (below) you'll see that they played 22 songs, which is certainly nothing to complain about. It was total teenage nostalgia for me; I remember having a cassette tape a friend of mine made for me of Dead Milkmen songs that I used to listen to on my way to school every day for a good month or so. Good times.

The Dead Milkmen only have one other show on the horizon, and that's 4/30 at the Congress Theater in Chicago. Tickets are available here. Full set of photos, setlist and they're still great video for "Punk Rock Girl" below!

Stiff Little Fingers to play Europa 6/2

Via Wikipedia:

Stiff Little Fingers are a Northern Irish punk rock band from Belfast, formed in 1977, near the height of the troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star (named after the Deep Purple song), doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they reformed five years later, in 1987. Despite major personnel changes, they are still touring and recording as of 2011.

The legendary punk band will play the intimate Club Europa in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on 6/2. Tickets go on sale Friday, 4/8 for $20.