Kid Congo Powers
Encyclopedia
Kid Congo Powers is the stage name
of Brian Tristan (born March 27, 1959, La Puente
, California
), an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps
and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
.
. In 1976, he was president of The Ramones fan club, then ran a fanzine
for The Screamers
. After traveling to London and New York City he returned to L.A. and in 1979 met Jeffrey Lee Pierce
. Pierce taught him to play guitar using open tuning, and they formed 'The Creeping Ritual', which became The Gun Club
. Powers left that group before their recording debut, instead joining New York-based band The Cramps
in December 1980. He rejoined the Gun Club briefly in 1983, rejoining again between 1985 and 1988, when he again left to join Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
in Berlin
, for several albums and associated tours. Powers has also played with The Divine Horsemen
, The Angels of Light, Die Haut
and The Fall.
Powers has collaborated with New York City guitarist Jack Martin on projects like The Pink Monkey Birds, Congo Norvell
and Knoxville Girls
.
2009 saw Powers update band members Kiki Solis on Bass, Ron Miller on Drums, and Jesse Roberts on guitar and keyboards. The band move to In The Red Records and released the much acclaimed LP "Dracula Boots" which was herald by many as a "return to form." Co-Produced by Jason Ward and recorded in a High School gymnasium in Harveyville, Kansas, now an artists retreat known as The Harveyville Project, Dracula Boots uses southern soul, 60's Chicano rock, and psychedelic imagery. British magazine N.M.E. said " In short, on ‘Dracula Boots’ Kid Congo Powers has once again found the juicy jugular of soul-fired, funked-up rock’n’roll. You’d be foolish not to take a bite."
In 2011 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds released their follow up album, "Gorilla Rose" also on In The Red Records. Eamon Carr of The Dublin Evening Herald said of "Gorilla Rose" "Having a working band is paying off. Gorilla Rose elevates seedy go-go weirdness to the level of high art."
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Brian Tristan (born March 27, 1959, La Puente
La Puente, California
La Puente is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 39,816 at the 2010 census.* City flower: The Golden Hibiscus* City colors: Green and White.-History:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
), an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
.
Biography
Powers is a second generation Mexican AmericanMexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
. In 1976, he was president of The Ramones fan club, then ran a fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
for The Screamers
The Screamers
The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
. After traveling to London and New York City he returned to L.A. and in 1979 met Jeffrey Lee Pierce
Jeffrey Lee Pierce
Jeffrey Lee Pierce was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the founding members of the 1980s punk band The Gun Club...
. Pierce taught him to play guitar using open tuning, and they formed 'The Creeping Ritual', which became The Gun Club
The Gun Club (band)
The Gun Club was an American punk blues band from Los Angeles, California that existed from 1979 to 1996. Led by flamboyant singer and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, The Gun Club merged the contemporary genre of punk rock with the more traditional genres of blues, rockabilly and country music.Along...
. Powers left that group before their recording debut, instead joining New York-based band The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
in December 1980. He rejoined the Gun Club briefly in 1983, rejoining again between 1985 and 1988, when he again left to join Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, for several albums and associated tours. Powers has also played with The Divine Horsemen
The Divine Horsemen
Divine Horsemen were a punk/roots band founded in 1983 by Chris D. , formerly of L.A. punk rock band The Flesh Eaters. The band developed a distinctive alt country- type sound. They took their name from a voodoo term; a worshiper who is possessed by loa during a ceremony is said to be being ridden...
, The Angels of Light, Die Haut
Die haut
Die Haut were an experimental German post-punk post-rock band, who enjoyed some local success in the Berlin of the 1980s and 1990s, with one record where Nick Cave was involved in the mixdown, Burnin' The Ice...
and The Fall.
Powers has collaborated with New York City guitarist Jack Martin on projects like The Pink Monkey Birds, Congo Norvell
Congo Norvell
Congo Norvell is a band led by Kid Congo Powers and Sally Norvell. Congo Norvell formed in 1990 after Powers and Norvell met at the deathbed of a friend in Los Angeles....
and Knoxville Girls
Knoxville Girls
Knoxville Girls was a short-lived New York City alternative rock supergroup that contained: Bob Bert , on drums, Jerry Teel on vocals, guitars; Kid Congo Powers on guitar and vocals; Jack Martin on guitar; and Barry London on...
.
