Blues Explosion

Infobox musical artist
Name = Blues Explosion


Img_capt = From left to right: Judah, Jon and Russell
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = New York City, NY, USA
Years_active = 1990–present
Label = Matador
Associated_acts = Boss Hog
Heavy Trash
Pussy Galore
URL = [http://www.thejonspencerbluesexplosion.com http://www.tjsbx.com]
Current_members = Jon Spencer
Judah Bauer
Russell Simins
Past_members =

Blues Explosion (formerly The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and sometimes abbreviated JSBX) is a New York-based punk blues trio, made up of ex-Pussy Galore frontman Jon Spencer (vocals, guitar), as well as Judah Bauer (guitar, vocals) and Russell Simins (drums). The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, though retaining much of the noise roots of Pussy Galore, mostly saw Spencer departing from the nihilistic "groovy hate fuck" rock of his previous band and moving towards a less caustic, more groove-oriented approach.

Biography

Originally from Hanover, New Hampshire, Jon Spencer (born Jonathan) moved to Washington, DC where he fronted the band Pussy Galore. After that band's breakup, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion formed in 1990 in New York City. Members played in bands including The Honeymoon Killers (not to be confused with the avant garde Belgian artists on the Crammed Discs label), Crowbar Massage, and Boss Hog prior to the formation of the Blues Explosion.

They signed to Matador Records shortly after and have gathered a large cult following. They are one of the select notable groups to cultivate a punk blues sound in the 1990s.

While on tour in July 1999, the band's tour van was broken into in Vancouver, Canada. A large amount of gear, including several microphones, amps, compressors, and other equipment, as well as Spencer's original 1962 Moog Vanguard theremin, was stolen. None of the gear was ever recovered.

With the release of "Damage" in 2004, the band changed their name simply to Blues Explosion.

ide projects

Russell Simins

Russell has collaborated with Butter 08 (Cibo Matto's side project) and Little Barrie.

Russell co-produced Bang Bang Boom Cake by the pre-teen punk band Tiny Masters of Today and did a stint as their live drummer.

Men Without Pants is his new project with Dan the Automator
*"Public Places" LP/CD (2000, Grand Royal)
*"Men Without Pants

Judah Bauer

* "Ragged Backyard Classics Played By The Bauer Bros." 3x7" (1996)
* "Member of Cat Power & The Dirty Delta Blues Band according to (Matador Records) (2006)

Under the moniker 20 Miles

* "R.L. Boyce Othar Turner Fife & Drum Spam" LP/CD (1997, Fat Possum/Epitaph)
* "I'm a Lucky Guy" LP/CD (1998, Fat Possum/Epitaph)
* "Keep It Coming" CD (2002, Fat Possum)
* "Life Doesn't Rhyme" CD (2003, Fat Possum)

Jon Spencer

Jon Spencer is a member of Heavy Trash, along with Matt Verta-Ray. Spencer is also a member of Boss Hog with his wife, Cristina Martinez.
* "Sideways Soul (In a Dancehall Style) - Dub Narcotic Sound System Meets The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion" LP/CD (1999, K Records)
* "Spencer Dickinson - Spencer Dickinson" (2001) Japanese release on the Toy's Factory label featuring Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson & Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion). (Luther & Cody are in The North Mississippi Allstars). 2001. Received a North American CD release with 7 extra tracks on Yep Roc in 2006.
* "Heavy Trash - Heavy Trash" LP/CD (2005, Yep Roc)
* "Everything Is Under Control - Coldcut" (2005) Coldcut - Sound Mirrors

* "Heavy Trash - Going Way Out With Heavy Trash" LP/CD (2007, Yep Roc)

Discography

JSBX has one of the most complex and sprawling discographies in all of rock, with numerous EPs, singles, and multiple versions of each album.

