Business As Usual

THE CYNICS

30th Anniversary Rock'N'Roll Tour

THE ELECTRIC MESS

THE ELEVATOR OPERATORS

DJs MATT CLARKE, MR. LEE, and FRANZO

Guitarist/producer/record company head Gregg Kostelich is the frenetic force behind the garage-punk institution that is The Cynics, formed in 1983. He managed to keep the band afloat in the wake of constant personnel changes, he recorded some of the finest garage tracks ever, and also launched one of the best independent record labels of the 1980s. The Cynics’ style has been clear since their inception: fuzzed ultra-distorted guitar, screaming, moaning vocals, with a straight-ahead no frills rhythm section. The influences are '60s punk, R&B, and other loud, frantic trash. Gregg has occasionally steered the band into flirtations with folk-rock and little pop, but it’s the grunged-out punkers that have created The Cynics’ reputation. Their first two 45s were released by the Californian Dionysus label, but soon after Gregg had established his own Pittsburgh-based Get Hip Recordings who would release all of The Cynics albums and singles, as well as those by countless great garage, punk-rock and power-pop releases by other bands from around the globe.  

Though Gregg’s guitar is the backbone of the band, vocalist Michael Kastelic’s contribution to The Cynics sound cannot be underestimated. In concert (and on record) he screeches, wails, and moans with great abandon, while his frail, thin body shakes throughout the room. Michael is a truly possessed frontman.

Friday, August 16th at Gran Torino

131 Berry Street, Brooklyn U.S.A.

Doors at 10PM. $12 - $15 *. 21+ with ID.

* Tickets on sale now

The Beast is You

THE ELECTRIC MESS
THE PIGGIES • HIGH & TIGHT
Plus: DJ Elevator Operator

The Electric Mess are a garage-punk/psychedelic band from New York City, formed in 2007. They released their fourth album, The Beast is You in 2018, and have toured Europe, three times, as well as several cities in the States. Led by the dynamic and androgynous Esther Crow (also rhythm guitar and percussion), with Dan Crow (guitar), Oweinama Biu (keyboards, vocals), Derek Davidson (bass), and Alan J. Camlet (drums, vocals), "there has never been a more apt name for a band who encompasses such a massive range of influences...  a real kaleidoscope of sound, rapid fire lyrics, sheer unadulterated urgency, and a real rock and roll attitude." (Powerplay Magazine, UK) They plan to release their fifth album, later this year.

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The Piggies are a bunch of NYC scene veterans who have kicked around in dozens of bands including the Little Killers, the Sea Monkeys, Wighat, Sato & Jonny, the Haney Brothers, the Poolside Cowboys, Holy Crow, the Underthings, the Dirt Cheap, and more that they don't remember (and neither do you). Posessing an extreme distaste for show-biz hustle and self-promotion, but a non-negotiable need to roll & rock, the Piggies can be found playing out in various NYC-area houses of ill repute on a regular basis, putting pretend rock'n'roll bands half their age to shame, and occasionally opening for touring acts like the Detroit Cobras, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, the A-Bones, Mr. Airplane Man, and so forth. Their cover of the Rolling Stones' "Parachute Woman" was issued as part of Norton Records' Rolling Stones covers series, on the flip side of LaLa Brooks (of the Crystals) doing "Play With Fire."

Saturday, March 16th at Hank's

345 Adams Street, Brooklyn U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM.  $10. 21+ with ID.

I Wanna Be!

PAUL COLLINS (THE BEAT)

THE ELECTRIC MESS • BAMBOO KIDS

Rock icon and cult favorite Paul Collins got his start with Peter Case and Jack Lee in 1974. Their band The Nerves toured with The Ramones and recorded a song called “Hanging On The Telephone.” The song would later become a hit when covered by Deborah Harry and Blondie on the Parallel Lines album.

Paul Collins formed The Beat in 1977, recruiting members of various rock bands including Steven Huff, Larry Whitman, Dennis Conway and Michael Ruiz. The result was The Beat, a high energy rock group in the style of The Ramones, Blondie and The Dictators. As the story goes, Collins was awarded a record deal with CBS thanks to his friend Eddie Money and Bill Graham Management. The Beat played with many bands, including The Jam, Pere Ubu, The Police, Eddie Money, The Plimsouls and Huey Lewis. The Beat became Paul Collins’ Beat when a ska band from UK began using The Beat as their moniker.

Paul Collins’ Beat continued to tour and record albums throughout the ’80s, with The Kids Are The Same, Beat Or Not To Beat, Long Time Gone, Live At Universal and their final album One Night, released in 1989. Paul Collins set out on a solo career, recording the self-titled Paul Collins album in 1992. This country/rock all-star album included special guests such as Greg Kihn, Cyril Jordan (Flamin Groovies), Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow), Chuck Prophet, Dave Immergluck (Counting Crows) and key members of Chris Isaak’s band. 1993 brought the sophomore release by The Paul Collins Band, entitled From Town To Town. This album was released by Caroline Records and featured a country-rock sound similar to The Byrds.

A new version of the band Paul Collins’ Beat surfaced and resulted in an album of new material entitled Flying High. Considered to be their best to date, Flying High is a solid record, done half acoustic and half electric. The album gets back to the classic sound of The Beat, while combining the raw energy of Collins’ solo works.

Saturday, June 9th at Hank's Saloon

46 Third Avenue (at Atlantic), Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $8 cover. 21+ with ID.

Concert Across America To End Gun Violence

On Saturday, September 23rd we will remember the victims of America's gun violence epidemic with the Concert Across America To End Gun Violence, a series of live events from coast to coast. Proceeds from the door to benefit the NYC chapter of the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence.

