#john reis

[g63heavenonearth]

Allegheny Cemetery 2623-3

[guerrilla-operator]

ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT AT LIBERTY LUNCH. AUSTIN, 12/6/95.

[krispyweiss]

Rick Froberg Dead at 55

- Singer and guitarist fronted Drive Like Jehu, Pitchfork, Hot Snakes and the Obits

Rick Froberg, the singer and guitarist who at various times fronted Drive Like Jehu, Pitchfork, Hot Snakes and the Obits, has died.

His death July 1 at age 55 came “suddenly … from natural causes,” said John Reis, Froberg’s longtime collaborator.

“His art made life better,” Reis said. “The only thing he loved more than art and rock ‘n’ roll was his friends. He will forever be remembered for his creativity, vision and his ability to bring beauty into this world. I love you, Rick. I will miss you for the rest of my life.”

As frontman of various bands, Froberg appeared on more than 10 LPs between 1989 and 2018 and did cover art for albums by his own bands and Rocket from the Crypt, Beehive & the Barracudas and other acts.

“We are crushed by the news of Rick Froberg’s passing,” Sub Pop Records said in a statement.

“His voice floored us, shook us, carried us and connected us. And aside from being one of the greats, he was hilarious and a really good friend. Sending love to Rick’s family, friends, bandmates and collaborators. We love you, Rick, and we’re going to miss you.”

7/2/23

[doublelp]

John Reis of Drive Like Jehu putting the neck of his guitar through an amp head during a performance of Luau [from YouTube]

[spilladabalia]

Pitchfork - Sinking

[pcnmagazine]

Swami & the Bed of Nails - Tour Dates

John Reis, of Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes & Drive Like Jehu brings Swami to town Swami & the Bed of Nails featuring Swami John Reis (Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From The Crypt, PLOSIVS and more) are following the recent release of their debut album All Of This Awaits You (stream/purchase HERE) with their first UK and Irish tour, commencing in Bristol on September 17th and ending in…

[dustedmagazine]

Swami and the Bed of Nails — All of this Awaits You (Swami)

Swami John Reis has been in a lot of bands, but the ones you probably love the most—Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu — were joint projects with Rick Froberg, who passed away suddenly in June 2023. The two had made some of the most ferocious, tuneful hardcore on offer in the 1990s with Drive Like Jehu, and, with Hot Snakes, were the real thing in a sea of “rock is back” pretenders through the aughts.

Hot Snakes reconvened in 2018 after a 14-year hiatus for Jericho Sirens, and they were writing more material when Froberg died. All of This Awaits You comes from that set of songs, reconfigured for another band, with members drawn from Reis' storied history. Hot Snakes Jason Koukounis plays drums, alternating with Richard Larson from Night Marchers, while Night Marchers Tommy Kitsos plays drums. Reis sings and plays guitar, with Mark Murino on second axe. Joe Guevara, who played on the last solo Swami album, adds keys and synthesizer.

The songs rip hard, running fast and loud and full of hooks. “How Are You Peeling?” could easily be a Hot Snakes banger, with its ramping, vamping guitar riff, pummeling drums and ragged howling verse. It’s not complicated, but not stupid either. There’s a sweetening in the guitars just before the chorus starts that comes like a rainbow in a pool of diesel, and a wiggy little synth solo, and then it’s back to the gut-slugging pound and rush.

There’s a real—and welcome—blue collar aesthetic to this disc, a perspective sorely lacking lately even in the roughest varieties of rock. One single celebrates hot dog condiments. “I want ketchup and mustard and relish!” Reis shouts along to a very ear-wormy chorus. Simple pleasures. “Harbor Freight” blisters and rages and finds the income divide in home repair. Apparently, we’ve come so far that even dudes in their undershirts wielding power tools can be divided into haves and have nots. Shop at Harbor Freight at your own risk. As Reis gleefully explains, “The shit’s gonna break, the shit’s gonna break, the shit’s gonna break on you.” 

A few of the cuts feel a little bit by the numbers. Doo-woppy “Teen Hate,” for instance, looks at young rebel cliches from the wrong side of 50, but closes in a “yeah yeah yeah” cribbed from the Beatles’ Hamburg days.  It’s fine, but no match for the psychedelic rush of “Lost in Bermondsey,” which is furiously hot but also kind of trippy.

All in all, it’s another very solid outing from an artist who did a lot to define post-hardcore punk and rock (check out the Swami Sound Volume 1 compilation he curated in 2003). Sadly, there will never be another Hot Snakes album, but meanwhile we’ve got this, and it rocks.

Jennifer Kelly

[evil-wawe-form]

PLOSIVS - PLOSIVS (2022)

[mxdwn]

John Reis Says Hot Snakes Had Been Working On New Music Before Rick Froberg Passed

[g63heavenonearth]

Allegheny Cemetery 22514-18

[guerrilla-operator]

ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT

[wh0-is-lily]

Pattie Boyd modelling for, 'Birds of Britain.' Photography by John D. Green, 1967

[spilladabalia]

Drive Like Jehu - Luau

[vampgf]

Fallout 4 (2015) dev. Bethesda Games Studios

[zendayacolemann]

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS | 2015 dir. J.J. Abrams