Redd Kross : Classic Or Dud?

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Sure, send me your address. I can copy you those Kim Fowley records, too, if you want.

Arthur (Arthur), Thursday, 12 December 2002 23:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

ok cool i will! thanks lots + lots!!

duane, Friday, 13 December 2002 02:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

one year passes...
CLASSIC!

Piers (piers), Thursday, 28 October 2004 05:39 (nineteen years ago) link

one year passes...
From the Redd Kross List.

Redd Kross will be performing July 1st at the Red Cat Theater in Los
Angeles, CA.

The Red Cat only holds about 200 people and tickets are NOT for sale
yet.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 00:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Just saw Steve the other night on bass with Sparks. He wears the mustache and soul patch surprisingly well.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 00:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Are you going to this gig, Ned?

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 00:49 (seventeen years ago) link

'They seemed to have the same record and video collections as me and my friends, the same voracious, unashamed pop culture appetites'

Which is why they had such a loyal cult of similarly aged trash culture fans. To that small group, they were more than a band--more like a state of mind.

'do i have to mention DESPERATE TEENAGE LOVEDOLLS?!?!? and TEENAGE LOVEDOLL SUPERSTAR?!?!? '

Don't forget Spirit of '76 with Keith Partridge himself.

Carlos Keith (Buck_Wilde), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 01:44 (seventeen years ago) link

quite classic i should say

nude s*ock, Wednesday, 24 May 2006 01:47 (seventeen years ago) link

From their MySpace page (i know, i know):

"Now back in the studio, Redd Kross are working on a new release for 2006, and we are looking forward to it as much as you are."

http://www.myspace.com/reddkross

Really hoping for a tour if this is true.

cdwill (cdwill), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 03:54 (seventeen years ago) link

three weeks pass...
July 1st @ the Red Cat Theater - your faves are back together: Jeff,
Steven, Roy McDonald and Robert Hecker!

http://redcat.org/season/0506/mus/knock3.php

Don't Knock The Rock!
http://dontknocktherock.com/

Roberts back!!

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 14 June 2006 12:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Saw 'em open for Sonic Youth (whom they way outshone) in Toronto in '90, and that was a show to remember! They stretched their final chord of the evening for what seemed like an hour (prob. more like 12-15 minutes, in actual fact.) Plus Steve made some onstage wisecracks about Klaus Nomi that SEEMED funny, even tho they went completely over my head. (I'd never heard Klaus's music before.)(Still haven't.) Great fun.

M. Agony Von Bontee (M. Agony Von Bontee), Wednesday, 14 June 2006 19:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Funny, I saw the same combo circa the Sister tour. Beyond that, The Spirit of '76, and that '93 album, I'll have to do some catching up... I do remember reading that a lot of Circle Jerks riffs or songs were originally Red Cross ones.

Pete Scholtes (Pete Scholtes), Wednesday, 14 June 2006 21:12 (seventeen years ago) link

one year passes...

So this is like the greatest thing ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGPMa6k4mFk

As is the too brief bit of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sIBgP0PLYk

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 3 May 2008 18:47 (fifteen years ago) link

Oh shit. Need to here 'Annette's Got The Hits' and don't have it to hand.
Might go to pub.Do you think it will be on the dukey?

Fer Ark, Saturday, 3 May 2008 19:36 (fifteen years ago) link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjD5Nm75JfQ&feature=related

Sundar, Saturday, 3 May 2008 20:19 (fifteen years ago) link

Neurotica is one of the best albums of the 80s. And was the start of 4 classic albums

"Start" of 4 classic albums????

xhuxk, Saturday, 3 May 2008 21:26 (fifteen years ago) link

Just let it go, dude.

bamcquern, Saturday, 3 May 2008 21:31 (fifteen years ago) link

So is that first EP available ANYWHERE? What about the song "Rich Brat" from one of those "Life Is...So Why Not..." comp LPs?

sleeve, Saturday, 3 May 2008 21:55 (fifteen years ago) link

"Kill Someone You Hate" === Greatest Song EVAR

Smashing windows
with a baseball bat
=== Greatest Introductory Couplet EVAR

SecondBassman, Monday, 5 May 2008 20:16 (fifteen years ago) link

OK I see Rich Brat is on some newish collector scum 7" EP of 79-82 stuff. But that first EP starts at $70 on GEMM, fuck. Can't they just change the name? Who has the rights to Posh Boy these days?

