On a landmark day for the country, I welcomed the
midwestern band that makes my heart swell with American pride like no
other. Birthed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1982, Killdozer sludged through
such classic LPs as Snakeboy, Burl, For Ladies Only, and Twelve
Point Buck before calling it quits in the late 1990's. They returned briefly for
Touch and Go's 25th label anniversary bash, and graciously agreed
to perform (and put us in the Election Day mindset) this week on my show. As we now know, however, bassist/vocalist Michael Gerald's wish that afternoon for the Communist party to persevere did not happen. Texans have another chance to check Killdozer out Saturday the 8th at Austin's Fun Fun Fun fest (look at that crazy lineup too, what does "Cro-Mags (jam)" mean exactly?); Brooklyn Vegan has some photos up from the band's November 1st Knitting Factory show as well. Unfortunately, no video to post from the WFMU session, but as a not-so-bad replacement, you can witness WFMU's own Bill Mac performing "Knuckles the Dog" (scroll down to the 5th video clip) backed by the station's staff covers band the Hoof N Mouth Sinfonia, shot during the finale of our 2007 on-air fundraiser.
Killdozer live on Brian Turner's WFMU show November 4, 2008:
Lineup: Michael Gerald (bass/vocal), Bill Hobson (guitar), Dan Hobson (drums). Richard Rusincovitch (engineer). Pic credits: above: Brian Turner, right: Tim Cook.
Cotton Bolls
Cyst
Lupus
King of Sex
I Am, I Said
Sonnet
New Pants and Shirt
Live Your Life Like You Don't Exist
(Banter)
Gates of Heaven
(WFMU Interview)
Sweet Home Alabama
this is a beautiful thing and i thank you from the bottom of my heart for these mp3s.
Posted by: r40f | November 06, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Is that Killdozer playing whilst sitting?!
Posted by: wingwalker77 | November 06, 2008 at 06:38 PM
---Is that Killdozer playing whilst sitting?!
I thought the same thing. I guess they've graduated to elder-statesman status like Muddy Waters.
I remember a gig at the Middle East in Cambridge where Michael Gerald did the show standing on top of a big footlocker trunk. With the mic stand adjusted way up high.
I was at work Tuesday wishing I was listening to streaming killdozer. I guess its time to kick back with some Milties and Watermelon Pie and mp3s....
Posted by: tony c | November 06, 2008 at 07:46 PM
The date of Killdozer's Austin TX performance is Saturday Nov. 8 (not 9).
Posted by: Doofus McGoofus | November 06, 2008 at 08:56 PM
Right you are, sorry about that, fixed.
Posted by: Brian Turner | November 07, 2008 at 12:53 AM
I was at this show. I prefer the Greek Jimmy Page looking guitar player, Paul, over one of the brothers. They still rawked though.
Posted by: miss v | November 07, 2008 at 07:13 AM
cro-mags "jam" is john joseph, mackie, aj (leeway) & craig (y.o.t, straight ahead) no harley or parris aka doug...
can't believe killdozer didn't play knuckles... bummer.
Posted by: jeff | November 08, 2008 at 09:25 AM
A uniquely American band ... true maverick originals. (Not fake mavericks like that dude from Arizona and that lady from Alaska).
Posted by: dave | November 14, 2008 at 01:05 PM
I am glad much for to hear killdozer again, long time i heard them not as war in bosnia ..i thought they were famous ,but they are ...
Posted by: HyperactiveEx | December 19, 2008 at 05:15 PM
they sound so damn good. excellent stuff, thanks!
Posted by: tim bugbee | December 21, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Thank you for the beautiful music.
The return of bill hobson is like the addition of the missing note.
Long live charles ives.
with respect;
elroy
Posted by: zeroption | January 14, 2009 at 12:16 AM