When Bush Tetras formed around the punk rock explosion happening in downtown New York during the late ‘70s, they had no idea that their early recording would create such a seismic ripple that would cause the landscape of underground music to feel their influence all these years later.
When Contortions guitarist Pat Place joined up with singer Cynthia Sley, drummer Dee Pop and original bassist Laura Kennedy, they hit upon an undeniable combination of dance forward art-punk that paid as much respect to soul and R&B as it did to the avant garde world.
To celebrate the hugely influential group’s 40th anniversary, their rich legacy will be documented on a brand new three-disc box set Rhythm and Paranoia: The Best of Bush Tetras out November 12 on Wharf Cat Records.
The collection features a fabulous primer into the band’s pioneering dance-punk sound with early hits like “Too Many Creeps” and “You Can’t Be Funky” as well later gems like “Stand Up and Fight” and material that had never seen the light of day until this release. One such unearthed treasure is the song “Cutting Floor” which was pulled from an abandoned recording session the group did with Henry Rollins as producer.
The gorgeous packaging includes an introduction by veteran journalist Marc Masters as well as essays by luminaries in the world of underground music like Thurston Moore, Hugo Burnham of Gang of Four, and Topper Headon of The Clash who produced the band’s 1981 Rituals EP. Also included are essays from younger artists who were inspired by Bush Tetras such as Victoria Ruiz of Downtown Boys, Katie Alice Greer of Priests, and Austin Brown of Parquet Courts.
It was an honor and a thrill to sit down with founding members Pat Place and Cynthia Sley as well as their new bassist R.B. Korbet (King Missile, Pussy Galore) to discuss their influence, this monumental document, and what the future holds for the ever expanding world of Bush Tetras.
Previous Episodes of In Conversation:
- Full of Hell
- Tropical Fuck Storm
- Caleb Landry Jones
- Chubby & the Gang
- Museum of Love
- Anika
- Cassandra Jenkins
- Steve Turner of Mudhoney
- Alexis Marshall of Daughters
- Current Joys
- Tom Scharpling
- Sarah Lund of Unwound
- Genghis Tron
- Ben Swank of Third Man Records
- The Men
- Rick Maguire of Pile
- Damien Jurado
- Slim Moon of Kill Rock Stars
- Caveh Zahedi