El Wimpo!
Home Button News Button Shows Button Story Button Pictures Button Buy Button Buy Button Links Button Message Board Button
News Filler

News, reviews & gossip

 

>> Reviews

>>March 2005
www.shreddingradio.com
Jabbers - "American Standard” CD
Jonesing for pottymouthed garage raunch inna GG Allin stylee? Look no further than this mob, former backup band to the undearly departed reprobate GG hisself. Supercharged, fueled on nitro, too much cheap beer and Jagermeister, this is a slab of punkrock palaver that just can't keep it in its pants. Good guest spots on here from Jeff Dahl and Joe of the Queers only up the ante. MLH

>>February 2005
Diggingfordirt.com
Written by Jimmy Reject  
In 1978 (or thereabouts) future scum fuck rock star G.G. Allin got together with his gang of fellow N.H. miscreants and recorded an album ("Always, Was, Is and Always Shall Be") that was a rare success in its confluence of Ramonesy guitars, blistering leads and astral choruses sung by the then unspoiled voice of the Mad Man of Manchester. It was perhaps a moment of punk rock glory never to be matched.


Well those miscreants have recently gotten back together sans the dead GG, and while this certainly doesn’t come close to capturing the catchy punk perfection of the first full length, it’s not without its own base, snotty charm. The playing here is nothing like that of "Always Shall Be", I really can’t stress that enough. The song structures are way dumbed down and the guitar is muddier. But for those fond of the primitive ire of 80’s punk, this is a sure bet for you. Hints of 1st EP era Queers (Joe Queer sings on a bonus track), Angry Samoans (Jeff Dahl sings on bonus track "High on Drugs", more on that later), and Antiseen (Jeff Clayton sings on a cover of the band’s old song "Nuke Attack") can be found here, and with lyrics that range from the silly to the profane, this should bring memories of snot flinging, skate punk tomfoolery to you older readers.


Album’s best song: "High on Drugs." You couldn’t pick a better singer for this than Jeff Dahl, since this mines the band’s proto punk roots for all their worth. With great, simple lyrics like "You’re the pusher/ I’m the whore" this hits the nail right between the Stooges first LP and early 70’s, speed fag, solo Lou Reed. Perhaps this is the definition of glam punk right here, and not Motley Crue or American Heartbreak, great though they are. It’s so faggy and druggie. The lyrics read like a jonesing queen ready to shoot up rivers of high price glamour into his veins, while the dead simple beat nails it to the ground, keeping root in a mood as earthly as the most listless indulgences of an every day kid fucking off his parent’s basement. While hardly the fastest or most political song ever done, it’s certainly one of the punkest. I’m intrigued by it.


So you’re probably guessing that I think "High on Drugs" makes this worth the price of admission alone, and perhaps you’re right. If you come to this CD expecting a sequel to the first one, you’re setting your sights way too fucking high. But for some basic punk carousal, this is you’re cup of tea.

>> january 2005
Uncle Dan's House Of Smut
- Best 10 CDs of 2004:
# 6. THE JABBERS -"American Standard"
GG Allin's guys back after 20 years to show everyone how punk rock is really done. Wimpy from Queers/Tunnel Rats is a great replacement on vox, and the Jeff Dahl fronted bonus track is drippin' with swagger. Amazing listen.

 

>> November 2004
Uncle Dan's House Of Smut
Most renowned for having had the late GG Allin as their frontman, the Jabbers are back making music after a twenty year absence. The punk rock landscape has changed a great deal over those two decades but you'd never know it listening to their new album American Standard. In a time where any semblance of authenticity in this kind of music seems on the verge of extinction, the Jabbers come through with the real deal. The result is a platter which is at once triumphant comeback, tasteful throwback, and magnificent modern masterpiece.

Soundwise, the Jabbers have made a slight shift from their glory days. American Standard occupies a sonic slot just between their classic Always Was, Is, And Always Shall Be album and GG's efforts after he became master of the doo doo shotput. This alchemy produces a slightly scummed out take on the early punk rock style they're best known for. It's a cool platform without any other direct reference point and should appeal to both old Jabbers fans and those who continued to follow GG after he struck out on his own.