sleeve, Monday, 5 May 2008 21:14 (fifteen years ago) link

TAKE ME TO YOUR COUCH BABE
RECITE SOME SIGMUND FREUD

Sundar, Monday, 5 May 2008 22:23 (fifteen years ago) link

goddamm fucking bootlegggers. I bought that 7" through the mail and it basically says right on the back "sorry about the skip in 'Rich Brat' LOL".

buyer beware.

sleeve, Thursday, 15 May 2008 23:20 (fifteen years ago) link

one month passes...

Me + Toronto + Redd Kross = last Saturday night!

I've seen them many times before but not, obviously, this millenium. All their albums were represented (only Bubblegum Factory from 3rd Eye though) plus some stuff I didn't recognise which may well be new material but was also some obscure early stuff judging by certain crowd members' reaction. I missed Gerri on the keyboards but the huge bonus was Robert Hecker back on guitar. Jeez, this guy is a rock'n'roll guitar genius, even if he looks like a jazz nut with his white suit, silk tie and weird little orange guitar slung right under his chin. From power chords to manic shreds he ruled the show, and importantly prevented it from being a "McDonald Bros + yr granny = Redd Kross" type affair.

The brothers look older but not old. Steve's still only 41 and I guess Jeff's probably 44 now but it was just like the old days with sweat-soaked hair flying all over the place, synchronised headbanging and all the usual routines. It was a great, tight set - just a bit over an hour but they played tons of songs. None of those eternal endings or jammed-out Beatles covers. Then just to ram home the fact that they haven't changed, they closed the show with "Good Times" theme with Hecker taking the lead vocal.

This was the most jumping around I've done at a show in years.

everything, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 00:56 (fifteen years ago) link

Awesome. Would love to see them again. I would imagine the older songs were from the red cross ep?

Herman G. Neuname, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 00:58 (fifteen years ago) link

I reckon so. They must've played about 6 real short songs that I couldn't place. I'm ashamed to say that I've got (a bootleg of) that ep, plus Born Innocent but probably only played them a couple of times each. My Redd Kross doesn't really begin until Teen Babes.

everything, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 01:02 (fifteen years ago) link

theres rehearsal footage where they play those songs last year on youtube.

Herman G. Neuname, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 01:05 (fifteen years ago) link

the ep is great. born innocent not so.

Herman G. Neuname, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 01:05 (fifteen years ago) link

Those old numbers sounded fantastic. Really sharp. I admit I was getting a little bit impatient when they played Crazy World and Pretty Please Me. I was thinking "fuck it's been 10 years, now I've got 75 minutes with you guys, why are you wasting playing these corny covers when you could be playing Monolith or Shonen Knife." Of course then they would launch into Switchblade Sister or something equally awesome.

everything, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 02:59 (fifteen years ago) link

two years pass...

Just found the first EP on the Killed by Death site. What an awesome six-songs-in-six-minutes that is. Don't think they were ever better.

ithappens, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 15:40 (thirteen years ago) link

^

naked human hands and a foam rubber head (contenderizer), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:39 (thirteen years ago) link

the ep is great. born innocent not so.

― Herman G. Neuname, Monday, June 16, 2008 9:05 PM

wrong

jabbascript (am0n), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:50 (thirteen years ago) link

born innocent is solid good, not great, not a patch on the EP

naked human hands and a foam rubber head (contenderizer), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 19:04 (thirteen years ago) link

Not listened to Born Innocent in years. Only one I can remember is Linda Blair.

ithappens, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 10:32 (thirteen years ago) link

one year passes...

And out of nowhere:

Redd Kross is back and delivering their signature brand of genuine rock 'n' roll with a vengeance. On August 7, Merge Records will release Researching the Blues, the first new album from Redd Kross in 15 years.

Researching the Blues features 10 new songs clocking in at just under 32 minutes. With songs written by Jeff and produced and mixed by Steven, the album is by far the band’s favorite record. Steve says, “It has the most singular artistic vision of any record we’ve done. It’s just 10 really fucking awesome songs that have the ability to move you in many different ways.”

