29th Street Disciples
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29th Street Disciples

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"Monkey Mania"

While their name might sound like that of a shopping-mall religious cult, the 29th Street Disciples (due at Monkey Mania this Friday, November 16) are actually one of Denver's fastest, hardest and loudest punk bands. With righteous indignation and seething disdain, vocalist Ben Roy — who, oddly enough, can also be seen doing standup comedy around town — rages against machines and phonies while guitarist Eli Molyneux and drummer Justin Carlson provide a hurtling, relentless musical foundation of boot-to-the-face hardcore that borrows from the blistering traditions of late-'80s Chicago and New York. The brutal outfit's secret weapon, however, is nimble bassist Tim Erwin. Deftly and deafeningly fingering his five-stringed low-end beast, Erwin brings together jazz finesse and metal brawn for a sound that is as virtuosic as it is visceral. Throw his bass lines together with the reckless energy of Molyneux and Carlson, add Roy's blunt-force bluster, and the result is about as far from mall punk as you can get. - Eryc Eyl


"29th St. Disciples signs with Zodiac Killer"

Sure, free beer and gratuitous sex are great reasons to be in a garage band. But the holy grail, of course, isn't getting zonked or getting laid --it's getting signed. And that's just what 29th St. Disciples have done. The foursome have been grinding in the trenches of Denver's punk scene and making ears bleed for nearly three years now. The hard work and the band's fierce approach to aural mayhem have finally paid off,
translating into a record deal with Ron Feldman of Zodiac Killer Records out of Cheyenne, Wyoming, the label which is also home to Colorado Springs' Nicotine Fits. "Ron's taking this worldwide,"declares guitarist Eli Molyneux. "And we're pumped to be label mates with some of the big names -- the exposure's gonna be killer."
OK, by "worldwide" he means limited North American distribution and hitting some of the larger markets in Europe. Not exactly planetary domination. Still, the band's stripped down, reductive ferocity dovetails nicely with Zodiac Killer's lineup -- and Molyneux is right: It doesn't hurt to be aligned with an imprint that's handled records from Antiseen and Electric Frankenstein, among others. The self-titled album, says Molyneux, will have twelve bludgeoning tracks and is
expected to drop on Tuesday, March 19. No release party has been announced yet, but you can catch the Disciples on Sunday, Febuary 1, at the Larimer Lounge for a "Fuck the Super Bowl" party with She Rides. - R Kelly Liggin in Hearsay


"Denver Decider (onion AV) Review of New C.d."

It's hard to think straight when you're pissed off—which is exactly why 29th Street Disciples' self-titled debut is so fucking horrifying. The Denver band is angry, no doubt, but there's a sharp, methodical intelligence to its attack. Like a brain surgeon turned axe-murderer, guitarist Eli Molyneux chews through guttural riffs with brutal grace, and frontman Ben Roy—better known as one of Colorado's funniest, least compromising standup comics—spits cold venom through bloody teeth. The disc's dozen songs manage to mutate, rewire, or just completely deconstruct the four-on-the-floor punk formula, flaunting the kind of off-kilter rock 'n' roll calculus exercised by Hot Snakes or The Bronx. It isn't all menace and fury, though. On the album's closer, "The Reason," the groups indulges in an oddly dub-soaked breakdown that rattles the nerves and chills the soul in a way Refused or even Fugazi might have approved of. Wild animals you can either outwit or shoot; 29th Street Disciples, on the other hand, isn't the type of beast that goes down that easy.
Decider Rating: A- - Jason Heller


"29th Street Disciples' new disc is pure napalm"

We've had a burned copy of this for a minute, but we forgot just how utterly kick-ass it is. Needless to say, when the new, pressed, Zodiak Killer version came across our desk this afternoon, we got a refresher, and all we can say is holy fuck, man! Sounding like the wayward, amphetamine-addled offspring of the almighty Fluid (and thereby the distant hellion descendants of the Stooges), the 29th Street Disciples throw a blanket party in broad daylight for all would-be punk pretenders and also-rans, only instead of bars of soap, these cats substitute D-sized batteries for maximum bruising and indentation. And this hot piece of, er, plastic (can't wait to hear this on vinyl) was recorded at Uneven Studios by Bryan Feuchtinger, so you know it sounds killer, too. Trust us -- these dudes are the motherfuckers. Go ahead and check out "Saturday Night Stand" after the jump and see if you disagree. - Dave Herrera in MP3 Freeloader


"Razorcake.org review"

Street punky, but not in some sort of lame re-hashed fashion that’s so easy to replicate but so hard to pull off with satisfaction. This record was quite enjoyable for me. It’s tough and aggressive but musical, as if around 1966 John Lennon hadn’t forgot what a hard-nosed punk he had been only a few years earlier. Yes, this is one of those “make me want to bellow” records but the difference is that there’s a musical edge to the 29th Street Disciples that isn’t often found in rock’n’roll of this genre. While they’re riding that razor’s edge between clichéd and classic sound, in the process they inject some unexpected hooks and melodies that create a fresh version of a sound long familiar. - The Lord Kveldulfr (Zodiac Killer)


"29th Street Disciples: The Hardest Working Band in Denver"

