PG2 logo

"KATJON BAND"
(Jon Langford and Kat Ex)
Carrot Top Records

CD Review by Matthew M. Matheson

KatjonBand

There are those in our scene who you just have to smile at and be grateful are still throwing it down, and Kat Ex and Jon Langford are two of them for sure. Even if you’re too young (like me) to have experienced the beginning of it all first hand, you have to raise your fists (and you will) to a duo of punk rock legends who, between the two of them, have released over 40 full length albums with their still touring first wave punk bands, The Mekons and The Ex.

The 1-2 punch of the KatJon Band’s guitar/vocal/drums pummels through with the wonderful and urgent sound of a pair soldiering for social justice and accountability. These are tunes to groove your shoulders and hips and listen to the chants of two very cool voices that observe a world that puts profit before honesty and the common man. Lurking between some of those grooves marches an avant-garde uneasiness reminiscent of the Velvet Underground and Fugazi.

The album begins with the track, “Do You,” which displays gorgeously chunky guitar, wild frantic drum kicks, and lyrics of the irony of consumerism. “Bad Apples” rolls out the groove carpet like a snake from a pit looking for someone to take responsibility for the shit and destruction we collectively wake up to every morning. The next track, “Crackheads Beware,” takes the social assault to straight up shouts for a better life and a world less fucked. “Moonscape,” the following track, is writhing and rhythmic with an awesome open drumming pattern that sounds like a smoky jazz cellar. Kat Ex’s drumming styles are fucking amazing throughout the entire album; her prowess creating a harmony between classic English Punk and African Tribal rhytmns on several tracks.

The album ends with Jon Langford’s bone chilling punk-rock-glory voice singing “No traitor’s here, 
we’ll keep the red flag flyin’ in the air.” Heed the battle cry!  

Matthew M. Matheson
2980 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC, Canada
V6K 2C1



Back To Homepage