Wrangler Brutes
Encyclopedia
The Wrangler Brutes were an American hardcore punk
band formed in 2003 in Los Angeles, California
.
(ex-Born Against
, Men's Recovery Project
), drummer Brooks Headley
(ex-Born Against, Universal Order of Armageddon
, [Young] Pioneers
), guitarist Andy Coronado (of Skull Control, Monorchid, Nazti Skinz, Glass Candy) and bassist Cundo Si Murad (of Nazti Skinz). The band sold over 1,000 copies of their self-released, self-titled cassette in 9 months; this release was followed by a 7" record and a full-length LP
, Zulu, recorded in May 2004 with Steve Albini
. The album featured Chris Thomson (of Monorchid and Circus Lupus fame), as well as Circle Jerks
' Keith Morris
on vocals. In December 2004, at the end of a lengthy Japan
ese tour, McPheeters bowed out and was replaced for the band's last US show by Dean Spunt of the bands Wives
and No Age
.
The band was known for somewhat confrontational, hectic live performances which were heralded by their biggest fans as a return to the artsy yet entertaining briskness of early Los Angeles hardcore
punk
. McPheeters' sense of humor dominated their presence as a live act; his patter, alternately caustic and cryptic, was a major aspect of these shows. On their first tour, their set ended with noted history buff McPheeters donning a wig and reciting a dramatic monologue taken from the closing scene of act 1 of Shakespeare's Henry V
.
McPheeters also penned an over-the-top dismissal of Zulu for the OC Weekly
under the name "Walter Burgerns," an anagram of the bandname.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band formed in 2003 in Los Angeles, California
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
History
Wrangler Brutes were formed around vocalist Sam McPheetersSam McPheeters
Sam McPheeters is an American musician, artist and journalist. Raised in Albany, New York and later relocated to New York City, McPheeters was a key member of the early 1990s hardcore punk scene, writing a number of zines and singing in the hardcore band Born Against...
(ex-Born Against
Born Against
Born Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989–1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as problematic within the punk subculture of their time.-History:The group was founded in...
, Men's Recovery Project
Men's Recovery Project
Men's Recovery Project was an American experimental noise rock band formed by Sam McPheeters and Neil Burke in Richmond, Virginia, active from 1993–2002...
), drummer Brooks Headley
Brooks Headley
Brooks Headley is an American musician and chef, best known as the drummer in several hardcore punk and indie rock bands.Headley is presently the executive pastry chef at Del Posto, a New York Times-rated four-star restaurant, in New York City....
(ex-Born Against, Universal Order of Armageddon
Universal Order of Armageddon
Universal Order of Armageddon was an American hardcore band, active in the early to mid 1990s.-History:The band formed in September 1992 and by early 1993, after quickly gaining a small but devoted following, they were recording and touring the East Coast. Known for their extreme short chaotic...
, [Young] Pioneers
(Young) Pioneers
Pioneers was an influential American folk punk band from Richmond, Virginia, active from 1993–1999.-History:...
), guitarist Andy Coronado (of Skull Control, Monorchid, Nazti Skinz, Glass Candy) and bassist Cundo Si Murad (of Nazti Skinz). The band sold over 1,000 copies of their self-released, self-titled cassette in 9 months; this release was followed by a 7" record and a full-length LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, Zulu, recorded in May 2004 with Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
. The album featured Chris Thomson (of Monorchid and Circus Lupus fame), as well as Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
' Keith Morris
Keith Morris
Keith Morris is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, and Off! Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the age of 21 with guitarist Greg Ginn and performed on the band's 1978 debut EP...
on vocals. In December 2004, at the end of a lengthy Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese tour, McPheeters bowed out and was replaced for the band's last US show by Dean Spunt of the bands Wives
Wives (band)
Wives was a hardcore/punk/noise trio from Los Angeles, California, U.S. consisting of guitarist Randy Randall, bassist/vocalist Dean Spunt, and drummer Jeremy Villalobos. In the three years the band were together, they released a self-titled 7" on Post Present Medium, as well as a split 7" with...
and No Age
No Age
No Age is a two-person American indie rock group consisting of guitarist Randy Randall and drummer/vocalist Dean Allen Spunt. The band is based in Los Angeles and is currently signed to Sub Pop records...
.
The band was known for somewhat confrontational, hectic live performances which were heralded by their biggest fans as a return to the artsy yet entertaining briskness of early Los Angeles hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
. McPheeters' sense of humor dominated their presence as a live act; his patter, alternately caustic and cryptic, was a major aspect of these shows. On their first tour, their set ended with noted history buff McPheeters donning a wig and reciting a dramatic monologue taken from the closing scene of act 1 of Shakespeare's Henry V
Henry V (play)
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
.
McPheeters also penned an over-the-top dismissal of Zulu for the OC Weekly
OC Weekly
OC Weekly, a sister publication of both LA Weekly and The Village Voice, is a free, left-wing weekly paper distributed in Orange County, California and also in Long Beach....
under the name "Walter Burgerns," an anagram of the bandname.
Band members
- Sam McPheetersSam McPheetersSam McPheeters is an American musician, artist and journalist. Raised in Albany, New York and later relocated to New York City, McPheeters was a key member of the early 1990s hardcore punk scene, writing a number of zines and singing in the hardcore band Born Against...
- vocals - Andy Coronado - guitar
- Cundo Si Murad - bass
- Brooks HeadleyBrooks HeadleyBrooks Headley is an American musician and chef, best known as the drummer in several hardcore punk and indie rock bands.Headley is presently the executive pastry chef at Del Posto, a New York Times-rated four-star restaurant, in New York City....
- drums
Discography
- 1 sided 7" (WBR, 2003)
- 16-song cassette (WBR, 2003)
- Zulu LP / CD (WBR / Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, 2004) - 16 Song Cassette Revisited LP (X-Mist, 2005)
- 16 Song Cassette Revisited, Again 8"x 2 (Clarence Thomas, 2005)
External links
- Wrangler Brutes' label site featuring a "fake" photograph of the band
- album review of Zulu
- OC Weekly "This band is a nightmare I can't wake up from."
- interview with Sam McPheeters
- show review from Noise Pop Festival
- live photos
- album review of Zulu by Walter Burgerns