Noise Rock from Austin tonight by way of The Jesus Lizard in a BBC Radio 1 session for John Peel, recorded on September 27, 1992 and broadcast on October 30, 1992.
The Jesus Lizard were one of the foremost bands of the burgeoning Alternative/Noise-Rock genre in the early 1990s. Getting started in 1987, the band quickly got the attention of the Underground press, who wrote glowingly of their guitar-driven avalanche of noise and gained a reputation in Austin by way of word-of-mouth and the Underground/College FM radio scene.
All of it eventually led to getting signed by a major label (Capitol) and being favorably compared to another band from Seattle, Nirvana. However, where Nirvana succeeded, The Jesus Lizard did not – and after several attempts, and six albums, the band called it quits in 1998.
But that was 1998, and this broadcast from 1992 doesn’t foresee any of that. In fact, they are riding the crest of a popular wave, and gathering a reputation in the UK, via John Peel, who was a fan.
This session comes around the release of their third album for Touch and Go Records, Liar. It also comes a few months before their split single with Nirvana (Puss/Oh, The Guilt), which became a hit for them overseas. Liar was considered some of the bands best work, and the album was ranked #58 in best albums of the 1990s.
After a period of being dormant, the band got back together in 2008 and picked up where they left off until 2010. They have, as of a few days ago, gotten back together again. No word on any new material but they are scheduled to play Houston’s Day For Night Festival in December, the first time they’ve played together since 2009.
In the meantime, cast your ears in the direction of 1992 and this session for John Peel. And play loud too, while you’re at it.
