John DeVries with Midwestern Medicine & Spall

375 Forest Avenue,Portland ME 04101

11 September, 2021

Description

John DeVries with Midwestern Medicine & Spall ALL AGES John devRies (Agitpop / Cellophane) with Midwestern Medicine & Spall John started performing in the Hudson Valley of New York in the clubs, bars and colleges in the late 70s while still in high school. In 1981 he formed the seminal art/punk band Agitpop. Signing their first record deal, the debut ”Feast of the Sunfish’ was released in 1984. Already a staple in all the legendary NYC clubs such as CBGB, Danceteria, Peppermint Lounge, Pyramid, 8BC etc… the bands profile grew through college radio and extensive touring. As it came time to record their second record, they signed with Rough/Trade records, The lp “Back at the Plain of Jars”, with its version of Lipps Inc. disco hit “Funkytown” brought them national recognition and a new record deal with Mpls. based Twin/Tone records. Touring with a who’s who of 1980s underground/college radio peers they made 2 more recordings with Twin/Tone. MTV started playing their videos in 1986. In 1989 with the release of “Stick It”, they garnered much acclaim with the singles “Stop, Drop and Roll” and ”Forget Me Not”. They disbanded in 1991. In 2008, they reformed to record ”Agitpop” and did dates in Europe, In particular the famed Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich as one of the highlights. In 1992 John formed “Cellophane”. The recording ”Hang Ups” was released on Jungle Records in 1994 throughout Europe and they played extensively including the ”Reading” festival. John was writing for Warner/Chappell, playing solo shows with the likes of Bob Dylan, Soul Asylum, Mike Watt (John wrote “The Big Bang Theory” for Mike) and working on various production and studio opportunities. Cellophane disbanded in 1997. John then joined Grand Mal and signed with Slash/Polygram. The release of “Maledictions” followed in 1999. John left Grand Mal in 2002. Still writing for Warner, he recorded the solo record called ”X/No” which released in 2006. After the Agitpop reunion John started playing solo shows around the U.S. These days after taking a well earned break, John is playing solo shows again in the U.S., starting to record a new solo record, collaborating with friends and has relocated back to the Hudson Valley in New York. His shows are as unpredictable as ever, old catalog, new songs and of course, covers (from Red Krayola to Willie Nelson to The Clash). Agitpop was recently placed in the Library of Congress. Midwestern Medicine combines the quirky and frenzied songs of Brock Ginther (of Lemon Pitch and The Breakfast Cowboy; formerly of Boston’s King Pedestrian) and the powerhouse rhythm section of McCrae Hathaway and Brian Saxton (of Whale Oil). Influenced by the sincere surreality of Guided by Voices and the wry caricatures of The Kinks, Ginther’s songwriting on The Winking Badge ranges from wordy comic narratives to scathingly self-deprecative manifestos. Wrapped around the band’s urgent, melodic music, the result resembles Pavement at their most manic, or an 80’s punk variation on the psychedelic character acting of Ween. https://midwesternmedicine.bandcamp.com/ https://spall.bandcamp.com/releases An all ages all inclusive music venue supporting the arts in their many forms.