This Friday we'll be celebrating the release of the debut album by Chicago's own BARE MUTANTS. Comprised of some of our favorite local bands - THE PONYS, MANNEQUIN MEN, THE 1900s and LIKE PIONEERS - the LP is titled The Affliction and it was release released on one of our favorite LA-based labels, In The Red. If you know us, which you probably do by now, you know we can't get enough of these bodacious dudes and lady-dudes. Front-dude JERED GUMMERE continues to blow us away, and this record further solidifies his place as one of the absolute top-notch songwriters to grace our stage...In case you don't already know, if you buy tickets in advance to Friday's show you'll be entered to win some sweet, sweet vinyl records! BARE MUTANTS have given us a copy of their new LP, as well as their debut 7" on HoZac, and the smokin' hot members of VERMA have provided their new LP Coltan (Trouble In Mind) along with their new HoZac 7-inch. WOWE what a prize! The winner will be contacted the day of the show and can pick up his/her prize the night of the show.Here are some nice things "the press" has to say about that excellent BARE MUTANTS LP...
"This album is a heartbreaking motherfucker of sublime despondency. The simple but not simplistic arrangements underscore the matter-of-fact lyrics by former Ponys front man Jered Gummere—they read like a chronicle of the stocktaking and soul-searching you do while spending an afternoon recovering from last night’s epic bender." (Brian Costello, Chicago Reader)"In the absence of new music from the Ponys, fans of noise-streaked rock can turn their lonely eyes to Bare Mutants... Bare Mutants have previously shared "Crying With Bob," and now you can hear "Growing" first below. Both are patiently sculpted works rich with fuzzy guitar, garage-rock organ, and echoing baritone vocals." (SPIN)"How many reasons does Jered Gummere need to give us before we start invoking his name tirelessly? What's this guy got to do for us that was not already proven with The Ponys, Guilty Pleasures and influencing Jay Reatard and the burrough of Brooklyn for the better part of the Aughts? Turns out, it's start yet another killer band." (Impose)