Trophy Wives

“Weight” and “volume” are terms usually reserved for science, but with Trophy Wives they’re an art. The Louisville, KY-based four-piece’s dark, sweaty rock cribs its moves from Birthday Party-esque post-punk, Kyuss-like stoner grooves, and Jesus Lizard-like rhythm section gnarl in equal measure, going unpredictably but consistently for either your gut or your throat. Make no mistake: they’re going to hit you hard and kick your ass, but at least you’re going to have a good time rolling with the punches. — Johnny C

“A Scrupulous Cultural Ignorance” – A Recap of The 2011 PRF BBQ Auktoberfyst

This piece originally appeared in DocAwk’s own blog, Martian Dance Invasion!.

Gothamist: “It just seems from my perspective that there aren’t many bands that are making dark or ugly music anymore.”

Steve Albini: “Well, it sort of depends on the idiom really. There’s a lot of sort of grungy metal and punk stuff where every single band is trying to make aggressive music.”

Gothamist: “Yeah, I guess I’m referring more to the…”

Steve Albini: “Bands that play at the clubs you go to.”

Steve Albini is at his quotable best in this interview over at The Gothamist blog, in which he shares his always smirk-inducing opinions on New York City, the asinine Odd Future dustup (“It was a message board thread about Odd Future and I happened to have an anecdote about them so I share my anecdote and what passes for Journalism these days is repeating things that other people link to you on Twitter so that’s what it boils down to”), and his interactions with mainstream popular music:

I’m an exceptionally lucky man in that I’ve never heard a note of Lady Gaga’s music and you could sit her on my lap and I wouldn’t recognize her. I know that she’s a cultural force at the moment but I’m quite satisfied in having dodged that one. It’s like a truck drove by spraying shit from a nozzle over the entire neighborhood and I happened to be under an awning. You know?

Read more »

Old Scratch, The Debut LP by Trophy Wives

Can you believe that this is the debut full length release from Louisville, Kentucky’s Trophy Wives? These boys have been rocking the the pants off anyone within earshot for years, touring relentlessly with their extremely large and loud amps.

Just released on vinyl ($12), limited run cd-digipak ($10), and digital download, Old Scratch is ready for you. Are you ready for it? Check out this write up by the folks at Latest Flame Records, who say way better than I could.

Old Scratch, the debut full-length from Louisville, Kentucky’s Trophy Wives, draws heavily from its place of origin along the banks of the Ohio River, a locale with a rich musical history that includes indie stalwarts Rodan, Slint, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Like the city’s favorite son, Muhammad Ali, the band knows its punches from its poetry, and both are on ample display here.

Playing on the loud-soft dynamics of its forebears but never slipping into the trappings of genre, the band lays a thick and heavy groundwork throughout. Bassist Tony Ash and drummer Geoff Paton provide a raw, edgy backbeat (“Bad Tattoos,” “Taste of Your Medicine”) to Billy Bisig and Elliott Turton’s carefully controlled guitar flights, which give every song a different personality but keep it all in the family.

Bisig’s pop sensibilities shine through in his vocals. His grungy delivery is balanced by melodies and harmonies that wouldn’t be out of step on a Kinks record (“Crooked Cross,” “616”). His lyrics are brooding and escapist, and gain from clever wordplay mixed throughout, as on the syrupy chorus of the otherwise riff-heavy “(You’re Like a) Bad Song.” For the most part though, Bisig’s takes on love, sex, loss and alienation in our connected world are refreshingly earnest.

Ultimately, Old Scratch is the document of a band with surprising range. From the assaulting screams of “Bless You All,” to the slinky bass and guitar lines that introduce “Picture Perfect,” to the silky vocal intro of “616,” Old Scratch introduces a band that you’d regret to overlook. Take the punch and you’ll hear the poetry.

Go to Latest Flame Records to order yourself a copy!

The PRF Radio Hour – August 13th, 2011

Bradley R. Weissenberger of the rock band .22 hosted an all PRF radio show this passed Saturday, August 13th, 2011 on 106.7 WRHC Radio Harbor Country in Grand Haven, MI from 9 to 11 PM. In addition, the show was streamed live on their website through out the digital land.

While the broadcast, with all it’s wacky comedy bits, and controversial topics of conversation was not saved, Mr. Weissenberger was kind enough to replicate the playlist on this PRF Radio Hour on Bandcamp page. Click through to enjoy a stream of great music.