Once upon a gobsmacked time, Punk was a full-scale sonic assault with squalling guitars, pogo-bounced bass runs and double-clutched drumming providing an adrenalized soundtrack to snottily shouted lyrics that railed against boredom, apathy, mediocrity and the status quo.
The Spits remember that time, patterning their own new-millennial take on Punk after heroes like NOFX and The Ramones, but also tapping into the ‘70s Synth Wave dissonance that distinguished bands like Wire and Spizzenergi and presenting a theatrical component as engaging as Devo in their prime. Like the Punk freedom fighters of the past, The Spits are all about the DIY ethic from top to bottom; unlike many of their predecessors, The Spits have little interest in politics and prefer to make simple my-fist/your-face music.
Now based in Seattle, The Spits roared out of Kalamazoo, Mich., in 2000 with a self-appointed mission to make “Punk for the People,” a slogan they’ve made into their rallying cry. The Spits named their first four albums 1, 2, 3 and 4, as a tribute to The Ramones’ opening count-off. Their last studio album was naturally titled V, and their new label, In the Red, recently released a greatest hits/rarities package dubbed Kill the Kool.
The Spits will hit you like a heart punch and leave you gasping for air and one more incredibly loud and pissed-off song.
THE SPITS play Thursday, Oct. 24 with Useless Eaters and The Subsets at Mayday in Northside. Buy tickets, check out performance times and get venue details here .
