Wait a second - was Alex in NYC actually in Cop Shoot Cop?

There is a bit of new Cop Shoot Cop news, though. The track "Migration" (an instrumental) from the Ask Questions Later album is now being used in a Nike commercial. Pretty ironic for a band whose first full album was named Consumer Revolt. Tod had nothing to do with the Nike ad, though, it was Phil's track and it was Phil's doing.

Yeah, I kind of assumed that. Oh well, for a second there, I thought I might be some sort of retarded Nostradomas, but alas.

You're a fool.

I didn't realize there was a Firewater connection.

I didn't realize there was a Firewater connection.

Cop Shoot Cop officially fell apart halfway into recording what would've been their fifth full LP with Dave Sardy producing. Tod split to work on a "solo project" which would eventually morph into Firewater (featuring ex-CSC'er/Foetus sideman and erstwhile Motherhead Bug founder Dave Ouimet, Yuval Gabay from Soul Coughing, Duane Denison from the Jesus Lizard and Jennifer Charles from Elysian Fields). The rest of CSC stripped Tod's proceedings from the mix and handed in the album to Interscope, who promptly dropped them (nice, eh?) They re-dubbed themselves Red Ex (i.e. The Red Expendables) and released the album via insufficient indie label, Grimmwerks (you can still get it via Cop drummer Phil Puleo's site). They played one show opening for Foetus and then quit. Phil went onto drum for Congo Norvell and Swans before forming his own band, Auio Dyslexia. Nasty Jack Natz, depending on who you believe, went onto a career in carpentry with a sideline in bike messenging and marijuana sales. He played with Lubricated Goat for a bit before forming his own band with ex-members of the Spitters initially called Crime Wave and then later Crux. No idea if that's still a going concern. Cripple Jim "Phylr" Coleman continued to record on his own as PHYLR and with a member of Italian band Meathead as hERE and does soundtrack work. He also was briefly a member of Audio Dyslexia (which also features an ex-member of Barkmarket).

Firewater, meanwhile, released five fucking stellar records. Tod is currently in Thailand teaching ESL. No idea whether Firewater will ride again, but you've got fuckin' dogshit in your ears and down your throat if you thin they were "the worst band around".

as soon as i saw that clown get on stage in his shiny shirt i knew i'd be in for it.
they played the lamest and cheeziest over the hill rock i evar heard.
each of them had their own retarded rock posturing style that went along to the horribel muzak they pumped through their ampz.
everythin about them waz totaly stale and contrived.
they remind me of dadz that get their ears pierced.
i'd rather watch that dipshit drummers shity big lazy band for an hour more then evr see them again.
the only redeemin thing about the whol affair was that we could keep singing that 'car crazsh!' part and makin dum faces and have a good laff
this is a totraly mediocre band that deserves to fade into relativ obscurity

Tod A's name ain't Bono, dude.

'Klezmer, Indian wedding music, art-punk'
'cabaret poetry'
'Tod A. and his "wedding band gone wrong"'

and about tha shiny shirt:;
i'm just tellin it like it is (was)

I used to have a whole CSC album on tape, but I'm concerned I might not have it anymore because I seem to remember Stone Roses being on the other side and I wanted to get the Roses b-sides onto the other side of the Roses album/tape. I feel awful about this now.

I think it's interesting there was a guy from Jesus Lizard involved in Firewater. Although I never thought JL were as good as CSC, I have long felt a connection in my mind between the two bands. There was also a 7" by Helmet I liked around that time.

I've heard Firewater, but I can't now recall if my impression was more positive or negative.

Yet you're defending the Walkmen? A bunch of slumming trustafarians? There's your argument down the fuckin' toilet.

If you had to skip a Firewater album, The Man on the Burning Tightrope left some people a bit cold, and Songs We Should Have Written is simply all covers, which is amusing but far from crucial. The first three albums, though, are essential.

