Styrenes -- know 'em?

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I haven't heard this "Cleveland proto-punk combo" (description via AMG) who were contemporaries of the Dead Boys/Pere Ubu/Devo. They're playing a show in Brooklyn tonight -- will this be something worth attending, ya think?

― Jody Beth Rosen, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 15:42 (twenty-three years ago)

I've only got the album they put out in 1998, so I don't know much about their history. But I'd describe them as sludgy punk with piano if that makes any sense.

I'd drop the change and catch the show.

― paul cox, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 15:49 (twenty-three years ago)

www.clepunk.com

― lawrence kansas, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 16:13 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.clepunk.com/bands/styrenes/index.htm

― lawrence kansas, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 16:14 (twenty-three years ago)

I went to that site, but there wasn't anything there.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 16:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't know 'em personally, but been into 'em for ages. If I was in Brooklyn tonight, I'd go. I think they're playing some benefit for WFMU next month, too.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 16:20 (twenty-three years ago)

hmm, you're right. try this. also, I believe Paul Marrotta was in the Electric Eels and the Mirrors- check out those bands at the clepunk website.

http://www.scatrecords.com/styrenes.htm

― lawrence kansas, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 16:28 (twenty-three years ago)

go! i can't make it tonight, and i'm kicking myself over it. awesome, spastic, artastic noise...

― lauren, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 17:57 (twenty-three years ago)

The played in Glasgow about three - four years ago. I knew them as a legendary name for Pere Ubu past but hadn't actually heard them. I love Pere Ubu so I went along.

And I loved them, but there wasn't much in common with Pere Ubu. They were quite Trad Rock, reminding me of the Godfathers, Gallon Drunk, Flaming Stars, Penthouse... that kind of thing (or rather their American prototypes since they predate those bands).

So not much Ubu-ness, lots of good old rock n roll revival grind n bump if that rings your bell.

― Sandy Blair, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 18:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Jody, I've never gotten a good take on their music - it varies a lot - but I did know Paul Marotta a little back in the '80s and think he's a good guy, and if Jamie Klimek is still in the band, he's simply one of the best songwriters and guitarists ever to be influenced by the Velvet Underground; he grasped how you could put Sterling and Lou together with Roger McGuinn, if that makes sense to you. I just got a Styrenes LP that I haven't had a chance to listen to, and don't know if it's new, and a fabulous Mirrors compilation called Hands in My Pocket (Mirrors broke up in 1975, leaving the usual slew of unreleased demos and live tapes etc.) The Styrenes comp is on ROIR and the Mirrors comp is on Overground Records.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 28 August 2002 20:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry, I screwed the link up; I'll try again: Overground Records.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 28 August 2002 20:55 (twenty-three years ago)

frank said it better than I could have. also, jamie is not in the band anymore and Mike Hudson (the Pagans) has done alot of the singer/talk on their stuff since the 80's, explaining part of their sonic change from the 70's. also, the only connection between the Styrenes and Ubu is Jim Jones, the all around Cleveland jack of all bands. Jones didnt become a member of Ubu until the 80's.

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 28 August 2002 22:32 (twenty-three years ago)

I didn't go to the show -- I've decided to catch them at the upcoming WFMU benefit.

Info below (via WFMU's web site):

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We'll be sponsoring a legal defense benefit on Saturday September 21st at Southpaw in Park Slope! All money raised will help us fend off Fordham University's proposed second New York City transmitter.

On the bill: a rare appearance from legendary Bronx sister act ESG, the psychedelic soul of The Brother JT 3, reunited Cleveland-via-New York artpunk legends The Styrenes, the dub heavy indie funk of Outhud, spinning by David Grubbs, and more To Be Announced.

Tickets to the show are currently available online at Ticketweb.com, and will soon be available at another New York City location. Tickets are also to be available at the club the night of September 21st, but please listen and check our website for more information on that. All proceeds of the event will benefit WFMU! Southpaw is at 125 Fifth Avenue between Sterling and St. John's Place in Park Slope.

For more information, you can call Brian at 201-521-1416 x223 or email bt@wfmu.org

― Jody Beth Rosen, Wednesday, 28 August 2002 23:25 (twenty-three years ago)

five years pass...

This one sailed under my radar...

Styrenes performing Terry Riley's In C anyone??

― gnarly sceptre, Friday, 20 June 2008 16:52 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

first thought...Hold Steady

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHgu4VpYN2Y

― Michael B, Thursday, 18 March 2010 00:16 (sixteen years ago)

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