The incendiary punk grunge trio fIREHOSE reunites for the first time since 1994 for a couple of weeks of dates surrounding their appearances at Coachella in April.
fIREHOSE was getting the push from Columbia Records in the early 90s and I got the chance to see them at the Khyber Pass in Philly in 1992 and about a year later at the Trocadero. An amazing live band powered by the bass drum duo of San Pedro duo Mike Watt and George Hurley from the proto-punk band The Minutemen. When their guitarist/vocalist D. Boon died tragically in a tour bus accident in Dec of 1985, Watt and Hurley hung up the Minutemen handle and thought they wouldn't be regrouping the format. That is until guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/fan Ed (Crawford) fROMOHIO showed up at the door for an audition. Watt and Hurley were impressed and fIREHOSE was born. In short order they were signed to Columbia Records and began recording a series of albums and touring nationwide until they split in 1994. Their recordings are still a joy. Exuberant and refreshing and full of raw energy though Crawford brought a slicker sound than D. Boon's deliciously reckless edge. Watching the Watt/Hurley rhythmic juggernaut in action was one of the great thrills of my concert-going experiences during those years.
Hurley has played very little over the ensuing years while Watt has become the go-to guy for edgy, propulsive and furiously hip prog-punk thud staff duties. He not only has released numerous albums under his own name, but toured in Porno for Pyros, Iggy + The Stooges, and as leader of Mike Watt + Missingmen and the Secondmen and as member of Banyan, Wylde Ratttz, the bass duo dos with ex-wife and former Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler; and appearances on record and/or live with J. Mascis, Hellride, Black Gang, Floored by Four, No Age and Unknown Instructors. Watt's 2011 album Hyphenated-Man with the Missingmen made my Top CDs of 2011 list.
Coming out this week is Spielgusher featuring Watt, drummer Yuko Araki, guitarist Hirotaka "Shimmy" Shimizu and influential rock/punk journalist Richard Meltzer's words and voice.