The shiny shirt was actually Paul Wallfisch's. Tod normally wore an orange shirt. Not sure why any of that matters in terms of making them "da worst band ever."

I was at both of those shows too and had a great goddamn time (especially when the Walkmen left the stage, `cos they fuckin' S U C K!)

to tell you the truth, i'm not even sure why i'm trying to set aright the wrong you've done yourself in treading the dark path of firewater.. i can just about picture you in a bblissed out daze listening to you crummy firewater cds with a dum smile on your face, maybe even jerking off to an image of 'tod a' in your head..

i guess im just trying to save some other wayward souls from getting ensnared..
o or did they break up after they realized how much they sux?

And learn how to spell, you idiot.

rilly datzz all dat mattahz

HU WHINZ DA FITE!

Not only have I heard it, I'VE ALREADY SOLD IT TO GET IT OUT OF MY HOUSE! Touch not the unclean thing and all that.

Seriously, I just don't think the Walkmen are very good, that's all. I just think that Hammy Leighthauser (and what a name!) has got the most grating voice in the world. And the music is utterly bereft of balls. I quite liked Wolf Songs for Lambs by Jonathan Fire*Eater. It's a pity they couldn't stick with that.

Firewater are just a lot more fun and make better music...and don't take themselves anywhere nearly as seriously as the Walkmen take themselves.

Saw Cop Shoot Cop once in 1993 and the openers were the God Machine -- who I adore, more so than CSC really. But they were good nonetheless.

It was no "schtick" in Jack Natz's case. He's the definite article.

Hahahaha, ok that's funny. They seemed to play L.A. all the time though.. I mean, enough for me to think they were a local band.

Well I have to admit this is an interesting way to look at it. I was pretty enamoured with WDE, felt like they never really got the attention they deserved. But they had some extra dub/reggae/funk influences bubbling up from time to time that I'm not sure CSC had (?). Perhaps that's where Foetus comes in.

Rema Rema were amazing and one-of-a kind. Let's mention them a few more times, please, so that more of the world will hear.

I have good memories of the God Machine. Proof positive that sometimes when noisy bands come from across the water, the medicine just goes down a little easier for me. CSC made a deeper impression, though, because I can't remember a single GM song at this point.

well, this is a classic alex in nyc-ism:

Not only have I heard [the walkmen CD], I'VE ALREADY SOLD IT TO GET IT OUT OF MY HOUSE! Touch not the unclean thing and all that.

Fuck the Walkmen.

I'm saddened that kit-ten did not return to make his/her case. Firewater, to my ears, were a fuckin' breath of fresh air, and I'd be sincerely curious as to what kit-ten would cite as a superior option. And then, of course, I'd bury him/her in an avalanche of vitriol that would make Pompeii seem like a fukin' beach party.

that one goes into the hall of fame.

"The Rat" is GREAT.

the rat and the first ep is great. but jonathan fire eater were better.

It's important to note that White Rabbits' last record out-Walkmened the Walkmen.

(Just like the T3xas Chainsaw Mass Cho1r nearly out-Blooded the Blood Brothers, roffle)

Damnit! C0momusic's TCMC house show video is gone :(

I stumbled across the vinyl of Consumer Revolt in Ann Arbor this weekend, very anxious to give it a loud spin tonight.

I was not, but here is Tod and I over the holidays. This might not work, as it's Instagram...

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmXjMVlunO5GbYcIMcgNUGaUFQB_ySZV29FZLU0/

And.... it didn't.

Just post a link.

What's Tod doing, is Firewater still active?

Writing, among other things! His first novel was quite good.

Watch this space. I just did a Q&A with him last week. Stand by.

Alex in NYC as the new lead singer of Firewater 2.0

^ would honor the firewater.

been far too long since i pulled those Firewater albums out. looking forward to the Q&A Alex.

Oh whoops.. I forgot to share it here, didn't I. I suck...

https://vassifer.blogs.com/alexinnyc/2023/01/fermenting-new-firewater-tod-a-looks-ahead.html