Founded 34 years ago in Los Angeles during the first wave of LA punk rock by brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald (then respectively 15 and 11 years old), Redd Kross cut their teeth opening for Black Flag at a middle school graduation party. Their debut recordings caught the attention of Rodney Bingenheimer, who quickly became a fan as he spun their Ramones-inspired songs like “Annette's Got The Hits” and "I Hate My School" on the world-famous KROQ.

In 2006, Jeff and Steven announced their reunion with the “classic Neurotica” line-up, joined once again by guitarist Robert Hecker (IT’S OK) and drummer Roy McDonald (The Muffs). Redd Kross have been playing to enthusiastic audiences at sold-out select shows and festivals such as the Azkena Festival; Coachella; The HooDoo Gurus’ Invitational, "Dig It Up”; All Tomorrow's Parties; and Pop Montréal. More Redd Kross tour dates to come this year!


image description

Track List:

1. Researching the Blues

2. Stay Away From Downtown

3. Uglier

4. Dracula’s Daughters

5. Meet Frankenstein

6. One of the Good Ones

7. The Nu Temptations

8. Choose to Play

9. Winter Blues

10. Hazel Eyes

Redd Kross is:

Jeff McDonald – Vocals, Guitars

Steven McDonald – Bass, Vocals

Roy McDonald – Drums

Robert Hecker – Guitars

Ned Raggett, Monday, 7 May 2012 15:20 (eleven years ago) link

I came here to post the press release Ned did... Can this possibly be good?

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Monday, 7 May 2012 19:38 (eleven years ago) link

Jeff McDonald is saying it's the greatest album they've ever made.

Poliopolice, Monday, 7 May 2012 19:48 (eleven years ago) link

i mean, what's his motivation to lie about it???

Poliopolice, Monday, 7 May 2012 19:48 (eleven years ago) link

haha

Algerian Goalkeeper, Monday, 7 May 2012 19:50 (eleven years ago) link

i just hope they haven't forgotten how to rock

Algerian Goalkeeper, Monday, 7 May 2012 19:50 (eleven years ago) link

i dread it being an album of ballads with lots of strings

Algerian Goalkeeper, Monday, 7 May 2012 19:51 (eleven years ago) link

if they do that, it will be an ironic nod to the carpenters or some shit

Poliopolice, Monday, 7 May 2012 19:54 (eleven years ago) link

four years pass...

They've got an album of rarities/unreleased stuff called Hot Issue out at the moment. It's pretty good for odds & sods.

Colonel Poo, Thursday, 4 May 2017 16:43 (six years ago) link

I knew I should have seen them in DC the other night. Oh well.

curmudgeon, Friday, 5 May 2017 14:45 (six years ago) link

There's a Hot Issue vol 2 came out, which is a brilliant live set from 1997. Has a strong focus on 3rd Eye/Phaseshifter/Showworld - and that material was so great when Gere was still with the band. She's out by this point but the guitars are really beefed up. Recommended.

everything, Friday, 5 May 2017 17:22 (six years ago) link

nine months pass...

I looked up Redd Kross because I remembered the song "Annie's Gone" and wondered if I still liked it (I did). I remembered the video being very colorful (it is) and then I watched their "what's in your bag" Amoeba video and they seem like cool decent people.

I guess I don't understand how they even exist -- this video is so weird. Are they wearing pajamas? Are they trying to be sexy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmtbEK7Q4uA

weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 8 February 2018 14:38 (six years ago) link

Goofy dudes who like power pop, I think? I think there's an element there of wanting to make a ca 1990 mainstream rock video but not really having much of a feel for what that involves. I think that's part of why I like it.

No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Thursday, 8 February 2018 15:59 (six years ago) link

yeah -- the way they were mugging for the camera and general physical/dance moves are really perplexing. are they trying to be nelson? pee wee's playhouse? femme? the second half of the video (like after the woman starts dancing) seems somewhat "ambitious" for the time too, so are they arty?

and then there is the song, which is super catchy and obviously memorable. i think i like them. they seemed ok in the amoeba video.

i guess it makes sense that they are perplexing. it's part of their appeal!

weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 8 February 2018 16:08 (six years ago) link

I think there was a strong sense of wanting to rebel against the punk / hardcore scene they emerged from and increasingly express their love for Kiss, The Beatles and The Partridge Family across their general sound/aesthetic

PaulTMA, Thursday, 8 February 2018 17:00 (six years ago) link

and now? they're not retired right? in the video they seemed like two relatively approachable long haired duders.
are they still rebelling against something from the scene they emerged from 30 years ago? i am not asking to be confrontational, just because i am curious.

this is from 2013 -- they seem pretty buoyant & energetic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ-VB74qNGQ

weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 8 February 2018 17:11 (six years ago) link

Saw them open for Sonic Youth once. Didn't know much about them, but was blown away how they stood and rocked out like gods.

