Cargo Records

• FOCUS ON: The Fleshies

• Official Website >>
• Label: Alternative Tentacles >>
• Genre: Alternative & Punk

Fantastic "proper" punk rock.

FLESHIES, a loud band, started playing together in 1999 in beautiful Oakland, California. A somewhat absurd number of records quickly followed, including the album "Kill The Dreamers Dream" on Alternative Tentacles and "The Game Of Futbol" EP on Adeline Records (2001 and 2002, respectively). After 2003s full-length "The Sicilian" (Alternative Tentacles Records) and years of body/mind-warping worldwide marathon tours (133 shows in 131 days at one point), FLESHIES added a new member (Brian Plaskett) and proceeded to withdraw into the dark warehouse cave of drummer Brian Hamiltrons SUGAR MOUNTAIN STUDIOS in Oakland to work on a new record. They quickly decided to break the punk rock tradition of banging out a new record in 5 or 6 days, and a damned sweet time was taken in order to make the most ridiculous album possible. While there they pushed 1975s most cutting-edge recording technology to the max, manipulating 8-track half-inch tape machines, breaking tens of dollars worth of expensive vintage equipment, and battling cabin fever while living off of hydrogenated oils and other psychoactive substances. After a year and a half they emerged, scraggly, mean, and old, with a new record. "Scrape The Walls" is a spirited effort to molest punk rock in a similar manner that SPARKS unwholesomely molested glitter rock in the 70s. Appropriately enough, the album includes a cover of SPARKS "Happy Hunting Ground", with Jello Biafra on guest vocals. FLESHIES, being absolutely gluttonous for punishment, will likely be beating the shit out of themselves on tour again very soon.

"Fleshies=Irrepressible. Like monkeys on a simian vandalism binge, Fleshies (no preceding "The", thanks) are too manic to see the line between polite and psychotic - Or maybe they intentionally ignore it. Either way, they are, as one lyric puts it, locofoco motherfuckers. What they are not is a crew of stylistically strangled retropunx. Or posturing rock gods, waiting patiently for their set to end so they can scam starry-eyed groupies. No, Fleshies are, simply, a force of Id. The audiences choice is to either ride their tide or step aside." -JG, Willamette Week