For those who dig the local music scene, Syracuse’s Undergang offers one more reason to give a damn: Dig, the band’s new album, will have a rockin’ release party at Upstairs at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 246 W. Willow St., on Sunday, June 10, 2 to 6 p.m. Dig (Conniving Scoundrels Music), Undergang’s fourth release since 2006, was recorded by Jason “Jocko” Randall at MoreSound Studio. It’s one slam after another, with each track holding nothing back.
Dig is the first album on which all five members—including Nathan Angel’s soaring lead guitar, Al Smead’s affirmative vocals, Jim Drago on guitar, John Thomas on bass and drummer Stefan “Ill’in” Ilnitzki—contributed songs, rather than having only three primary writers. They are a punk-rock democracy, but when it comes to recording sessions they go in knowing exactly what they want.
“We all took a stab at it and pushed out these nine songs in five days, mixed, mastered and everything,” Ilnitzki recalls. “My favorite is the anti-fracking anthem, ‘Well Well,’ but I’ll let you be the judge of the rest.”
Undergang’s sound exists somewhere between the grating echo of a rebel yell and the feeling of loud bass notes buzzing in through the floorboards. It is not for the timid—and it’s better that way.
Regarding its musical style, Undergang doesn’t really go for jams or tangents, instead preferring a clear three-part formula. The beginning of one song may feature an intro that’s borderline-psychedelia until the chorus comes in with more jangling percussion, followed by a bridge that could also be a nod to Judas Priest.
“You could take any one song and see what it is that we do with everything,” Ilnitzki says about the band’s blueprint. “We write songs that people don’t get bored with and we don’t get bored with.”
Undergang puts on local shows four to six times annually; the album release party will be their third this year and they plan three more concerts, including a July appearance at North Syracuse club Fusion. The guys are also involved in Promise Breakers, which gathers underground musicians and artists from around the Syracuse area to perform a multicultural exchange of artistic ideas in October.
Yet whatever the band is up to, Ilnitzki still respects the left-of-center music enthusiasts who groove to their sound. They need new, they need now, and they need to feel connected to the underground scene. “When you’re in your 20s, your whole life revolves around social interactions and checking out new music,” Ilnitzki says.
While Undergang’s music may not be new to their longtime followers, there is always a fresh crop of listeners who want a change from basement-party mixes and boring radio formats. That’s where Undergang comes in: They’ve been paying their dues as a group since 1996, and will continue do so out of sheer passion. It’s what they do.
The release party will also feature music from the Flashing Astonishers, another longtime Central New York favorite. When Ilnitzki asked Astonisher mainstay Gregg Yeti to come on board as a soloist at the show, Yeti instead responded that his band, which hasn’t performed since 2010, might be ready to gig again. “The Undergang guys said, ‘Eff yeah!’” says Yeti. “Anytime I get a chance to watch Al Smead I’m happy.”
Ilnitzki also asked local outfit Counter Pursuit to drop by the Dino. “We’re sincerely flattered that those guys asked us to play their CD release show,” says Adam Ast of Counter Pursuit. “I really feel like it’s an honor. I mean it’s Counter Pursuit, Undergang and Flashing Astonishers! To be considered in league with those dudes is amazing.”
Undergang’s Dig party is free and open to all ages. More information can be found on the band’s Facebook page (facebook.com/undergang13) or by emailing Im2illin@aol.com.
Ask Adam Ast
Q: What’s Counter Pursuit been up to so far this year?
A: We have six gigs lined up for the next two months, a little summer tour-de-Syracuse. We are ready to branch out now and explore the surrounding areas. We really want to get in the studio this fall to start laying down some of the new stuff that we’re really excited about.
Q: Tell me about being a musician in Syracuse.
A: There is a certain kind of darkness or cynicism or skepticism or something that’s borne out of the subconscious of this city, a suffering that comes out of the extreme temperatures and weather, and the economic problems. The Syracuse music scene goes through cycles like anything else and every few years things start getting really interesting. A slew of new bands crop up with new ideas, some veteran bands that have always been doing cool stuff are starting to get recognition. This is absolutely the most proud I have ever been to be a musician in Syracuse.
And we’ve got Scott Dixon back booking shows at the Lost Horizon after nearly losing him {for health reasons} last year. That guy would take the weight of the Syracuse scene on his back if he had to, and I feel like he actually has a couple of times. If it weren’t for Dixon giving my earlier bands a chance when we really weren’t that good, I would not be where I am today. Every scene needs somebody like that who can sense potential or have an open heart.
Q: What are you listening to?
A: Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Dvorak, Handel. I’m a ridiculously huge fan of Al Jolson and obsessive over Buddy Holly. These days I find that there is usually something good happening in almost every genre, and also a lot of mediocre bullshit. I tend to demand a bit more from what I listen to these days. I want more than just a good beat and a hook. Make me think. Challenge or inspire me.
Ask Gregg Yeti
Q: What have the Flashing Astonishers been up to in 2012?
A: The Astonishers haven’t done anything since two shows in 2010 {and before that the last shows were in 2003}.We’re playing the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, the Lost Hozion and Fusion once each over this summer. I am most interested in finishing up some recordings we started in 2002 and 2003 before we broke up. And I want to write some new stuff after that. It is exciting to have {vocalist-guitarist} Dan Musclow back working again. Dan is my favorite guitar player.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Upstairs at the Dinosaur venue?
A: Scott Sterling is an old influence since he used to run the Lost Horizon 20 years ago, and it is always great to work with him at the Dinosaur. I am glad this show is upstairs so maybe we can be a bit louder, I’ve played solo shows downstairs on the stage by the bar and it is easy to be too loud down there. I am scared of the waitresses beating me up. Those are bad-ass women.
Q: What music has been holding your attention lately?
A: The most recent from Imperial Teen is good, sunny and catchy. Not
bad for a bunch of old-timers. The War On Drugs is awesome. Spacey stuff
like Dungen & Tame Impala. Film School always rings true. I’m
weird, though; I like metal like High On Fire or Motorhead and mellow
stuff like that last Glen Campbell album Ghost On The Canvas (Surfdog Records, 2011) that Rick Rubin produced.
