Music
Press
"Bad Ash are completely bad-ass and will hammer their way into your
head soon enough."
Shred, WBCN local music director. - WBCN
these guys have become The Band to see live in Boston. The only way I think I can describe their live shows is if Blutto and the rest of the frat from Animal House were into horror movies and Boston's punk/hardcore scene. Fronted by Justin Brooks, whose vocal's growl like the bastard child of Vincent Price, Bad Ash are quickly gaining a large following that devours the band like a ravage group of zombies. Witnessing their show at Bill's Bar back in March definitely showed an enormous amount of growth in the short 5 months since the last time I saw them at O'Brien's. Focused and determined to pull off their eccentric stage show, the band achieved their goal, even outshining the headliner, the great Robbie Roadsteamer.
Like Price, Brooks is the calm narrator to the hell that is performing around him. With the uncontainable energy that is their one-man horn section, Nic "Danger Zone" Robertson and the only hypeman in punk rock, Steve, Bad Ash is a full entertainment, worth the price of a science-fiction double feature.
Favorite Song: "Creepy", "I Know Karate" - Christian for Bodog Music (Boston)
BAD ASH
Defend Yourself!
* by Barry Thompson
* Issue 8.33
* Wed, August 16, 2006
Like the Bruce Campbell doppelganger they’re named after, Bad Ash thrive on disarray. A rubber schlong-throwing incident got them banished from Harpers Ferry; their sound has been publicly compared to Gene Simmons’s solo work; and one of them shared an apartment with members of the Click Five. Unlike Bad Ash from Army of Darkness, however, Bad Ash the band play lucha-horror rock, don’t kill people on purpose, and have shape-shifting powers. When I stopped by their practice space, the three members present—Justin Brooks (vox, geetar), Joey Voltage (lead geetar) and The Drizzle (sound effects, [adult swim] references)—melded into a single entity, so they could be quoted as one person. I named it Jujozzle.
I think every band ever sucks. Explain to me why I should consider Bad Ash an exception.
We fucking rock. Other artists brag about the size of the stage they’ve played on, or the size of their penis. Bad Ash looks at the size of the stage we’re playing on, and we ask, “What kind of crazy shit can we pull off while we’re up there? What can we jump off of? What can we throw at Steve?” There aren’t enough bands ready to jump onstage and drop their pants while wearing G-strings, which we’re plenty ready to do. At a lot of shows, too many people are sitting around with clove cigarettes, looking perpetually constipated, thinking, “Cannot move. Will not look cool.” After we’re done, you have to go smoke a cigarette because you just came so hard. We’re pretty much the equivalent of awesome sex. Not to toot our own horn.
Doesn’t a spontaneous mass ejaculation in the middle of a club get kinda icky?
At our Allston shows, everybody has the convenience of the Planned Parenthood down the street. We’ve made a few visits, on occasion. Well, some of us have—our drummer. But you gotta look for the punk audience these days. There’s too much fucking bullshit for people to be pissed about. They need to fucking throw themselves around. They need a blumpkin. We will be that blumpkin.
DO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT A BLUMPKIN IS?
It’s getting a blowjob while taking a shit. It’s the ultimate release. That’s pretty much what we do. We also provide the ultimate release.
Wow. Just wow.
[Bad Ash with The Automitons, Free Under Constant Threat and Chicago Typewriter, Wednesday, 8.23.06, at O’Brien’s, 3 Harvard Ave., Allston. 617.782.6245. 9pm/21+/$7. obrienspubboston.com] - Boston's Weekly Dig
“While their music is undoubtedly full speed ahead, balls to the wall punk rock mayhem tailor made for unruly live shows. The edition of a trombone adds a light hearted punch.”
“The six song “Boating Accident” E.P. brims with unrelenting energy, making it a damn good time while it lasts. Unfortunately it’s over all too soon.”
Aaron Von Lupton
Rue Morgue
- Rue Morgue Magazine
LIVE REVIEW OF GREAT SCOTT SHOW:
......Bad Ash managed to follow up the lightening strike that is Keith Hughs with a Roaring thunder. They're best described as a cross between the misfits and early third wave ska. They display a sort of vibrancy and fun on stage. You can tell from the beginning to the end that they're up there to have fun themselves, and it carries over. Take this with a grain of salt however, as any band who plays astro zombies has a special place in my heart. That said, even their originals were excellent. Pretty Dead Girls is definitely radio hit material.
Hutch
BOSTONPUNK.ORG - bostonpunk.org
“While their music is undoubtedly full speed ahead, balls to the wall punk rock mayhem tailor made for unruly live shows. The edition of a trombone adds a light hearted punch.”
“The six song “Boating Accident” E.P. brims with unrelenting energy, making it a damn good time while it lasts. Unfortunately it’s over all too soon.”
Aaron Von Lupton
Rue Morgue
- Rue Morgue Magazine
"Allston's bad boys of punk eager to kick Ash onstage
By Barry Thompson | Thursday, April 17, 2008 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Music News
In order to play punk rock, you have to be willing to make a complete yabbo out of yourself - and in public. Allston sextet Bad Ash isn't merely capable of acting silly, it revels in it.
