Music Tonight: Wayne Static, the finger-in-light-socket coifed frontman of (and braintrust behind) electronic-tinged Groove Metal band Static-X, released his first solo album, Pighammer, late last year. The recording was reportedly delayed due to contractual issues with Static-X’s label, Warner Bros., which had dibs on releasing Wayne’s solo work. Static ultimately was able to reclaim the album and decided to just put it out on his own Dirthouse Records label instead of trying to find a new deal (as so many artists do these days).—-
Any fears Static-X fans had about a solo Static going off to make a Gangsta Rap or Synth Pop record were assuaged the instant they heard Pighammer — Static was, after all, the prime songwriter and creative force of Static-X, so it shouldn’t be a shock that his solo vision lines up pretty closely with his band’s. Static coined the genre “Evil Disco” to describe Static-X’s mix of metallic riffs, pummeling, dance music-informed rhythms and swaths of electronic soundscapery (territory previously explored and popularized by Rob Zombie). Pighammer, Static has said, is 100 percent Evil Disco. His band is on break as he does the solo rounds, of course, but Static says that doesn’t mean Static-X will never be a working unit again. In the meantime, Evil Disco fans won’t have time to miss the band — the genre’s creator and king clearly isn’t passing that torch on any time soon.
Static and his band play tonight at Bangarang’s of Covington (in the space The Mad Hatter once occupied) with a bunch of opening acts (Polkadot Cadaver, The Agonist, Lazy D, Detrimental, Tower of Silence, Scarangella). Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15. The show is open to Evil Disco fanatics of all ages.
Here’s the video for Static’s solo track “Assassins of Youth,” a song about drugs he started writing when he was heavily into them. The clip reflects that debauched mindset so, obviously, it’s NSFW, all the way.
Momentous Happenings in Music History for February 15 On this day in 1969, 27-year-old Virginian singer Vickie Jones was arrested after performing a concert in Ft. Meyers, Fla., for over 1,000 people. Not a crime, of course, but the problem for Jones was that all of those people thought they were seeing and hearing superstar “Soul Sister No. 1” Aretha Franklin, leading to charges of fraud against her. But the full story soon emerged. Jones was dirt-poor when she received an enticing job offer in the form of a call from a Florida concert promoter asking her to come play a show with Aretha Franklin. When Jones arrived for the gig, she was informed by the promoter that she was Aretha. Jones said she refused, but was threatened with bodily harm if she didn’t go through with it. So Jones (who already kinda looked and sounded like Franklin) donned a wig and nervously took the stage.
After a six song set, Jones received a standing ovation.
The promoter ultimately took the fall for the scam (and I assume those audience members were refunded the $5.50 they paid for their tickets, even though they were apparently entertained thoroughly) and Jones became a momentary celebrity as the press rushed to hear her take on the unusual scandal.
Aretha still gets impersonated today, but legitimately (i.e. no one’s duping anyone) and on a regular basis. Franklin’s large gay following led to her becoming a frequent drag queen inspiration (early drag Aretha sightings date back to the early ’70s), making Jones something of a drag pioneer. Here’s an example of a noted Drag Queen of Soul, April Summers (even though she is probably better known for her Patti LaBelle).
Born This Day: Musical movers and shakers sharing a Feb. 15 include: the “Holland” of legendary Motown songwriting/production team Holland–Dozier–Holland (“Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Heat Wave,” “You Can’t Hurry Love”), Brian Holland (1941); singer for British Reggae crossover stars UB40, Ali Campbell (1959); frontman (and didgeridoo-ist) for Alt/Rock chartbusters Incubus, Brandon Boyd (1976); and noted music fanatic and creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening (1954).
Groening’s eclectic taste in music has often found its way into episodes of America’s longest running sitcom, animated series and primetime series. Given the mind-boggling endurance and popularity of the show, if Groening features a somewhat obscure musical act in any way, that act’s “somewhat obscure” label disintegrates instantly. He’s like Oprah in that way, but instead of promoting his “favorite things” or endorsing a book, he’s making musicians immortal (at least in animated, syndicated form). Indie deities Yo La Tengo and Sonic Youth have both done versions of The Simpsons‘ theme song. (Others who have covered the theme for Groening include Los Lobos, Tito Puente, NRBQ, Fall Out Boy, a cappella group Canvas and Green Day.)
Groenig’s cool musical tastes even earned him the coveted role of “curator” for a recent edition of the hip All Tomorrow’s Parties festival. For his ATP in 2010, Groenig selected many artists most of the citizens of Springfield have never heard of, including Deerhoof, Mission of Burma, Jackie-O Motherfucker, Bardo Pond, American Analog Set and Captain Beefheart‘s old Magic Band.
Here’s audio of Yo La Tengo’s take of The Simpsons theme.
This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2012.