On Decembr 1, 1976, the Sex Pistols appeared on the live television program "Thames Today." As the show came to an end, inebriated host Bill Grundy dared guitarist Steve Jones to "say something outrageous." The equally sloshed Jones replied by calling Grundy a "dirty bastard," a "dirty fucker," and a "fuckin' rotter." In the ensuing outrage, the TV station was flooded with complaints, Steve Jones was recognized as the fifth person to ever say "fuck" on British television, the Pistols rose to absolute infamy, and punk rock's reputation as primitive, debauched, and dangerous was solidified.
From Germs to GG Allin, many punk bands have built a healthy amount of street credibility on a foundation of beer and damage. But for Denver's 29th Street Disciples, beer and damage are the least of their priorities. "I wouldn't consider my life fast whatsoever," says guitarist Eli Molyneux. "I work, go home, cook, read, and watch Netflix." Indeed, 29th Street Disciples are a real, honest-to-God working class band, with an emphasis on work. When not playing high-intensity shows with his band, Eli works as a journeyman butcher at Whole Foods. Bassist Tim Erwin is part owner and operator of local restaurant Applewood. Drummer Justin Carlson tests fishing lures.
Founded in 2006, 29th Street Disciples quickly gained a reputation for their excessive drinking, foul-mouthed debauchery, and inebriation-induced sense of arrogance. "It was really hard to book shows," says Eli. "We were snubbed early on, which definitely had a negative effect on the band." Eventually the band formed a camaraderie with San Francisco-based Warsaw Surrenders and a small handful of other bands who were able to look past the Disciples' infamy and focus on the music. A series of lineup changes also served as a challenge for the band. Eli and drummer Justin Carlson are the only remaining original members.
Fortunately enough, the Disciples managed to fight off their demons. "Our drummer used to be a drug addict, but now he's clean and sober. He spends most of his time with his girlfriend, working out, and trying to keep himself together. The restaurant keeps Tim pretty busy. Ben has a wife and a kid, and does stand-up comedy on the side," says Molyneux. "And I just stay in and try not to drink too much." Unlike many punk bands, who stay on the road of excess and thrive on their reputat as social deviants, the Disciples have done their best to clean up their act. They have evolved into a collective of well-behaved, industrious, working class citizens who just happen to love playing music that is fast and hard.
Despite the responsibilities of each band member, they still maintain that the band is much more than just a hobby. "If the right opportunity presented itself," Molyneux says, "we would definitely take the chance to make the band more of a professional endeavor."
Molyneux describes the Disciples' style as a mixture of "hardcore, '80s punk rock, post-hardcore, [and] a tad bit of metal." The band's eclectic sound is a synthesis of each member's various tastes. "My drummer is influenced primarily by West Coast punk rock like NOFX. My singer is from Maine and is primarily influenced by the Dropkick Murphys and American Nightmare. Our bassist is really influenced by metal, Iron Maiden for example. My influences are early West Coast hardcore like Black Flag and hardcore gangster rap like N.W.A."
Molyneux serves as the primary songwriter, focusing on "intensity, volume, and high velocity." Nearly every song idea starts with a guitar riff that he's meticulously perfected. After that, the rest of the band comes in for arrangement while vocalist Ben Roy writes the lyrics. For the members of 29th Street Disciples, the band is an emotional outlet: "The lyrics tend to be somewhat nihilistic, and they're very much just our hearts on the sleeve," Molyneux explains. The band's thematic elements include isolation, fear, failure, alcoholism, and self-abuse.
The Disciples are not a political entity, or a band advocating for some sort of particular cause. Rather, they are bonded by their sense of frustration, their working class roots, their love of playing music, and the sense of catharsis they get from playing. "I always feel better after we play," Molyneux says. "It's a good way to release, no matter how large or small the crowd is." Without major-label support behind them, Molyneux and company have had to take a DIY approach. The Disciples pay for their own demo recording and merchandise themselves, with each member contributing an equal share.
With a name like 29th Street Disciples, most listeners expect the band to sound more traditionally hardcore. But Molyneux explains that the band derived its name from local Colorado landmarks. "I originally wanted to call the band 'The Disciples,'" says Molyneux. "We used to rehearse on Martin Luther King Blvd., but our drummer didn't want us to be called the 'Martin Luther King Disciples,' and 29th Street Disciples sounded better than 30th Street Disciples. It sounded pretty cool, so we just ran with it."
Most recently, 29th Street Disciples signed with Wyoming-based label Zodiac Killer Records and released its self-titled debut. Featuring twelve original songs, the album was recorded at Uneven Studios in Denver and mixed and produced by Bryan Feuchtinger. Molyneux comments that it took a while to produce the right sound. "The initial tracks didn't take long and the mixing process was a little painstaking. We were trying to get a sound that was raw and live, something that mirrors our live performance without too much flash or overdubs."
With more and more commercial attention on the Denver scene, what could be next for 29th Street Disciples? In addition to their debut album, the band is also set to include tracks on several compilation discs. "We like being on compilations with bands we like, bands that play fast, rowdy rock 'n' roll and hardcore punk rock."
Ever humble and looking toward the future, 29th Street Disciples' most immediate focus is to keep writing and producing the best music they can. By showing more perseverance and responsibility than you can shake a whiskey bottle at, 29th Street Disciples have already proven themselves to be Denver's hardest working band.
http://www.ucdadvocate.com/2.1864/29th-street-disciples-the-hardest-working-band-in-denver-1.121665 - Charles O'Mara


Discography

29th Street Disciples "Self Titled" CD Zodiac Killer Records, June 2009. 29th Street Disciples "This Shouldn't Be..." Self Released 2010

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Bio

We are the result of hard living and bad luck. Eli and Justin, the only original members, met via myspace after Eli had put an add up "Looking For Punk Rock Drummer." After a series of line up changes, the band got their shit together and recorded their first album in 2009. The album is a mixture of Hardcore punk, Westcoast punk and Eastcoast Hardcore influences. Since the album's birth the line up has changed yet again and the new songs that we're writing are starting to take a more positive approach to life. We don't write songs based on what's currently popular, nor do we try to make life sound more upbeat. We write what we feel at the time and we don't try to talk or "play" down to listeners. The most average listener can enjoy our music as well as the most "musically inclined" listener and be impressed with our music. We are the combination of a lot of experience in music and life itself.