Official studio albums

* "Jon Spencer Blues Explosion" (1992)
* "Crypt Style" (1992; LP and CD have different tracklistings)
* "Extra Width" (1993)
* "Orange" (1994)
* "Now I Got Worry" (1996)
* "ACME" (1998)
* "Plastic Fang" (2002)
* "Damage" (2004, as Blues Explosion, featuring vocals from Martina Topley-Bird and Chuck D and production by Steve Jordan, Jay Braun, Dan the Automator, David Holmes & DJ Shadow)

Other releases

* "A Reverse Willie Horton" (1991)
* "Mo' Width" (Australia only LP, 1993; later appended to the European reissue of "Extra Width")
* "Experimental Remixes" (EP, 1995, featuring remixes by UNKLE, Moby, Mike D and Beck, GZA, Dub Narcotic and others)
* "Controversial Negro: Live in Tucson" (1997)
* "Acme Plus (UK)" (1999)
* "Xtra Acme USA" (1999)
* "Sideways Soul: Dub Narcotic Sound System Meets the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in a Dancehall Style" (1999, with Dub Narcotic Sound System)

JSBX were also R. L. Burnside's backing band on the albums "A Ass Pocket of Whiskey" and "Mr. Wizard". They also worked together with Andre Williams who is also credited as executive producer of "Acme".

The Blues Explosion have released a series of jukebox 7" 45s through In the Red Records. The records have the following tracklistings - ITR001 "Shirt-Jac, Latch On", ITR002 "Son of Sam, Bent", ITR003 "Train # 3, Train # 1", ITR004 "Get With It, Down Low" and ITR005 "Ghetto Mon, Dya Wanna Get It?". These were later released (along with a few other songs) in a 2007 compilation called "Jukebox Explosion".

Compilations

* 2006 - "Silver Monk Time - A Tribute To The Monks" - released on [http://www.playloud.org/silvermonktime.html Play Loud! Productions] , this album features them covering a track by The Monks, alongside 28 other bands
* 2007 - "Jukebox Explosion" - released on In The Red Records, this collection contains all of the songs that featured on what was known as the "Jukebox Series" - a number of 7" singles released on the same label throughout the mid/late 90s and early 00s (also contains some rarities and album out-takes)

Trivia

* Spencer's singing is sometimes described as sounding like that of an Elvis impersonator.Fact|date=May 2007
* Winona Ryder, Giovanni Ribisi and John C. Reilly are featured as lead singer, guitarist and drummer in the music video "Talk about the Blues."
* Jon Spencer trashed a TV studio in Melbourne, Australia, during a live performance of "2Kindsa Love / Flavor" on September 6, 1997 on Recovery. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbwxLGohUM0 Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, "2 Kindsa Love", Performed on Recovery, ABC TV, 1997 (YouTube)] ] This recording has become a favourite of guest programmers on ABC's Rage.Fact|date=May 2007
* The band was parodied by the Shirehorses, operating as the Frank Spencer Blues Explosion as well as referenced in the name of the band The John & Spencer Booze Explosion.
* The band made the theme song to the Travel Channel's with Anthony Bourdain.
* Jon Spencer is the brother of Muffin, the lead vocalist for the band Brassy.
* At the end of the "Flavor" video (which features Beck and Mike D), a full moon appears with an image of Flavor Flav on it.
* Spencer duetted with Nancy Sinatra on "Ain't No Easy Way," featured on her 2004 self-titled album.
* Their collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Killah Priest, entitled Greyhound Part 2, was extensively featured on the original Extreme Championship Wrestling's Hardcore TV program, during self-promotional commercials and hype segments.

References

External links

* [http://www.thejonspencerbluesexplosion.com Official website]
* [http://www.matadorrecords.com/jsbx/ Blues Explosion] at Matador Records
* [http://www.pop-catastrophe.co.uk/ Pop-Catastrophe.co.uk: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Discography (and all things JSBX) website]
* "The Spencer Report", a complete list of [http://www.geocities.com/yodaono/JSBX_The_Spencer_Report_Songs.htm songs] and [http://www.geocities.com/yodaono/JSBX_The_Spencer_Report_Releases.htm releases] these appear on, 1991-95.
* [http://www.jimdero.com/OtherWritings/Spencer.htm "The Truth About The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion"] article that was published in "Penthouse (magazine)"