"I never played music before Bad Ash," lied singer and rhythm guitarist Justin Brooks, gathered with the rest of the band in a practice space that resembles the Foot Clan's lair from the first "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie. "In fact, I made clay pots and walked the earth trying to find God. When I found God, he wasn't tremendously cool to me, so I decided that if this whole searching for God thing is a bummer, I'll start a band."
Most of this interview is too colorful to pass the scrutiny of the copy desk of a major daily newspaper. Normal decorum doesn't suit Bad Ash, which bring its penchant for all things over-the-top to the Abbey Lounge in Somerville Friday. The band also has limited regard for its safety and socially acceptable times for nudity, especially onstage. Its fixation on goofy toys and costumes probably isn't healthy, either, but it all comes with the territory of horror-punk mayhem.
For all its cartoonish bravado, Bad Ash is far smarter and harder working than you might assume. Implementing the best aspects of pop-punk (catchy songs), metal (werewolf-snarl vocals; big, crunchy guitars) and a smattering of ominous trombone, Bad Ash betrays a musical savvy that sets it above the horror-punk phalanx.
With three years as a band under its collective belt and no label backing, Bad Ash has maintained visibility via abundant touring and self-promotion, and not for naught. The band is becoming a familiar presence on the Boston.tv Web site and at horror conventions, and has even landed a few high-profile gigs, including opening for the Phenomenauts at the Middle East on April 30.
In mid-May, Bad Ash embarks on its second national tour. Its mission: Rock everyone's pants off. Its secondary objective: Keep life on the road interesting. This often involves inventing and ingesting exciting new things.
"I had a dream after watching Fat Boys videos all night on YouTube," said Steve Vautour, also known as the Drizzle, who dominates backup vocals and samples. "It was about a Techno Doughnut; a Dunkin' Donuts sausage, bacon, egg and cheese on a glazed doughnut that's cut in half and toasted. We got a wonderful woman in New York to make it and it was breathtaking."
Another tour goal required the purchase of a flash milk pasteurizer. You don't want to know more, trust me. - Boston Herald
"Allston's bad boys of punk eager to kick Ash onstage
By Barry Thompson | Thursday, April 17, 2008 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Music News
In order to play punk rock, you have to be willing to make a complete yabbo out of yourself - and in public. Allston sextet Bad Ash isn't merely capable of acting silly, it revels in it.
"I never played music before Bad Ash," lied singer and rhythm guitarist Justin Brooks, gathered with the rest of the band in a practice space that resembles the Foot Clan's lair from the first "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie. "In fact, I made clay pots and walked the earth trying to find God. When I found God, he wasn't tremendously cool to me, so I decided that if this whole searching for God thing is a bummer, I'll start a band."
Most of this interview is too colorful to pass the scrutiny of the copy desk of a major daily newspaper. Normal decorum doesn't suit Bad Ash, which bring its penchant for all things over-the-top to the Abbey Lounge in Somerville Friday. The band also has limited regard for its safety and socially acceptable times for nudity, especially onstage. Its fixation on goofy toys and costumes probably isn't healthy, either, but it all comes with the territory of horror-punk mayhem.
For all its cartoonish bravado, Bad Ash is far smarter and harder working than you might assume. Implementing the best aspects of pop-punk (catchy songs), metal (werewolf-snarl vocals; big, crunchy guitars) and a smattering of ominous trombone, Bad Ash betrays a musical savvy that sets it above the horror-punk phalanx.
With three years as a band under its collective belt and no label backing, Bad Ash has maintained visibility via abundant touring and self-promotion, and not for naught. The band is becoming a familiar presence on the Boston.tv Web site and at horror conventions, and has even landed a few high-profile gigs, including opening for the Phenomenauts at the Middle East on April 30.
In mid-May, Bad Ash embarks on its second national tour. Its mission: Rock everyone's pants off. Its secondary objective: Keep life on the road interesting. This often involves inventing and ingesting exciting new things.
"I had a dream after watching Fat Boys videos all night on YouTube," said Steve Vautour, also known as the Drizzle, who dominates backup vocals and samples. "It was about a Techno Doughnut; a Dunkin' Donuts sausage, bacon, egg and cheese on a glazed doughnut that's cut in half and toasted. We got a wonderful woman in New York to make it and it was breathtaking."
Another tour goal required the purchase of a flash milk pasteurizer. You don't want to know more, trust me. - Boston Herald
Discography
Boating Accident E.P. 2006
Photos
Bio
"Forged in the summer of 2005, BAD ASH has demanded attention since day one. With a hard hitting sound, and a raucousing live show BAD ASH has proven to be a band worth talking about. Within one year the band went from playing in punk rock basements and corner bars to opening for GWAR at the Worcester Palladium, and they show no sign of slowing down. BAD ASH puts all their energy into one thing, making certain that their audience is given a SHOW. This is not a band that stands still for 45 minutes expecting people to stay put and listen, this is a show that you best expect to be part of, because you will be whether you like it or not. There seems to be no end to the energy, and no parallel to their sound. With more and more music flooding the boston scene one has to make certain they stand out to gain peoples attention, standing out is simply second nature to the members of BAD ASH, and the buzz is slowly growing to a roar."
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