People who attend PRE's October 18 performance at Mixtapes in East Moline might be witnessing a band that's about to hit it big. Of course, this won't be the first time a punk band with an explosive sound has played the Quad Cities. But it could be the first time one does so in the middle of recording sessions with producer extraordinaire Steve Albini.
Although the group is not officially on tour, the London band is in Chicago this month to record with Albini (whose résumé includes work with The Pixies, The Jesus Lizard, PJ Harvey, The Breeders, Mogwai, Neurosis, High on Fire, Iggy Pop & the Stooges, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, and a little band called Nirvana).
And while it's impossible to predict whether the group's upcoming album will be groundbreaking and/or make them a household name, for local punk fans - as well as those who follow Albini's work - this show will definitely be one for the scrapbooks.
Formed in 2005, the band - consisting of guitarist John Webb, bassist duo Matt Warburton and Kevin Hendrix, drummer Richard Bennett, and vocalist Akiko Matsuura - has appeared on more than a half-dozen seven- and 10-inch splits (via Philadelphia's Lovepump United Records, Chicago's Skin Graft Records, and London's Merok Records) with, among others, AIDS Wolf, Bardo Pond, and Crystal Castles. It released its full-length debut, Epic Fits, in 2007.
"I'm not even sure what our musical style is," wrote guitarist John Webb in an e-mail when asked how the band's sound came about, adding, "But we have pretty short attention spans and limited musical abilities."
Webb's description of the band might sound vague, but after listening to Epic Fits, his assessment seems concisely accurate - which isn't a bad thing, because what the band might lack in technical skill, it makes up for in volume and speed.
Clocking in at just a little over 20 minutes, the 15 tracks on Epic Fits (which includes a cover of Half Japanese's "Ride Ride Ride") feature songs that shift from rapid-fire riffs to grinding breakdowns with a punk urgency that sounds almost seizure inducing, prompting a reviewer at Billboard.com to write: "Their goal of taking no wave to the most brutal level of intensity is achieved and exceeded with virtuosity, and this disc illustrates that this group is an up-and-coming powerhouse in the genre ... ."
Webb's guitar strumming jumps back and forth between dissonant punk chords and thunderous distortion, Hendrix's and Warburton's bass licks sound thick and commanding, and Bennett's thrashy drum work consistently lays the foundation for every burst of instrumental madness. And then there's Matsuura.
Despite the fact that it's nearly impossible to make out any of Matsuura's lyrics throughout the songs, her riot-grrrl-friendly style of screaming vocals sounds more than appropriate in the midst of all the other musical chaos, and after viewing Matsuura dancing and spazzing out during some live performances available on YouTube, it appears that she has no problem getting down with the boys - maintaining an intimidating stage presence while crashing into whomever and whatever gets in her way.
While the upcoming performance at Mixtapes will be taking place on a day off from recording, this won't be PRE's first time performing in the U.S., having played alongside Health, Mika Miko, The Mae Shi, and other buzz bands in recent years.
"We love America and have a lot of fun [playing here]," wrote Webb. "People[in the U.S.] are kind and seem to like us more than in the U.K. ... Girls are prettier. ... Boys are better dressed. ... Whole foods."
And though Webb wouldn't shed much light on how the upcoming recordings with Albini came about (Webb: "Weasel Walter was busy."), he did write what fans can expect from the new album: "More tunes. Less noise. More pop. Slightly less speed ... . It's our Pet Sounds, my friend."
PRE will performance at Mixtapes (830 15th Avenue, East Moline) on Saturday, October 18. The show starts at 7 p.m., cover is $5, and the bill also includes Motorcycle, One Big Nut, The Scarring Party, and Eyes.
