Real Punk Rock Isn't Dead: Meet the Epoxies!

For those who have gotten tired of posh rock (oxymoron?) like the Strokes, emo, death metal and hardcore, and/or the scottish invasion (Franz Ferdinand), or perhaps most of all HIP-HOP, there hasn't been many diversions in the 21st century. The people who wanted atypical irrelevance and fun in their music and have to put up with their mohawks being emulated for teens to emulate on halloween there's a breath of fresh air. No, Fay Fife has not put together a Revillos/Rezillos hybrid...I'm talking about the Portland, Oregon paragons of punk - the Epoxies!

"Roxy Epoxy", perhaps the most devastating and hot rodding female vocalist since Poly Styrene, leads this energetic ensemble through two albums chalkful of science fiction awareness ("We're All Clones", "Synthesized", "Robot Man" are just some of the titles), whereas X-Ray Spex were very anti-consumerism, and pure punk rock sensibilities, like getting laid in a bathroom stall and their masterpiece "Need More Time" which is meant to rally despondent youth in a very politically important time, without ever getting too preachy.

They manage to mix camp (The keyboardist name, for example, is "FM Static" and their guitars and costumes contain lighting special fx) with smarter than your average punk lyrics. "Beat My Guest" for example, with its 'Beauty and the Beast" inspired title, makes one think of the sad state of America and domestic abuse as seen on Jerry Springer with lines like "I'm black and blue baby, I love you, so beat me!" then without warning breaking out into a chorus of yodels which are all at once oddly melodious and fresh.

The instruments and singing are fast, as punk should be, yet extemely tight; the keyboards are a perfect compliment to Roxy's explosive vocals - there's never a moment where you'd think "I wish I could hear what she's saying" or "the keyboards are so prominent in their live shows where are they on the albums?" The balance is nothing short of masterful and all of their songs are very easy to dance to.

This is a band still evolving and unknown enough for loving them to be cool. Though coming up on their third album and beginning a tour with veterans The Damned, who any real punk fans know released the first punk single "New Rose", may make them a powerhouse act by January. And if not, if they remain under the radar in this hip-hop/indie rock generation, at worst they're a more than servicable time machine to when punk rock was synonymous with passion.