Saturday, September 23rd at Hank's Saloon

46 Third Avenue (at Atlantic), Brooklyn U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $10 suggested donation. 21+ with ID.

No One Gets Out Alive

THE ELECTRIC MESS

THE CARVELS • KREBS & THE MAYNARD Gs

THE PHIL GAMMAGE QUINTET

"[The Electric Mess] have two excellent albums under their belt, both of which are filled with all the trappings of classic '60s punk — fuzz guitars, snotty vocals, and swirling organs abound — with a big slap of psychedelic coloring; think early Stones, Animals, 13th Floor Elevators, Seeds, Chocolate Watchband, and Lollipop Shoppe, as well as latter-day revivalists like The Chesterfield Kings, Cynics, Lyres, and The Miracle Workers." -Achilles In The Alleyway

Saturday, June 4th at Hank's Saloon

46 Third Avenue (at Atlantic), Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $8 cover. 21+ with ID.

Lost In Translation

THE KURT BAKER BAND

PALMYRA DELRAN • THE ELECTRIC MESS

Kurt Baker is a singer, songwriter and rock n’ roll performer from Portland, Maine who has always gone by the famous saying “Have a Good Time All the Time”. He has released several solo projects with his Power Pop group The Kurt Baker Band, which plays punk rock music inspired by pop music of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Baker was the founding member, bass player, singer, & songwriter of the notable pop/punk outfit The Leftovers, which formed in 2002 and released several records on Rally Records, Insubordination Records and Oglio Records. The group toured extensively and played London, England's celebrated Roundhouse Theater before disbanding in 2010.

Baker's blend of Beach Boys and Beatles-styled melodies has earned him the praise of Larry Livermore (founder of Lookout Records), Ben Weasel (Screeching Weasel) and Jaret Reddick (Bowling For Soup). After the release of The Leftovers' last album, 2009's Eager To Please on Oglio Records, which featured guests ranging from Brett Anderson (The Donnas) to Coz Canler (The Romantics), and an extensive tour of the US and Europe, Baker decided to focus on going solo.

Thursday, June 11th at Hank's Saloon

46 Third Avenue (at Atlantic), Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $8 cover. 21+ with ID.

Heart Full Of Soul

QUITTY AND THE DON'TS • THE ELECTRIC MESS

THE SPLIT SIGNALS • THE ABOVE

Friday, May 16th at Hank's Saloon

46 Third Avenue (at Atlantic), Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. 21+ with ID. $7 cover

Falling Off The Face Of The Earth

THE ELECTRIC MESS

THE GTVs • THE LOW DOSES

"[The Electric Mess] have two excellent albums under their belt, both of which are filled with all the trappings of classic '60s punk — fuzz guitars, snotty vocals, and swirling organs abound — with a big slap of psychedelic coloring; think early Stones, Animals, 13th Floor Elevators, Seeds, Chocolate Watchband, and Lollipop Shoppe, as well as latter-day revivalists like The Chesterfield Kings, Cynics, Lyres, and The Miracle Workers." -Achilles In The Alleyway

Saturday, January 25th at Hank's Saloon

46 Third Avenue (at Atlantic), Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $7 cover. 21+ with ID.

Outta Sight!

THE SIGHTS

Plus: THE INSOMNIACS and THE ELECTRIC MESS

With 2010's Most Of What Follows Is True, Detroit's The Sights have achieved an unprecedented level of song and studio craftsmanship. In an era of soulless keyboards, drum machines and Autotune, The Sights respond with thrillingly catchy songs. No gimmicks, no studio trickery—just rock'n'roll from the heart. The Sights combine the unobtrusive honesty of The Band with countless slivers of influence from their own personal record collections: Ike & Tina, Solomon Burke, The Everly Brothers, Bob Seger, Tim Hardin, and all manner of raucous, infectious song-writing.

Raucous? Infectious? That pretty well sums up The Sight’s live shows as well. It’s a rocket-ride that has been experienced by countless audiences throughout North America and Europe. The Sights have shared the stage with some best in the business: Robert Plant, The Dirtbombs, Sloan, The Datsuns, The Donnas, The Kills, etc.

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NJ’s The Insomniacs released their first 45 in 1991 on the Umbrella label. Over the course of the last 20 years, they’ve released a slew of acclaimed power garage pop records, mostly on the legendary Estrus Records label. During that time, the band has done several tours of the USA, festivals and tours in Germany, Holland, Spain, Norway and Sweden. Highlights include shows with The Swingin' Neckbreakers, Fleshtones, Woggles, Troggs, Makers, Nomads, Lord High Fixers, Lyres, Mighty Caesars, Headcoats, Stems, DM3 and The Remains. The band is a regular fixture on Little Steven's Underground Garage radio program and had a featured Coolest Song In The World several times over the years. Their most recent long-player, Just Enjoy It! was released in the beginning of 2011 on Blood Red and Screaming Apple.

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Since forming in the Summer of 2007, The Electric Mess has developed into a tight and exciting live rock'n'roll band, led by an androgynous and dynamic lead singer. Featuring reverb-drenched guitars, fuzz bass, and Farfisa organ, they combine British Invasion, '60s garage-punk, futuristic surf-rock, psychedelic pop, and early R&B stylings. Since releasing their debut album in December of 2009, all 13 of their tracks have received multiple spins across national and international airwaves.

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Friday, June 24th at Union Hall

702 Union Street, Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $8 cover.

(Tickets available via TicketWeb)

Stomping into Hell's Kitchen

Plus: DJs Mr. Lee and Pick-A-Bar!

Friday, August 13th.

Doors at 8PM. $7 cover.

Bar Nine

807 Ninth Avenue

Hell's Kitchen, NYC