My Name is Rar-Rar was a spastic no-wave band from Chicago that was formed in late 2000 by guitarist Chuck Falzone and bassist Jonathan Hischke. Both had served time in various incarnations of the Flying Luttenbachers and they brought the dissonance and speed to My Name is Rar-Rar, setting it to a more playful dancey tribal thump provided by Chrissy Rossettie. Falzone's odd guitar timbre collided with Hischke's ridiculous synth-bass lines that snaked between rubbery farts and calliope bounce.
Original singer Camilla Ha, later of Magic is Kuntmaster, made the stage shows a surrealist fanfare as she fronted the band in elaborate and absurd Victorian-inspired costumes. She liked to assault the audience if they seemed too stuffy and pretentious, other times she stood motionless as she wailed her Nico-like croon over the manic music.
When Ha left the band, Greg Peters took over on vocals, bringing his trademark bark over from his previous band Xerobot. His whoops, coughs and delusional ramblings transformed the band into a speeding circus caravan that misses a turn and goes tumbling over a cliff. Peters' on-stage antics were also always something to behold as he flailed about, cupping the mic to his mouth and gripping the side of his leg as if his bowels were on the verge of bursting.
My Name is Rar-Rar released a split 7" with Neon Hunk on Hello Pussy/Liquid Death Records, a comp track on White Denim records and a mini-EP on an obscure Italian label. They recorded their first record in 2003 but broke up before mixing it.
Chuck Falzone and Greg Peters have a new band called Buck Pig. Jonathan Hischke went on to play in the more easily digestible Head of Femur before moving to California to play in a touring line-up of Hella. Chrissy Rossettie moved to Brooklyn and has a dancey futuristic noise project called Iyaxia.
Thanks for putting this up.
Xerobot CDs are available at
www.coattailrecords.com
Thanks
Posted by: Skuldt | February 26, 2009 at 04:44 PM
The soundtrack of my prime! What a gift, to have such material for nostalgia.
Posted by: Emerson | February 26, 2009 at 04:56 PM
Hey there Sir Jubbo!
Philip from Lozenge here. Thanks for this! I remember some of these songs from the east-coast tour we took with Rar-Rar in fall 2001 (Camilla's last hurrah with the group). It's great to finally be able to listen to them again! They don't make 'em like this anymore--truly a band cut short in its ludicrous prime.
Posted by: PHLP | February 27, 2009 at 04:47 AM
Camilla reminds me of Javier Bardem's character in No Country for Old Men. Equal parts insane and more insane, frequently with demented and undeniably self-serving intentions. I do love My Name is Rar-Rar, but there have been many times when Camilla has exhibited a complete disregard for others' personal space and safety, throwing infantile tantrums, hurtling rocks glasses across dimly lit bars, etc. Courtney Love would be proud.
Not that I always mind such theatrics, but when your friend is hit with a chair, and then physically assaulted by a prima donna with a notoriously bad attitude, simply for wearing a piece of clothing that the great Camilla Ha disapproves of, you tend to see things a little differently. Thanks for posting, though... I'm glad to hear this stuff again.
Posted by: Jim | February 27, 2009 at 03:58 PM
There's more here, folks: http://mynameisrarrar.bandcamp.com
I think I may have more around, too, and will add it there as I dig it up.
-Chuck
p.s. Jim, I have to stand up for Camilla. I think you caricature her. She was certainly responsible for some folks having a very different experience at our shows than they expected. (I consider that a good thing.) I don't recall her throwing glasses, hitting people with things, physically assaulting anyone.
Posted by: -Chuck | February 28, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Fuck YES. Thanks for the memories!
Posted by: Jamillah | March 01, 2009 at 08:58 PM
Wow - I thought I'd never hear Rar Rar again. I have fond memories of seeing them play in Chicago, especially the first time. It was a show with Deerhoof (Reveille era). I'm not sure if most people knew what to make of them, but they had great costumes! Then later I saw bassist Hischke playing with Hella on their Church Gone Wild tour.
Posted by: anon. | March 04, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Rar Rar it's something. I knew how to play the guitar, I probably would have come up with myself too classy image.
Posted by: Slot | August 07, 2013 at 05:43 PM