| Leftöver Crack |
Leftöver Crack live in Cologne in 2006.
|
| Background information |
| Origin |
Alphabet City, Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA |
| Genres |
Ska punk, crust punk, anarcho-punk, classical, metal |
| Years active |
1999–2009 |
| Labels |
Fat Wreck Chords, Alternative Tentacles, Household Name Records, Hellcat Records, BANKSHOT! Records |
| Associated acts |
Choking Victim, F-Minus, Morning Glory, INDK, The Slackers, MDC, Nino Zombi, No-Cash, No Commercial Value, Crack Rock Steady 7, Star Fucking Hipsters |
| Website |
LeftoverCrack.org |
| Members |
Stza
Brad Logan
Alec Baillie
Ara Babajian |
| Former members |
Amery Smith
Brandon Chevalier-Kolling
Ezra Kire |
Leftöver Crack is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1999, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska, crust punk and death metal with anarchist lyrics, they classify themselves as "crack rock steady." The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and Alternative Tentacles for vinyl releases. The band consists of Stza Crack (vocals), Brad Logan (guitar), Alec Baillie (bass guitar), and Ara Babajian (drums). Leftöver Crack are typically associated with Morning Glory, and INDK. The line-up of Leftöver Crack changes fairly often, drawing on members of other New York City punk bands such as The Stockyard Stoics and The X-Possibles. Stza, Brad, and Alec are currently the band's only completely permanent members.
Leftöver Crack spans several different music genres including hardcore punk, crust punk, ska, classical music and death metal. Leftöver Crack state they write music that is anti-bigotry, antireligion, anti-police, and anti-government. Members of Leftöver Crack reside in the C-Squat on 155 Avenue C in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City, a punk house. Natives of New York City, band members have a well-documented history of back-and-forth conflict with the NYPD which precedes the band's formation.[1]
The band's name is explained by Stza as being "an oxymoron", based on the idea that crack cocaine addicts are known for vigorous use, and are unlikely to have any "leftover" crack.
History
Career
The band took an indefinite hiatus after the death of drummer Brandon Possible at the end of 2004. Stza spent the interim playing Leftöver Crack and Choking Victims songs by himself at a few solo acoustic shows. Leftöver Crack began touring again in the summer of 2005, including some dates with Citizen Fish and The World/Inferno Friendship Society, as well as playing dates in October 2005 in California after the Wasted Fest was canceled. The so-called Crack Rock Steady 7 also embarked on a small European tour in November; however, this incarnation consisted of only Stza and The Infested, in some cases billed as the "Crack Steady Rockers".
Blacknoise Records released a four-way split entitled "The Kids Are Gonna Pay" in March 2006 with Leftöver Crack contributing 1 song, "Look Who's Talking Now", other bands on the split are Morning Glory, F-Minus, and Bent Outta Shape. The 7" was limited to 1000 copies on white vinyl and is now sold out. The first 100 included limited edition patches designed by Brad Logan's wife, Kristen, and some included an insert.
On October 31, 2006 Fat Wreck Chords released a 7" split with Citizen Fish. To support the release the 2 bands joined with other Fat bands, The Sainte Catherines and Dead to Me, went on a U.S. tour.The full length split with Citizen Fish, was released on March 6, 2007 with Fat Wreck Chords releasing the CD version and Alternative Tentacles releasing the vinyl version, 1103 copies are on white vinyl.
Venue bans, criminal records and visa restriction
Leftöver Crack has been banned from performing in many venues in New York City, such as ABC No Rio, the Knitting Factory, and North Six. However, they still play at banned venues under a different name, Crack Rock Steady Seven or individually as solo acts. They repeatedly have trouble touring in certain countries, especially Canada, due to members having prior criminal records. They were most recently denied entry into Canada for a tour scheduled at the end of 2007. At a show in Boston, MA in August 2008, Stza angrily stated Leftöver Crack would never return to Boston.
2008 arrest of Stza
On September 5, 2008, Sturgeon was arrested by police officers after throwing an entire box of donuts at them—while a crowd chanted "Free fuckin' speech!"—and subsequently pointing his guitar at them as if it were a gun, while yelling "This machine kills cops!". The arrest followed a performance of a few of Choking Victim's and Leftöver Crack's most anti-police songs, performed in front of the police, for an anti-police public demonstration called "Donut Social". Immediately after his arrest, fans protested the police officers and pounded on their vehicles demanding his release while screaming "Freedom of speech is fucking dead! You killed it!" among other sentiments. Some angry fans were tasered and physically beaten and stomped by police. The aftermath of the incident was filmed and posted on YouTube.[2]
2009 Departure of Ezra
In September of 2009, it was announced that guitarist Ezra would leave the band before their tour to Australia, citing that "internal feuds" was the cause of the issue. On September 28th, lead-vocalist Stza refuted Ezra's claim, and posted a bulletin through the bands MySpace saying,
"Ezra has not been feuding with anybody in the band, he just comes on tour & alternates between getting high on the H & then being dope-sick. He's a fucking ghost, that's why he doesn't enjoy playing music anymore. I'm totally sick of being in bands with heroin addicts. When he gets his shit together, maybe he will play with us again, but that boy is mentally deranged trying to get over on you kids. I normally wouldn't write a bulletin like this, but his was so distasteful that I had to say something at the detriment of exposing something that was a thinly veiled secret, that fact of the matter is he's hanging me/LoC/ & Australia out to dry... stz . P.S. next time just keep your wasted mouth shut & you'll avoid a world of embarrassment..... Hey I guess that now we are officially feuding, so by writing this I have kind of made half of his post true, but he's lost because of the drugs... that's for damn sure..."
Discography
Full Lengths
EPs
Splits
- Baby Jesus Sliced up in the Manger (as the Crack Rock Steady 7, with F-Minus), HellBent Records, 2001.
- The Kids Are Gonna Pay (with F-Minus, Morning Glory, Bent Outta Shape), Blacknoise Records, 2006.
- Leftover Crack / Citizen Fish Split 7" (with Citizen Fish), Fat Wreck Chords, 2006.
- Deadline (split album) (with Citizen Fish), Fat Wreck Chords, March 6, 2007. (LP on Alternative Tentacles Records)
Compilations
- Give 'Em the Boot II, (Crack City Rockers[Demo]) Hellcat Records, 1999.
- Punk Rawk Explosion 6, (Nazi White Trash), ?, 2003.
- Give 'Em the Boot III, (Atheist Anthem) Hellcat Records, 2002.
- Go Kart vs. the Corporate Giant Vol. 3, (Rock The 40oz) Go Kart Records, 2002.
- 2003 Sampler, (So Ya Wanna Be A Cop) A-F Records, 2003.
- Fueling the Flames of Revolution Vol. 3, (One Dead Cop) A-F Records, 2003.
- Against Police Injustice,(Operation:MOVE, Super Tuesday[Demo]) Non Commercial, 2003.
- Mass Destruction, (Muppet N.A.M.B.L.A) BANKSHOT! Records, 2003.
- Riot Ska, (Drug Song, Nobody Is Free) Beer Records, 2004.
Live
- 2002: Straight Outta' Naples
- 2001: Live C-Squat 3/31/01
- 2008: live at the stage @ Arnhem, Holland
Bootlegs
- 2004: Fuck World Trade (demo)
Film
References
See also
External links
