SmartShanghai | MP3 Monday: Regurgitator

MP3 Monday: Regurgitator

By Morgan Short, Oct 6th, 2008 | In Nightlife

MP3 Monday is a weekly SmartShanghai column, serving up mp3s from bands living and making music in China (or coming to China, or thinking about coming to China, or whatever). Right click on the links and choose "Save Link As..." to download 'em. Click play to rock 'em.

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This week's MP3s are from Australian high voltage mishmash artists Regurgitator, in anticipation of their S.T.D. show at Yuyingtang on October 19 (and at LOgO the night before). I've been hanging out on their MySpace page all day getting to know them, and it looks like its going to be one of those gem shows at Yuyintang (or, say, at LOgO bar) that only happen every once in a blue moon (a la Horse the Band's performance there earlier this year).

From reading their lengthy bio, it seems Regurgitator are one of those 'national treasure' acts that never quite break on an international level but are nonetheless fanatically adored in their home countries (Hello, The Tragically Hip).

This is from said bio:

"From their early guest spots with Primus, Beck, The Buzzcocks, John Spencer Blues Explosion, Ministry, Pansy Division, TISM they quickly developed a strong following that led to signing a deal with the Warner corporation."

And that was back in 1994. Since then they've toured with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and done shows with Boredoms, God Lives Underwater, The Prodigy, Rocket From The Crypt, and DEVO (!!).

So musically it's all over the map, but from the little samplings I've heard, it seems like the origins are in the more left-field '80s/'90s alterna-weirdness -- Primus, Pop Will Eat Itself, Butthole Surfers -- but it's been updated for the short attention spans of the electroklash/indie dance generation.

Now its seems Regurgitator is a band that pretty much gets carte blanche on whatever modern rock pop genres they want to throw in there -- admired for whatever their given indulgences, like Flaming Lips or Ween -- but they're still keeping it punk rock and electro grimey dancey (read: synths galore).

Their connection to China is an Australian tour with BJ pop/punk/electro/new wave iconoclasts New Pants back in 2007. That tour had Regurgitator eyeing up the PRC for some shows, and after much wrangling with promoters in China, they're finally on their way (thanks to local rock promoters S.T.D).

So go seem them at Yuyintang on Oct 19. It promises to be pretty memorable. And download some sample tracks here:

Regurgitator �C Blood and Spunk

Regurgitator �C Polyester Girl

Regurgitator �C Transformers Theme

Here is Regurgitator's MySpace page for more info, song samples, and vids.

Tagged: MP3 Monday