Shout out to local rockers Neptune’s Core, who name checked White Mystery in their interview with 102.7 KIIS FM. Here’s the excerpt:
Who are some of your biggest music influences?
“The Chicago music scene has been very supportive and encouraging of us. It’s a very healthy and friendly scene. Artists like OHMME, Twin Peaks, LaLaLaLa, Dehd, VV Lightbody, Whitney, White Mystery and Liam Kazar and venues like Schubas, Double Door, City Winery, Fitzgeralds and Martys have treated us like a real band since we were young when we first began. That has always provided confidence in allowing us to explore our music.”
Hands Off! Comp is a limited edition tape cassette compilation powered by female fronted bands in honor of women empowerment. in response to the Burger Records scandal that broke open this past summer. The 22 track tape features powerhouses L7, Courtney Barnett, Exene Cervenka of X, Alice Bag with Kathleen Hanna & Allison Wolfe, Amyl & the Sniffers, Blacker Face, White Mystery, The Black Tones, Clickbait and more. Featuring cover art from the sardonic splendor of Tragic Girls, Hands Off! Comp amplifies and liberates women and cross-sectional voices within rock’n’roll.
Francis Scott Key White • White Mystery • Chicago, IL
Time to give the drummer some…
…help loading gear into the club, and perhaps, a doobie. While garage rock is perceived as “raw and energetic,” the drummers of the genre are incredibly disciplined, hardworking musicians. Today we honor the heartbeat of the band, whose blood, sweat, and tears drive every performance. Here are eleven essential drummers you need to know.
Max Hiersteiner • Dirty Fences, Metalleg, Josephine • New York City
Don’t let his hilarious antics and “class clown” persona fool you, Max “Hersh Guy” Hiersteiner is an incredibly disciplined performer. Besides being a rock solid skin pounder, Max is a gifted skateboarder and athlete, and perhaps the funniest and most charming man we have the pleasure of knowing. Check him out in the Dirty Fences music video Judy Don’t Go.
Lamont Thomas • OBNOX • Cleveland, Ohio
To call Lamont “Bim” Thomas merely a drummer would be a massive understatement. Bim is a multi-instrumentalist, poet, producer, engineer, and exists in the highest echelon of rock and roll generals. He is a seasoned veteran of the Cleveland scene, a rock solid comrade in the trenches, and a true friend. Enjoy this rippin’ video “Molecule” from Obnox, one of his many projects.
Erin Emslie • Hunx and His Punx • Los Angeles, California
Erin is the glamorous beat queen of rock’n’roll dreams. She’s the plucky drummer in Hunx and His Punx, the groovy bass player and lead singer in The Time Flys, among many projects. Erin Emslie has traveled the world playing rock n’ roll since most of you were in diapers. Watch her demolish the drums at a skate park in California.
Emi Morimoto • Shonen Knife • Osaka, Japan
If there was an award for the best posture in rock, Emi, formerly of Shonen Knife, would win it. Perched in a perfectly upright stance with a disciplined smile, Emi is a force of nature to behold. With her badass gloves and Angelic singing voice, she is the beat baroness of Osaka, Japan. When White Mystery toured with Shonen Knife back in 2012, her song “Psychedelic Life” was our favorite.
Jose Ceniceros • Monarchy Over Monday• Chicago, IL
Jose reminds me of a younger version of myself, if I had ten times more talent. Jose is the perfect combination of tight control and explosive volatility. He commands the stage and his band with shocking authority for his young age, while keeping guessing as to where his groove is going next. Keep an eye on this young star and watch Monarchy Over Monday cover The Replacements, “Alex Chilton.“
Mike Shoun • Thee Ohsees • San Francisco, California
Mike is fucking amazing. His legendary tenure in the golden age lineup of Thee Oh Sees spawned hundreds of soundalikes and wannabes. His legacy as a worldwide touring musician is forever revered by the real rock and roll community, and his work ethic and drive was so mighty he needed to be replaced by two drummers. Watch his legendary performance of “The Dream” at Pitchfork Music Fest in 2012.
Cedric Walker • The Black Tones • Seattle, Washington
If White Mystery was one half of a Ying Yang, our other half would be The Black Tones, featuring Cedric and his twin sister Eva. Raw chemistry, effortless telepathy, and overflowing with charisma, Cedric and his sister are a force to be reckoned with. Watch them holler for they’re mama!
Karissa Talanian • Strychnine, Wet Piss, Eye Vybe • Chicago, IL Photo by Lee Klawans
Connor Brodner • Twin Peaks • Chicago, IL Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Connor “Hammer Strength” Brodner is a true product of Chicago. Broad shouldered, determined, and unrelenting, he is the blue collar engine behind the world famous rock band Twin Peaks. A product of Chicago Public Schools and raised in the back yard DIY scene, Connor is a no nonsense hard worker that earned every bit of success that came his way. Check out this rad video for “Flavor.”
Stef Roti • Yoko and The Oh No’s • Chicago, IL Photo by Sound Dessert
There are certain drummers in the DIY scene that prove themselves to be strong backbones of not just their bands, but their entire communities. Stef is an incredibly focused and trained drummer in Yoko and The Oh No’s, as well as a talented booker, promoter, and business woman. She knows what she wants and knows how to get it. Check out the amazing Yoko and The Oh No’s video Love U.
Alejandro Morales • Running • Chicago, IL Photo by NRML
There is more to be said about Alejandro than this post can contain. He was a true artist, a brutal noise musician, and a frenetic and overwhelming drummer. He was an activist, a social worker, and a dear friend to all that knew him. He gave much of his own energy to lifting up those around him and propelling them to greatness. May his memory be eternal and his music be blasted at the great DIY show in the sky. Please enjoy this amazing video of Running at The Empty Bottle.
You may remember this project we announced called Hands Off! Comp featuring L7, Courtney Barnett, Alice Bag with Kathleen Hanna, X’s Exene Cervenka, Amyl and the Sniffers, Palehound, and many others. As of December 11th, 2020 we raised $3,169.00 for Girls Inc. This donation will go towards supporting the education of young girls in a pro-girl environment. Every tape cassette and t-shirt will help shape a better tomorrow for young women.
That’s a wrap! Thank you all for your support in the Hands Off! Comp project. It was an incredible experience working with insane talent from May McDonough of Psychedelic Cherry, LG from Thelma & the Sleaze, and Charlie Kaplan of Tapehead City. All of the proceeds will go towards Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization that empowers future generations of young women.
