This Friday Nov 8th W/ Death Hymn Number 9, You Know Who, and Fatso Jetson. Doors open at at 8pm. 21 & over. $10 admission. NO PRE-SALES!
by Brian Michaelz
Former vocalist for bands such as Dead Kennedys, The Melvins and Lard, Jello Biafra is no stranger to the music scene. Political Activist, Writer, Punk Icon, Musician, he is also no stranger to controversy. After an appearance earlier this year at Coachella, Jello Biafra is back in the desert at The Hood Bar and Pizza.
I recently visited with Biafra to talk about The Guantanamo School of Medicine, “It’s the first band that’s been my band since Dead Kennedys. I never stopped making music and what not, the ones with The Melvins, Mojo Nixon, DOA, and of course Lard with the Ministry folks, so far its been me writing the music so it has some of that sound and kind of widening the base of the pyramid and some other areas in the process. Some of which might even appeal to my sturgic damaged desert rock people that you got out there, we’ll find out.”
Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine are currently touring their latest CD release White People and the Damage Done, released by Biafra’s own Alternative Tentacles Records. It is the long awaited, second full-length album from Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, which is the anti-austerity blast-a-thon with the teeth, venom and one-of-a-kind music of Jello Biafra.
Catching up with Biafra I had to ask about one of the first singles off of White People and the Damage Done, which happened to be “Werewolves of Wall Street”. “The point of Werewolves of Wall Street is hey, wait a minute what is the real terrorist threat today that has done more damage to the world. Which kind of addiction does more damage to the world crack addiction, meth, or wealth addiction? People are so obsessed with money and they already have way more than they ever spend in their entire life, but they still want to play the game they’re addicted to.”
Above all, White People and the Damage Done rocks! No pop punk here, just Jello and crew taking punk fire in unexplored directions, with wall-of-sound, in-your-face production from Marshall Lawless and Matt Kelley (lots of Jello projects, Hieroglyphics, The Coup, Digital Underground, Zen Guerrilla). Lineup retains the double-barreled guitar attack of Ralph Spight (Victims Family, Freak Accident) and Kimo Ball (Freak Accident, Griddle, Mol Triffid), joined by bassist Andrew Weiss (Rollins Band, Ween, Butthole Surfers, more) and drummer Paul Della Pelle (Helios Creed, Nik Turner’s Space Ritual, and Philly HC legends Ruin).
Fans of The Melvins, Lard, Mojo Nixon, and Dead Kennedys will not be disappointed with Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine. Biafra explains that his stage set is no “Biafra Light, and It’s not a Retro Act”. So give it to us Jello, what can we expect at a show with The Guantanamo School of Medicine? “It’s basically me doing my thing, the way I like people to do their thing, try to do it full on, as you can regardless of what age you are, which I think people like Radio Birdman, and especially The Stooges, and The Sonics have proven definitely can be done. We’re doing our part, trying the best we can, we don’t stick to formulas, yes its punk.”
You can check out all things Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine by visiting www.alternativetentacles.com
Friday night is a night of ear grinding, in your face music at The Hood Bar and Pizza in Palm Desert with Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine and don’t miss special guests Death Hymn Number 9, You Know Who, and Fatso Jetson.