From a songwriting standpoint, American Standard is a real jaw dropper--completely without flaw. "Vampire Girlfriend" should click well with fans of the New Bomb Turks' best work, while the Jabbers approximate a scummified New York Dolls on "Gone Insane." The vintage vibe really hits on "Redneck Zombie" which structurally recalls a great deal of 60's garage rock. Still, this album is definitely pointed in the scum punk direction and "C*nt Sandwich" proves a new rallying anthem for the form. It should be noted that former Queers/Tunnel Rats dude Wimpy does a superb job as the new Jabbers vocalist--no one is going to be disappointed in this reworked lineup. That said, American Standard also boasts a trio of bonus tracks with guest vocalists--the short and sweet "Hang You High" with Joe Queer front and center, "Nuke Attack" featuring the clearest recording ever of head ANTiSEEEN heel Jeff Clayton's voice, and the incredible Jeff Dahl fronted pure rock n' roll of "High On Drugs." As killer as they all are, these nice excursions don't hold a candle to the actual album--high praise that has certainly been earned.


Ultimately, American Standard is one of the best albums of this year, or any other for that matter. Crucial stuff.
Uncle Dan's House Of Smut

 


Razorcake #23
Wow, I wasn't expecting much from the band I'll venture to guess is the same band that once backed GG Allin, but this was pretty good. It's interesting to note that at least two members of the Queers (Wimpy and Joe both contribute vocals) are on this , 'cause there's a definite "I'm Useless"-era feel to many of the tunes here, which fit in nicely with the post-Iggy scum punk vibe of the remaining tracks. Also contributing vocals to a couple of tunes are Jeff Clayton and Jeff Dahl. Surprisingly good.
Jimmy Alvarado,

 

Time 2 Rock and Roll
http://www.x2rr.co
The Jabbers – American Standard
Steel Cage Records
GG Allin’s ex band-mates have reformed with Wimpy (of Queers fame) on lead vocals.  Fine record from some real glorified sleazy mortherfuckers at the reigns.  This incarnation sounds more like the first Queers (pre-bubblegum) recordings than it does the Jabbers (in all of their proto punk wisdom) of old.  That having been said, this is waaaayyyy better than 99% of reformed bands releases out there.  Cameos by Joe Queer, rock legend Jeff Dahl, and Jeff Antiseen.  Includes a take on GG and the Jabbers seminal classic, “Don’t Talk to Me”. 
MG


Toxic
This is the first Jabbers studio record in a good while and it features new singer Wimpy Rutherford from The Queers/Tunnel Rats. The Jabbers are better known to GG Allin fans, but fans of total old school punk with that early '80s to even '70s feel of just sick and fast, out of control punk mayhem. The evil as fuck punk of the Jabbers have the same dangerous feel as The Dwarves, GG Allin and DayGlo Abortions to the punk of The Queers, Ramones, Fear, ANTiSEEN, The Germs, Dead Boys and Angry Samoans. The lewd, fast, out of control wildness of this band is what got me into punk; totally old school from hell. The Jabbers will give you some sick boy punk full of raw bloodshed anthems full of what created the scene. This is just excellent punk that's still raw. The record features such guest performers as Jeff Dahl, Joe Queer and Jeff Clayton. Destroy it all punk rock.
Billy Whitfield, Toxic

 

Shit Mate! Here's a blah review from some Aussies!
I-95 Bar (Australia)

AMERICAN STANDARD - The Jabbers (Steel Cage)
If The Jabbers were a car they'd be a battered F-100: Full of dents, looking like shit but still ticking over after having the crap flogged out of them on dirt roads for a week of Sundays. They certainly wouldn't be a shiny Pajero or Range Rover, and they wouldn't be within a bull's roar of an Audi or Jaguar dealership. Unfashionable? Yep.


That's why you have to give GG Allin's former band a measure of respect for still fronting up to the mark and doing what they do. And what that would be is fairly rote, mid-tempo punk rock. Unadorned and not pretty, but it does the job, to a certain extent.

(Long history of the band removed by us)

It's 20 years later and the newest Jabber recruit is singer Wimpy (ex-The Queers). He belts it out on 13 of the 16 tunes here, with guests Joe Queer ("Hang You High"), Jeff Dahl ("High on Drugs") and Jeff Clayton ("Nuke Attack") bringing up the rear. Most of the songs are written by the guitarists (Ron Basso and Chris Lamy).


Basso's leadwork provides some highlights, but there's a shortage of memorable material that stops this album getting out of second gear. That, and the apparent absence of irony. I mean, can you really sing songs like "Cock Magnet" or "Cunt Sandwich" and not grin? Grizzled veterans they might be but over the course of an album, The Jabbers don't come up with many new tricks. This will work for some, but you can colour me grey.

