XBXRX
XBXRX is an American punk band formed in 1998 in Mobile, Alabama.
Their early sound very new wave-influenced, but is now more improvised and deconstructed, moving away from using the synthesizers that typify new wave. They are a collective with a revolving cast of musicians, including Steve Touchstone, Weasel Walter, and Vice Cooler. In 2002, Wesley Willis wrote a song dedicated to the band. Today the collective resides in Oakland, California, where they have finished working on their next record, Wars, which was released in April 2007. They are currently touring and working on a record of improv based pieces titled "Sound" and splits with Mika Miko and Japanther.
Early years
In February 1998, after attending a concert by Unwound and Deerhoof in Biloxi, Mississippi, the band started as a trio, using a simple drum set, guitar and an inexpensive Radio Shack synthesizer. Their early sets consisted of very loose, improvised song structures. They soon hired a drummer and bass player Devin Istre[1] rounding off the first solid lineup when they made their first public performance at a friend's birthday party in May 1998. In 1999, the band hit the road for the first time with a van that belonged to the drummer's mother. Though none of them were old enough to have graduated from high school[citation needed], they decided to start doing gigs. Eventually all of the members either graduated early or dropped out, starting a career for the band based on touring.
2000-2002
In summer of 2000, the band went into the studio to record some songs with producer Steve Albini. The sessions would turn into the band's first real full length, Gop Ist Minee which was released on Kill Rock Stars sister label 5RC. The album was released in January of the next year and was followed by tours with Unwound, Deerhoof, QandnotU, and the Sissies. In between shows, they recorded their Clear EP (with Ian Mackaye) and several singles, including the Quintron and Miss Pussycat collaboration single, "Mardi Gras", which was recorded by Tim Kerr, and the Vern Rumsey-produced "Hold Onto Your Skulls". In 2002, the band took a long break.
2003-2005
Weasel Walter had become a fan of XBXRX after seeing multiple Chicago performances between 1999 and 2001. He had kept in touch with the band, and in 2003, when Touchstone and Cooler moved the band from Alabama to California, they asked Walter to join the band as their new drummer and enlisted Paul Costuros (of Total Shutdown) to fill in on Bass duties.
In April 2003, they did their first tour with the new lineup, opening for Holy Molar. They quickly started working in the studio and opened for Sonic Youth and Peaches. The end result was a contract with Polyvinyl Records which produced the band's follow up to Gop Ist Minee, Sixth in Sixes.
Discography
Albums
- Greatest CD-R (ODM, 1998)
- Love Songs for the Blind (Anal Log, 1999)
- Gop Ist Minee (5RC, 2001)
- Sixth in Sixes (Polyvinyl, 2005)
- Wars (Polyvinyl, 2007)
- Sounds (Important Records, 2007)
Singles, EPs
- "xbxrx" CD-R (Nothing Fancy Just Music [aka NFJM], 1998)
- "Song Known As" (NFJM, 1998)
- "We Are All Dying" (1998)
- "Science In The Shape Of Birds" (split with Quintron, Bobby Conn, Zeek Sheck) (TOYO, 2000)
- "Hold Onto Your Skulls" (ARKAM, 2001)
- "Mardi Gras" (GSL, 2001)
- "Split with Sick Lipstick" (DELETED ART, 2002)
- Clear EP (NOVA/ TAPES, 2002)
- 10 Bands (split with Erase Errata, Tracy And The Plastics and Peaches) (NFJM, 2002)
- "We Hate The President" (Narnack, 2003)
- "Last" (NFJM, 2004)
- "split with Total Shutdown" (double 5") (ROCK IS HELL, 2005)
- "split with An Albatross" (GSL, 2005)
Videos
- NFJM 1V (NFJM, 1998)
- NFJM 2V (NFJM, 1999)
- NFJM 3V (NFJM, 2000)
- NFJM 4V (NFJM, 2000)
- NFJM 5V (split with Deerhoof) (NFJM, 2001)
- NFJM 6V (NFJM, 2004)
- KRS Video Fanzine (Kill Rock Stars, 2005)
Compilations
- P.O.W! records presents... Knockout!!! (POW!, 2000)
- Troubleman Unlimited Mixtape (Troubleman Unlimited, 2002)
- Kitra Vol. 3 (Powerbunny 4x4 records, 2001)