Some weeks feel so long (thanks a lot Week After Labor Day), you just need another spirited kick in the proverbial ass. So I give you, a second Localized Appreesh this week: Rank/Xerox. The San Francisco punk trio – known for its connections with bands such as Grass Widow (friends/split cassette tape output), and for its other creative endeavors (DIY labels, Web-based videozine Mondo Vision, eye-catching graphic illustrations) – comes from a long tradition of reputable underground punk and arty post-punk, much of which was hatched in San Francisco (Flipper) and London (Wire).
Rank/Xerox is made up of Australian singer-guitarist David West, Jon Shade, who taught himself to play drums for the band, and singer-bassist-illustrator Kevin McCarthy, who, along with Shade, is a former member of the now-disbanded party punk act, Jump off a Building. This weekend, Rank/Xerox celebrates the release of its new self-titled long-player, which was recorded by King Riff and Ty Segall, with a show at Hemlock Tavern.
Year and location of origin: Early 2009 in San Francisco.
Band name origin: Swiped from an old corporate merger, thought it sounded catchy.
Band motto: Stark and dark, bland not grand.
Description of sound in 10 words or less: Antiquated punk junk.
Instrumentation: Jon plays drums, David plays guitar and voice, Kevin plays bass and voice.
Most recent release: Brand new self-titled LP on Make A Mess Records, the Hemlock show on Saturday will actually be a release party of sorts… and a song on the new Maximum Rocknroll all-Bay Area band compilation LP called Noise Ordinance.
Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Getting mistaken for Don Nelson.
Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Getting mistaken for Danielle Steel.
First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased: Jon – Ozzy, The Oz Man Cometh; Kevin – Cyndi Lauper, True Colors; David – The Dandy Warhols are Sound (a guess because he didn’t answer).
Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: Jon – a copy of the Rat Columns 7″ was waiting for me on my bed when I got home, thanks David; Kevin – Crazy Band Fuck You tape; David – the Ovens new 7″ on Catholic Guilt (another question unanswered, another guess).
Favorite local eatery and dish: Golden Gate Indian Cuisine and Pizza on Judah. Best restaurant in the city, eat everything but the Italian dishes.
Rank/Xerox
With Kitchen’s Floor, Fat History Month, Yi
Sept. 10, 9:30 pm, $7
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk, SF
www.hemlocktavern.com
Facebook event