The Rolling Stones
Rufus Thomas
Even after a brief, superficial listen to the Blues Explosion you'll realize that Spencer's blues bears little resemblance to the blues of, say, Robert Johnson or Howlin' Wolf, but then that's not really the pond Spencer's fishing from.
For him, the blues is the down and dirty, hot and sweaty, dirty-old-man sound of guys like R.L. Burnside (who has played with the Blues Explosion on occasion) and Andre Williams.
Per Penthouse, 1997...
http://www.jimdero.com/OtherWritings/Spencer.htm
Sounds Like
Beastie Boys
Reverend Horton Heat
Beck
Grifters
Royal Trux
Sonic Youth
R.L. Burnside
Rocket from the Crypt
Red Red Meat
Surgery
Geraldine
Lorette Velvette
The Revelators
Dub Narcotic Sound System
The Compulsive Gamblers
The Flaming Stars
The Legendary Shack Shakers
Pearlene
Scene Creamers
Comets On Fire
Don't get fooled. This is not a routine blues band, but a guitar barrage, an infernal wedding of hard rock, boogie, punk anarchy and the macho feeling of good ol' blues with Elvis at the back seat. Blues Explosion fuse the raw energy of first rock rebels with today's tools. Their last album Damage was produced by Steve Jordan (Rolling Stones), the hip hop stars DJ Shadow a Dan The Automator (Primal Scream, Gorillaz) provided dance electronics, Chuck D (Public Enemy) and Tricky's singer Martina Tople-Bird are featured as guest vocalists. The underground legend with two guitars and a drum kit is approved by rock connoisseurs as one of the best post-punk live acts.
The trio's roots reach to the mid-80's when Jon Spencer formed the hard-core controversial cult band Pussy Galore in Washington D.C. After it's break-up he started Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in 1991, an energy driven outfit, blending garage punk with blues and rock. Despite the wide spectrum of influences they created a new, easily recognizable sound, which they've spent seven records both honing and redefining.
With the Extra Width album in 1993 Spencer and band got some air time on MTV's alternative rock show 120 Minutes with the videoclip of 'Afro.'
Their most noticeable quality at that time was emphasis on tight songs, funky backbeats, and loads of catchy riffs and hooks. Often they are called the "the postmodern Rolling Stones" for valid reasons. During the Pussy Galore days, Spencer made an uncompromising cover of the Stones' double album Exile on the Main Street, and his contemporary work brings bold memories of the Stones culminating years in 60's and 70's.
Their last opus, Damage (2004) - released under the abbreviated name Blues Explosion - finds the trio unexpectedly flourishing as a rock & roll band, and surprisingly also as songwriters. "Underneath the maelstrom of wailing guitars the Blues Explosion turn in some of their best songs, including the moody, evocative ballad 'Crunchy,' featuring spooky and sexy vocals from former Tricky cohort Martina Topley-Bird." (All Music Guide).
Drummer Russell Simins was born in Queens, New York - also home to the Ramones, Kiss, the New York Dolls. The second guitarist Judah Bauer met Spencer and Simins jamming in a basement studio. He uses a variety of Telecasters, playing them against Spencer's instrument, often nicknamed as "vacuum-cleaner guitar."
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's Friend Space (Top 31)
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