9th
Ransack My Stacks, Part 1: Jucifer
Bob & I are still trying some new things/ideas/directions on the blog, but something I’ve been itching to do since I last had a blog to update was to share some of the more interesting vinyls from my weirdo record collection. So, here’s the first of what I hope will be a recurrent segment on TVOWALL, the hastily named Ransack My Stacks (no whatever).
Today I focus on one of my favorites of the ’90s local music scene in Athens, GA, the gruesome twosome known as Jucifer.
In a town full of indie rock scenesters, punks (of both the mall and gutter varieties), and Widespread worshippers, Jucifer really stood out in every way. They came along at a time when alternative rock was the defining sound of the day, gangsta rap’s East-West rivalry was inching closer to ridiculous, the Spice Girls were preparing their invasion, and Fred Durst was still working at a tattoo parlor somewhere in central Florida. Locally, Kindercore bands and those Elephant 6 guys were playing house shows at Phil Waldorf’s house on Reese Street (AKA the Landfill) every other week, Quadiliacha & The Martin Family were having their own shindigs at the Dead Body House, Danger Mouse was still perfecting his mixtapes and applying for work at Wuxtry, and R.E.M. was a quartet taking a break in between world tours. Hard rock was unclearly underground.
According to their website, Jucifer surfaced around 1994, although I hadn’t personally heard of them until around 1995 (but I do recall seeing them every so often diligently at work at The Grit). My very first Jucifer show was at the 40 Watt while they were opening for that band Hum (if my memory serves, I think Mercury Rev was on that bill, too). (UPDATE: this kid knows what I’m talking about) After that show, it’s safe to assume that they had won the heart of the 40 Watt’s booking agent because I think I probably saw them there like another 5 more times while I was still in undergrad (and maybe twice at the Atomic Music Hall, once at Live In The Lobby, and definitely once at Athfest).
As I’m sure is still the case, their performances were actually quite moving, as it was evident that they gave each song everything they had, drunk or sober (although they definitely sounded better in my recollection when they appeared nervous/sober). Vocalist Amber Valentine brought a twisted sex appeal to her subversive melodies, and Ed Livengood’s relentless take-no-prisoners drumming style was a show in itself. Sonically, their best trick was to write & play songs with tremendous dynamics, to build up drama and tension only to release powerfully as the songs unfold. I can’t say this was entirely successful on their early recordings, but they definitely delivered in their performances. To see them live is jarring to the senses in the most enjoyable of ways. Hearing them live is to rumble closer to incurable tinnitus and to enjoy the ride (which is now coming back to haunt me; wear earplugs, young bucks). You catch yourself wondering how it’s possible for two people to sound so brash and loud playing just drums and guitar. Meg & Jack (mostly Meg) should really pay close attention.
Here’s a relic from around 1996. Ballard released this 7” on what I assumed was his own Crack Rock Records, and this track is certainly on their first full lenth album, although it may be a slightly different mix. And I think it’s a different mix from the cart that WUOG used to play in their rotation. I own #383 out of the 500 originally issued.
Jucifer - Superman (MP3, 4.23 MB)
Jucifer - Licorice (MP3, 2.85 MB)
Buy Jucifer here, here, here, here, and here.
And don’t forget their new DVD:
Thanks to Eric LostProp for the poster jpeg & DVD link.
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You got served by DJ Queazy
