Players Club - REGENESIS (DT 012)
Theres been a lot of press and proselytizing and glad handing and ass kissing over the past year or two about The Big Apples supposedly sudden reemergence as the hot spot for hot rock. The big problem with all this hype a.k.a. BS is that few of the new wave of New York bands actually ROCK worth a pinch of blow. Enter Brooklyns Players Club(formerly the "J.J. Paradise Players Club).
These are some grown ass men playing some hard ass rock. The bands powerful mix of Zeppelin-AC/DC anthem-itude and Jesus Lizard-Neurosis brute force occupies a singular place wherein melody never comes at the price of heaviness, heaviness never comes at the price of intelligence, and intelligence never compromises the near-physical impact of their music. They are a true rock band-as-street-gang in the sense of four brothers who live, laugh, drink and play together, and hardened road dogs whose wit, charm and pulverizing live show has helped build an ever growing national fanbase.
Music scene veterans, the members of the Players Club were making their bones while the current glut of white belt boy bands where still swimming in their Daddys penthouse swimming pools. Bassist/vocalist Dave Curran burnt up as many miles as brain cells
as a member of seminal noise rock band Unsane. Guitarist and production guru Joel Hamilton spilled plasma and opened for Quiet Riot in the no less noisy Glazed Baby before sobering up long enough to play with esteemed indie rockers Shiner. Singer/guitarist Cooper and drummer/band namesake James J. Paradise came from the criminally overlooked post-hardcore band The Kill Van Kull and also logged time in forgotten local legends like Kiss It Goodbye, Die 116, Hell No and Go.
2001 was a busy year for the Players Club with the release of a 7-inch single, a 4-song EP and full length, the impressive Wine Cooler Blowout, all issued on Brooklyns Tee Pee Records. They then set out on a series of tours, damaging ear drums and stealing shows,
and making memorable appearances at both the South By South West and Emissions From The Monolith music festivals. Most recently, they released the 5-song Clean EP on drummer Jim Paradises Handi-Kraft Records and crossed the country opening for a briefly re-united Unsane. In June 2003 the band signed with Seattles Dead Teenager Records/Red Devil Management, home of Zeke and Speedealer, and are one of their few non-local signings. Their sophomore effort is expected in early 2004 with plenty of road work expected before and after its release.
