You can’t kill him and you obviously can’t stop his recorded output. Chris Squire (ex-Heroin, ex-every-band-in-San Diego) rivals RFTC’s John Reis as the hardest working man in the local rock business. Perhaps because of his musical ADD (or that of his bandmates, whose resumes include the likes of The Deere Johns, Run for Your Fucking Life and Camera Obscura), The Tori Cobras have been sputtering on and off since 1999. But they seem to finally have solidified a lineup and a sound with Running with the Red Light.
This is rock ’n’ roll in its truest form—two guitars, bass and drums. Squire is the vitriolic singer, his vocals pinched and nasally in the famed Rotten manner. It’s full of pomp and self-styled circumstance—half of the eight tracks are about how the city’s either on fire, had an atom bomb just go up or how it’s going to eat Squire alive. Listening to the kid, his feral vocals on the edge of manic incomprehension, you’d think this was post-9/11 NYC. But the charred suburbia of our city provides some apt scenery for this sort of run-for-your-fucking-life riffage.
It’s not going to set the world on fire or go off like an atom bomb in your stereo, but it rivals The Dragons as the finest pure rock ’n’ roll in town.
Troy Johnson, City Beat
Tori CobrasRunning With The Red Light (Pure Noise Forever)
This album is as subtle as a steel-toed boot in the teeth when you're already face-down on the sidewalk and bleeding. What else would you expect from a band that includes former members of Heroin, tiltWheel, Tit Wrench, Mach 5 Overdrive, The Kidz and Run For Your Fucking Life? The Tori Cobras have a ridiculous pedigree and that doesn't even include the guys who sat in on the recording sessions or filled in at shows. This album is a menacing, bristling, powerhouse. Squire and Weedon are constantly singing over each other, their guitar lines weaving in and out of each other like illegal street racers hopped up on cheap bathtub meth from California's Central Valley. The rhythm section just bludgeons everything. Don't look for mercy - you ain't gonna find it ... but you will get a sound beating. Much like the A.M. Vibe album noted above, I got involved with these guys as a fan. And this album made my track record three for three. Utterly outstanding. Especially when played loud.Punk Rock Academy
I want to film the next show! Let me know the place/time ASAP! Are you still in SD at the moment? There's a band playing near there in the next few weeks you may want to see: http://www.myspace.com/cauldronmetal
Greetings and thank you for your friendship! In the glade, the spirits of the woods dance out of joy! The trees whisper of wonderous things yet to come. The planets align and the wise ones speak words in ancient tongue:
Hi Tori Cobras. Hope you give us a listen whenever you're working at the computer. Just visit us at www.xxxrock.fm and hit "play". Thanks for being a friend. We appreciate it! www.xxxrock.fm
May 11 2007 8:00P
Andrew's Bar Ypsilanti, Michigan
May 15 2007 8:00P
The Fire Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 17 2007 9:00P
Banjo Jim's New York, New York
May 18 2007 8:00P
Bank St. Cafe New London, Connecticut
May 19 2007 8:00P
The Oasis - WCNI Benefit show New London, Connecticut
May 25 2007 8:00P
Farmhouse Oberon Celebration Party Ann Arbor, Michigan
May 26 2007 10:00P
Churchill's Flint, Michigan
Jun 1 2007 8:00P
Elbow Room Ypsilanti, Michigan
Jun 2 2007 8:00P
Shark's - Rock'n' Roll Wine Party Canton, Michigan
Jun 13 2007 8:00P
The Belmont Detroit, Michigan
Jun 15 2007 8:00P
Harvey's Kalamazoo, Michigan
Jun 23 2007 8:00P
Klinic Bar Madison, Wisconsin
Jun 30 2007 10:00P
Merlin's Pub Buffalo, New York
Jul 13 2007 8:00P
Simon's Allen Park, Michigan
Jul 14 2007 8:00P
Cadieux Cafe Detroit, Michigan
Jul 19 2007 5:00P
Ann Arbor Summer Street Fair Ann Arbor, Michigan
Aug 2 2007 8:00P
Blind Pig Ann Arbor, Michigan
Sep 13 2007 9:00P
Venice Cafe St. Louis, Missouri
Hi Tori Cobras. Hope you give us a listen while you're working this weekend. Just visit us at www.xxxrock.fm and hit "play". Thanks for being a friend. We appreciate it! www.xxxrock.fm
Love the ship. I almost bought one at the dollar store the other day. But it wasn't big enough. Need a big ship going down. I think I'll nail it to a slanted shelf.
Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke,
You gotta understand,
It's just our bringing up-ke
That get us out of hand.
Our mothers all are junkies,
Our fathers all are drunks,
Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks!
Dear kindly Judge, your Honor,
My parents treat me rough,
With all the marijuana,
They won't give me a puff.
They didn't wanna have me,
But somehow I was had.
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad!
We're disturbed. we're disturbed,
We're the most disturbed,
Like we're psychologic'ly disturbed.
We are sick, we are sick,
We are sick sick sick,
Like we're sociologically sick!
Dear kindly social worker.
They say go earn a buck,
Like be a soda jerker,
Which means like be a schmuck.
It's not I'm anti-social,
I'm only anti-work,
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk!
DIESEL ("Judge"):
The trouble is he's crazy!
A-RAB ("Psychiatrist"):
The trouble is he drinks!
BABY JOHN ("Social Worker"):
The trouble is he's lazy!
DIESEL ("Judge"):
The trouble is he stinks!
A-RAB ("Psychiatrist"):
The trouble is he's growing!
BABY JOHN ("Social Worker"):
The trouble is he's grown!
ALL:
Krupke. we got troubles of our own!
Gee, Officer Krupke,
We're down on our knees,
'Cause no one wants a fella with a social disease.
Gee, Officer Krupke,
What are we to do!
Gee, Officer Krupke,
Krup you!
..
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