[Kill The Critic] The Independent Entertainment Blog [Film-Theatre-Comedy]

What's Up with Gene Defcon?

It's Gene Defcon's world, and we just happen to live in it.



4 out of 5 Elmos agree, Gene Defcon is good for your health.
(I originally wanted to go with 4.5 Elmo's, but you try to cut off Elmo's legs!)

Why all the frou-frou and fluff in today's review?

Today I was doing "research" (fooling around on Google, Ask Jeeves, Mr. Belvedere, or whatever), and making up stuff for an artist profile because the music recording artist still known as Gene Defcon refuses to condescend to my mere mortal questions. Either that, or he simply didn't think it was worth the effort. Whatever his reasons, When he formally protested my dumb interview questions with a vow of silence, I decided to start a flame war through this blog.

That was a bad joke. But hypothetically, if I was going to start a flame war, it would begin like this:
Like white whine, Gene Defcon seems to go best with fish schtick.

Don't worry all you Gene Defcon fans who stumble upon this review - I simply want to post a bio with more recent information, and mention his recordings. (And also re-post that picture above on the world wide web. It's priceless and I hope you appreciate it.)

When it comes to making music, Defcon is serious about being fun. Even his debut Lover's ESP Blues way back in 1998 (occasionally more depressing than most real blues LPs) is a stroke of cool jerk-off genius. Defcon started his musical journey in Austin, TX, relocating to Olympia, WA for a while. He's got a lot of music history and aliases behind him, from his days as Otto Matik in The Prima Donnas, to opening for Sleater-Kinney as Gene Defcon - the band. My favorite garage rock 'n' soul band The Gossip opened for him! And I'd like to shake his hand (or maybe just give him a nod) with respect and admiration just for bringing the party back to music. His band mates under the Gene Defcon moniker included members of bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Frenchie and The German Girls. And they genuinely seemed to have a good time with their pal Gene in Olympia, Washington.

But like all good parties it came to an end, at least as a band. After Come Party With Me (1999) Gene returned to Austin, TX to work closely with the other co-founders of Business Deal Records (which is more like a collective of recording artists than a record label), where he was already co-producing artists like Cavedweller. After a five year recording hiatus, he released Throw Up And Die in the summer of 2005 on Retard Disco.

The Obligatory Anticlimatic Discography:

Throw Up And Die (2005) - At over 70 minutes, you'd think it would be challenging to listen to at times. It was. But Defcon had a lot to say since the last album, and a lot of us were ready and willing to listen.

You can buy this, plus a special 7" collection (which I think includes one of my favorite songs, "Liz") with Gene Defcon artwork @ retarddisco.com.


Come Party With Me (1999) - Considered by me to be the pinnacle of partydom.


Lover's ESP Blues (1998)- Considered by most critics as his masturbatory masterpiece. I thought it was a little too long and a bit premature, but satisfying overall. (Puns intended.)

You can purchase his older records at local record stores throughout Austin and Olympia, or online:
Business Deal
CD Universe
Kill Rock Stars

The official Gene Defcon web site is a bit dated, but you can read more about Gene not at your local library, but at his label's web site, retarddisco.com. He's also got a myspace.com/genedefcon page with ill instrumentals courtesy of former band mate DJ Nick Nax. Will there be another Gene Defcon out soon?

In the meantime, Gene keeps busy as a bassist and vocalist in The Old-Timerz and The Carrots, a '60s girl group inspired band. He also produces recordings with Smokey Farris (Count Dracula's Weed Smugglin' Jam Engine), Dirk Michener (Cavedweller), Jason "Chef" Pittman (The Old-Timerz, The Carrots), and a host of other talented artists on Business Deal Records. You can check them out @ businessdealrecords.com.

Have a good time with Gene!

~sayanythingrrrl


Some crazy fan stuff - by me.