2009 saw Powers update band members Kiki Solis on Bass, Ron Miller on Drums, and Jesse Roberts on guitar and keyboards. The band move to In The Red Records and released the much acclaimed LP "Dracula Boots" which was herald by many as a "return to form." Co-Produced by Jason Ward and recorded in a High School gymnasium in Harveyville, Kansas, now an artists retreat known as The Harveyville Project, Dracula Boots uses southern soul, 60's Chicano rock, and psychedelic imagery. British magazine N.M.E. said " In short, on ‘Dracula Boots’ Kid Congo Powers has once again found the juicy jugular of soul-fired, funked-up rock’n’roll. You’d be foolish not to take a bite."
In 2011 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds released their follow up album, "Gorilla Rose" also on In The Red Records. Eamon Carr of The Dublin Evening Herald said of "Gorilla Rose" "Having a working band is paying off. Gorilla Rose elevates seedy go-go weirdness to the level of high art."
Selected discography
- 1981 The CrampsThe CrampsThe Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
- Psychedelic JunglePsychedelic JunglePsychedelic Jungle! is the second LP by the American garage punk band The Cramps. It was released on IRS Records. It was engineered by Paul McKenna and recorded at in January 1981 at A&M Studios. It was self-produced by The Cramps... - 1984 The Cramps - Smell of FemaleSmell of FemaleSmell of Female is the first live album by the American garage punk band The Cramps. It was recorded at The Peppermint Lounge on February 25–26, 1983 and released on I.R.S. Records the same year. The album was also released as a 3 7-inch box set...
- 1984 The Gun Club - The Las Vegas StoryThe Las Vegas Story (album)The Las Vegas Story is the third studio album by punk blues group The Gun Club, released in 1984. This album saw the return of founding member and lead guitarist Kid Congo Powers, after a three year stint with The Cramps.-Track listing:...
- 1987 The Gun Club - Mother JunoMother JunoMother Juno is a 1987 album released by The Gun Club.It was produced by Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins.- Track listing :All tracks composed by Jeffrey Lee Pierce# "Bill Bailey" – 3:39# "Thunderhead" – 3:28# "Lupita Screams" – 3:12...
- 1990 The Gun Club - Pastoral Hide and Seek
- 1991 The Gun Club - Divinity EP
- 1985 The Fur Bible EP
- 1988 Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
- Tender PreyTender PreyTender Prey is the fifth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1988 on Mute Records.Tender Prey contains Cave's 'signature' tune "The Mercy Seat", which he has subsequently played at almost all of his live performances since 1988, and was covered by Johnny Cash... - 1990 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Good SonThe Good Son (album)The Good Son is the sixth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1990 . It was preceded by the release of "The Ship Song/The Train Song" single. "The Weeping Song/Cock's 'n' Asses" was later also released as a single. After an album as dark and intense as Tender Prey, some fans were...
- 1988 Barry AdamsonBarry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997...
- Moss Side StoryMoss Side StoryMoss Side Story is an album by Barry Adamson released in 1989. The album is a concept album. The music is almost completely instrumental except for occasional screams, samples and a choir. The concept is the score to a fictitious film. To achieve the effect the song titles are descriptive of a film... - 1998 Mark EitzelMark EitzelMark Eitzel is a musician, best known as a songwriter and lead singer of the San Francisco band American Music Club.-History:Eitzel spent his formative years in a military family living in Okinawa, Taiwan, Ohio and the United Kingdom. He moved to America in 1979.He started making music while he was...
- Caught in a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, BabyCaught in a Trap and I Can't Back out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, BabyCaught in a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby is the fifth solo album by American Music Club singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel. A starker follow-up to his previous album, it was the first album he released for independent label Matador Records in 1998... - 2005 Kid Congo Powers - Solo Cholo
- 2006 Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds - Philosophy and Underwear
- 2006 Madrugada - Live at Oslo Spektrum [DVD]
- 2009 Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds - Dracula Boots
- 2011 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds - Gorilla Rose
External links
- Kid Congo Powers official site
- Kid's page from his label, New York Night Train
- The ultimate Kid Congo Powers resource - Kid discusses his life and career in over 4 hours of audio, text, mp3s, rare photos, and more from NewYorkNightTrain.com
- 2006 Interview with Kid Congo Powers from the Modern Pea Pod
- interview on outsideleft.com
- two part 2006 interview with Kid Congo Powers on outsideleft.com part one part two
- Interview with Kid Congo on ruadebaixo.com (Portuguese)
- LA Weekly 2011 interview {http://www.laweekly.com/2011-05-26/music/kid-congo-powers-the-abrasive-and-the-beautiful/}