We come down from Cabbagetown

May 4, 2014 4:41 PM

90's Southern Gothic rockers The Rock*a*Teens have reunited and are going on tour. Their unique mixture of dark, swampy rock influences have been praised by Dan Bejar as "the most underrated American rock ’n roll band of the ’90s," and Will Sheff of Okkervil River as, "masterpieces buried in muck." The band features Chris Lopez, who you may know from aughties band Tenement Halls, and Kelly Hogan, who's worked with Neko Case. Playlist after the jump.

Don't Destroy This Night
Black Ice
Betwixt or Between
In the Woods of Hemlock Park
If I Wanted to be Famous (I'd Have Shot Someone)
Black Metal Scars
And a short, sloppy documentary Sew A Doll About It

posted by gorbweaver (18 comments total)

Yay!
posted by classa at 4:45 PM on May 4, 2014 [1 favorite]

holy moly! this is very exciting. i stumbled upon Baby, A Little Rain Must Fall maybe five or six years ago and it was a total revelation. beautiful record, beautiful band.

now, to get them to Canada!
posted by tealsocks at 5:54 PM on May 4, 2014

Cabbagetown is a ten minute drive from my house, and I'd never heard of this band until now. Internets!
posted by echocollate at 5:58 PM on May 4, 2014 [1 favorite]

Cabbagetown represent!


(I miss my old neighborhood)
posted by Kitteh at 6:02 PM on May 4, 2014

Kelly used to tend bar at The Hideout here in Chicago. Just passed this post on to her.
posted by timsteil at 6:26 PM on May 4, 2014

I'll second that yay!

They are a great live band, And I wish I could find a version of 'Car and Driver' to link. That song is crazy great.
posted by rock swoon has no past at 7:04 PM on May 4, 2014

Hell yeah! I hope they make their way out to CA...
posted by equalpants at 7:04 PM on May 4, 2014

Car and Driver
posted by gorbweaver at 7:23 PM on May 4, 2014 [2 favorites]

I can't be the only one who initially read that A*Teens, can I?
posted by mynameisluka at 7:47 PM on May 4, 2014 [1 favorite]

Also, Kelly Hogan was in The Jody Grind.
A band from my youth.
Hearing Neko get first billing and Kelly get mentioned as an after thought on KUT pissed me right off.
The Jody Grind - One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure (full album)
posted by Seamus at 8:00 PM on May 4, 2014 [4 favorites]

Hwy R
posted by Rangeboy at 9:32 PM on May 4, 2014 [1 favorite]

That's Kelly Fuckin' Hogan to you mere mortals.
posted by entropicamericana at 10:29 PM on May 4, 2014 [4 favorites]

Seamus, I was just reminiscing with my brother about The Jody Grind, and wondering iff Bill Taft is still playing. What a great band.
posted by thelonius at 12:03 AM on May 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

I know Taft had formed Hubcab City around 2005 or thereabouts. I should ask my ex what he's up to because he's friends with everyone from the old Atlanta rock'n'roll scene.
posted by Kitteh at 3:43 AM on May 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

I thought you'd missed my favorite track, but you've just misspelled it. It's Black Metal Stars, not Scars.
posted by dobbs at 5:38 AM on May 5, 2014

"If I Wanted to be Famous (I'd Have Shot Someone)"

That's my new anthem.

Fantastic stuff, thanks for posting!
posted by quiet earth at 6:58 PM on May 5, 2014

Here are some pictures of Cabbagetown that I was working on compiling right when this was posted. That neighborhood is one of my very favorite places. Thanks for the soundtrack!
posted by staggering termagant at 11:47 AM on May 9, 2014 [3 favorites]

Never heard of this band until now. I've been listening to them for a week straight. Thanks!
posted by about_time at 7:00 AM on May 16, 2014