The FLESH EATERS are back!
Peter Dervin
Posted On December 22, 2018
The FLESH EATERS are back! Yep Roc Records has released a new record by this classic LA band lead by lyricist, poet and author Chris D.
Now I have to confess, I am a huge FLESH EATERS fan. I’ve been listening to their music since their first album, “No Questions Asked” which came out in 1980. The album consisted of quick 2-minute punk anthems that featured John Doe and DJ Bonebrake from X that showcased Chris D’s lyrical style.
Flesh Eaters 1981 photo by Scott Lindgren.
On their second record from 1981, “A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die”, Chris D enlisted the talents again of John Doe and DJ Bonebrake, with the addition of Dave Alvin and Bill Bateman of The Blasters and Steve Berlin from Los Lobos. This album was drastically different than the first. Gone were the 2-minute punk blasts, as this album featured a swampy voodoo blues style that took this band in a new direction. The infusion of heavy marimbas and sexy saxophone made this album an genre changing classic.
From 1982 to 2004, Chris D would collaborate with a variety of different musicians as the Flesh Eaters and creating music as Divine Horsemen, Stone By Stone and his eclectic solo album “Time Stands Still”. Fast forward 38 years….and the classic lineup from “A Second to Pray, A Second to Die” returns with a new album, “I Used To Be Pretty”.
Flesh Eaters 2018 photo by Frank Lee Drennen.
This new album is an interesting mix of new songs, covers and revisiting earlier Flesh Eaters songs that were performed live in early 2018. Chris D delivers his unique style of storytelling with a voice that can be jarring and robust. Of note is Dave Alvin’s blistering guitar work on this record. While most know Dave as a Blues/Rockabilly picker, here he plays some his best grunge garage guitar riffs on this album. With John Doe on Bass and Bill Bateman on Drums, they drive each and every song into a frenzy. The real hypnotizing aspect of this album is the Marimba playing of D.J. Bonebrake and the jazz fusion Saxophone of Steve Berlin. Joining in on background vocals was Divine Horsemen alum, Julie Christensen.
Some of the songs that are revisited are”My Life To Live” and “The Wedding Dice” from 1982’s “Forever Came Today”, “Pony Dress” from 1983’s “A Hard Road To Follow”, 1991’s “The Youngest Profession” from the Dragstrip Riot album, “House Amid The Thickets” from 2001’s “Ashes Of Time” and 2004’s “Miss Muerte”.
The surprise covers on this album include Fleetwood Mac’s “The Green Manalishi”, The Sonics “Cinderella” and The Gun Club’s “She’s Like Heroin To Me”. Chris D actually produced the original version on their 1991 debut release “Fire Of Love”.
Of the new songs, “Black Temptation” opens the album with gusto and “Ghost Cave Lament” closes it out with an epic psychedelic opus that conjures the essence of The Doors classic “The End”.
In closing, The Flesh Eaters are not your typical “Roots” band, but the musicians that contribute to this recording have been long time mainstays in X, The Blasters, Los Lobos, and The Knitters having excelled as solo artists on their own. Chris D has been one of the most unique singer/songwriters that has come out the the Los Angeles music scene since the days of Slash magazine.
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The Flesh Eaters will be hitting the road in January 2019:
FLESH EATERS 2019 TOUR
Wed., Jan. 16 PHOENIX, AZ Crescent Ballroom
Thurs., Jan. 17 TUCSON, AZ 191 Toole
Fri., Jan. 18 PIONEERTOWN, CA Pappy & Harriet’s Place, w/Mudhoney
Sat., Jan. 19 LOS ANGELES, CA Echoplex, w/ Mudhoney
Sun., Jan. 20 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Independent
Tues., Jan. 22 PORTLAND, OR The Star Theater
Wed., Jan. 23 SEATTLE, WA The Crocodile
Thurs., Feb. 21 HOUSTON, TX Continental Club
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 22-23 AUSTIN, TX Continental Club
Sun., Feb. 24 DALLAS, TX Club Dada
Sat., March 9 SAINT PAUL, MN Turf Club
Sun., March 10 CHICAGO, IL Lincoln Hall
Mon., March 11 GRAND RAPIDS, MI The Pyramid Scheme
Tues., March 12 DETROIT, MI El Club
Thurs., March 14 BOSTON, MA City Winery Boston
Fri., March 15 PHILADELPHIA, PA Johnny Brenda’s
Sat., March 16 WASHINGTON, DC Union Stage
Sun., March 17 NEW YORK, NY
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The Flesh Eaters in concert at the Crocodile in Seattle January 2018: http://peterdervin.com/20180126_flesh_eaters.html