I think they inspired SY to rock out more themselves. Like they couldn't just come out and noodle around for 90 minutes after that.

nicky lo-fi, Monday, 31 December 2018 17:19 (five years ago) link

I saw them on the tour for Annie's Gone in downtown Ontario, where iirc they were opening for Jellyfish? They were great, loved their headbanging-in-tandem schtick.

Οὖτις, Monday, 31 December 2018 17:24 (five years ago) link

er Third Eye, that is

Οὖτις, Monday, 31 December 2018 17:24 (five years ago) link

Worth noting that the MacDonalds are 10 years younger than Sonic Youth despite emerging at the same time. Steve just turned 50. They are just as lively now as the were when Third Eye was released and if anything they are a tighter band. Currently Dale from the Melvin's is on drums. This is not a "Steve & Jeff and yr granny on bongos" thing. You have to be really good to be in this band.

everything, Monday, 31 December 2018 20:38 (five years ago) link

don't underestimate yr granny

still that's interesting. didn't know they were so young!

weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 31 December 2018 20:42 (five years ago) link

Perhaps one reason they've so frequently referenced David Cassidy, Linda Blair, Cowsills etc is because being in the late 70s LA punk scene and signed to a label age 12 and 14 gave them a similar perspective as these child stars. Steve has touched on not having a normal childhood in interviews.

everything, Monday, 31 December 2018 20:57 (five years ago) link

Iirc, they were about 13 when they made Born Innocent? (Kim Gordon was almost 30 when Confusion Is Sex was released.) xp!

Locked in silent monologue, in silent scream (Sund4r), Monday, 31 December 2018 20:58 (five years ago) link

Everything is probably right.

Locked in silent monologue, in silent scream (Sund4r), Monday, 31 December 2018 21:03 (five years ago) link

Is that for this thread?

Spirit of the Voice of the Beehive (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 31 December 2018 21:47 (five years ago) link

those reissues have been issued previously thru the mailing list but they deserve a wider pressing

Oor Neechy, Tuesday, 1 January 2019 00:31 (five years ago) link

At the concert it was wonderful to see every album laid out on the merch table, like a huge family reunion. Even as a long time fan there were some I'd never seen on vinyl before.

everything, Tuesday, 1 January 2019 01:34 (five years ago) link

two months pass...

they're playing twice today. friend called last night with a extra tik to echoplex benefit show that took a long time to get announced. they're headlining early and then i guess going across the street to another benefit (that looks potentially awesome as well) https://reddkross.com/
never seen 'em before and am quite psyched

The immortal Hydra Viridisimma (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 24 March 2019 14:32 (five years ago) link

fun!! i wanna see redd kross! what is the benefit for?

weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 24 March 2019 15:08 (five years ago) link

echoplex show is benefit for original drummer (Janet) that has cancer. my friend donated to a gofundme in August, hence was given tix to this. the show @ the echo is a autism benefit w/ a pretty impressive lineup -Elliot Easton, guys from the dB's, Steve Wynn, Baseball Project, etc.

The immortal Hydra Viridisimma (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 24 March 2019 15:19 (five years ago) link

:( poor janet
hope she recovers!!

weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 24 March 2019 15:28 (five years ago) link

two months pass...

New album in August!

Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 30 May 2019 21:49 (four years ago) link

O_O

All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Friday, 31 May 2019 00:11 (four years ago) link

two years pass...

classic

unknown or illegal user (doo rag), Wednesday, 23 March 2022 04:54 (two years ago) link

I was supposed to be seeing them in a week but they pulled the whole tour :(

even the birds in the trees seemed to whisper "get fucked" (bovarism), Wednesday, 23 March 2022 10:20 (two years ago) link


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