New Bomb Turks

Here’s a band that I’ve been meaning to write about since day one. I’ll let the critics and other music snobs debate the merits and the historical impact of the New Bomb Turks. Regardless of what they say I’m pretty sure you’re gonna have to look long and hard to find a band that rocked harder in the 90’s. From 1992 - 1995 the Turks released a couple of smoking punk rock albums (Destroy Oh Boy! and Information Superhighway Revisited) and more singles than a collector nerd can keep up with (check out the list). No shit, the New Bomb Turks have three singles and odds and ends compilation discs out. Quite a feat, and that still doesn’t capture everything. Sure, the later albums on Epitaph and Gearhead weren’t as remarkable as the first two, but even the weakest albums had their moments thanks to vocalist Eric Davidson and that loud & gritty guitar sound rendered by Jim Weber. Shit, I don’t have enough space to post all of my favorites. I thought it would be easier to dish out some of the covers they performed, but I still had some hard choices to make. The results:
covering their punk rock roots (Nervous Eaters, The Left, The Queers)
New Bomb Turks - Just Head.mp3
New Bomb Turks - Fuck It.mp3
New Bomb Turks - This Place Sucks.mp3
covering their contemporaries: (Gaunt, Thee Headcoates)
New Bomb Turks - Jim Motherfucker.mp3
New Bomb Turks - Youngblood.mp3
covering their elders: (Aerosmith, Rolling Stones)
New Bomb Turks - Chip Away The Stone.mp3
New Bomb Turks - Jivin’ Sister Family.mp3
Stuff:
>> Buy New Bomb Turks releases
>> Supposedly a DVD is in the works. Any info?
>> As far as I know the band isn’t “officially” broken up, they’re just taking a break. They played a show in Cleveland a month or so ago.
8 Comments so far
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YEAH!
THe New Bomb Turks!
I’d nearly forgotten about them.
I played ‘Destroy Oh Boy’ incessantly for months!
I finally saw them later on in their career at a big label show. All the other bands (Lunachicks, Rev. Horton Heat) slagged them (and the headliner, Hagfish-who sucked) onstage.
But they went on and rocked hard.
Was a little put off by the wildly gesticulating antics of Mr. Davidson, who acted like Jello Biafra being played by Jim Carrey.
I really dig their early Ohio stuff, reminds me of the Pagans on crystal meth.
The Billy Childish recorded stuff (can be found on ‘Pissing Out the Poison’ cd) is really great.
Man, I loved the New Bomb Turks. As soon as I heard them covering “Mr. Suit”, I was hooked. I read an interview with Eric Davidson saying they had indeed broken up, but that was a year or so ago. Who knows. Their Gaunt cover kicked ass, maybe I’m due for a Gaunt post soon. :p
they played a show in feb at union pool in brooklyn. i know the dudes making the documentary and i think it is still slowly in the works.
i have no problem saying that the turks were the best live band of the 90’s. no doubt. i am from ohio and i saw them at least 30 times. always amazing!
Yeah, the stuff recorded by Childish is some of my favorite. Not all of it made it to Pissing out the Poison (not happy with how Crypt coordinated that comp) - It missed Bottle Island, Jim Motherfucker, and Up for a downslide.
Cracking my shit up - “acted like Jello Biafra being played by Jim Carrey”. Classic
Yeah, great band. Although the first two albums definetely are their best I also enjoy the later stuff.
They’ll be playing some shows over here in Germany next month and I’m really looking forward to seeing ‘em again. Especially since I thought they had split up. One of the best live bands ever.
I only recently got back into the New Bomb Turks, having previously listened to some tapes of Destroy, and Drunk a friend made me back in the early 1990’s. I now have all of their CD’s, and was pleased to find out that they never released a bad album. Everyone had songs that were among their best, especially the three on Epitaph. If there is a documentary realeased, I’m gonna get it. What a band. What a total sonic force. Woooo!
Exclusive interview: New Bomb Turks reunite for Boston show!…
…
not only once the bombs safed my day (week/life?)… anyone here, whos got an idea how to get some lyrics (specially destroy-oh-boy)?
jaja, its punkrock, but (thats why!) singing along is necessary… and my english kind of isnt good enough to get it.
thank YOU!