 

Garbage Dump (Italy)
Oct 24, 2004
THE JABBERS
"American Standard" (Steel Cage Records) CD


Wow, I have been waiting so long for this record, and finally it's here!! THE JABBERS are one of New Hampshire's hidden secrets, and they are nothing more than GG ALLIN first band ever if we don't consider MALPRACTICE. Yes, the same band that delivered one of the best punk albums ever, "Always Was, is and Always Shall Be"... are you shakin' right? You will be shakin' again once this CD will be spinning into your stereo.

THE JABBERS play punk rawk as they never left off for 20 years, they play simple and raw and their sound is so similar to the original seminal american punk bands you would never notice any difference.

Wimpy Rutherford from THE QUEERS and THE TUNNEL RATS is serving vocal duty and I can tell you GG will not spin in his grave: Wimpy is raw, melodic and tight at the same time. 13 great songs including three bonus tracks were the JABBERS team up with punk icons Joe Queer, Jeff Dahl and Jeff Clayton providing vocals. The only weak point in my opinion is THE STOOGES' cover of "I wanna be your dog". I understand the boys can be so influenced by this band, but I would have loved to hear something more original, if not another new track. Top notch punk rock to get at all costs, believe me!!
Garbage Dump

 

Portsmouth Herald
Oct 14, 2004
The Jabbers,
American Standard
(Steel Cage Records)
By Eric Saeger

Hate-filled speed-punk with lyrics more vile than Snoop’s wildest dreams projectile-vomited by some of GG Allin’s former band (in)mates, delinquents who were doing punk while Green Day were in diapers. GG fans may miss the on-stage bodily fluid relief but the monstrous verbal gross-outs live on. The wounded-moose beer-breath vocals of "I’m A Mess" made me laugh so hard the neighbors called for a SWAT team. Some things just won’t go away, and let’s hope that keeps applying here.

 

DiscSpace
Oct 07, 2004
By Johnny Angel

THE JABBERS
American Standard | SteelCage Records

This is a complete miracle. These grizzled Northern New Englanders were backup band to the notorious and late GG Allin 20 years ago and, with that in mind, one would expect the worst kind of easily ignored musical travesty. Instead, we get crunchy ‘60s garage plus vintage 1977 punk topped by former Queers’ vocalist Wimpy Rutherford, recorded strictly low-fi and, as such, a total relief, given what these guys’ kids (or grandkids at this point) probably would sound like.


Disregarding the unneeded and overdone “I Wanna Be Your Dog” cover, the balance is smoking, crude and vile, and unceasingly catchy and funny too. “Porno Stars and Muscle Cars” and “Hang You High” sport perfect sing-alongs, the cover of Bob McKenzie’s classic “Don’t Talk to Me” sounds like the Nuggets tribute it was intended to be, and Rob Basso’s psychedelic guitar blare lends real color to the three-chord drone. Plus, special guest “singer” Zola Santiago’s sweet asides take some off the edge off for comic relief and (hard to believe this) melody.


Punk bands of today are clean, they whine, and they’re pro-tooled as heavily as Britney Spears. This is the dirty, roaring, raucous opposite. I love it. (JA)

 

SLEAZEGRINDER
Sept 30, 2004

Y'know, it's funny, the Jabbers have got to be the LEAST likely gang of aging scuzz punks to still be alive and kicking, but here they are, in all their craggy, sour-puss glory.

As you probably already know, the Jabbers were GG Allin's back-up band in the late 70's, right before he werewolfed into the psychotic drug-rape shit eater you knew and loathed so well. Back then, they plied a primitive-but-tuneful sorta proto-punk, as evidenced by rollicking snot rockers like "Beat Beat Beat", "Automatic", and the pop-funky "Cheri Love Affair", from their 1980 album, Was, Is, and Always Shall Be. Then GG went quite mad, and the band dissolved. Now, 20 years later, after a spate of raucous reunion/GG tribute gigs, the original Jabbers – all of 'em- follow up their seminal punk rock mess-terpiece with a contemporary sounding clutch of nasty-ass punk n' roll songs. Vox are handled by Queers-man Wimpy (with guest spots from Jeff Dahl, Joe Queer, and Antiseener Jeff Clayton on "bonus" tracks), but the rockin' and shockin' is pure Jabberish.

In light of their GG connection, the fellas push a lot further in the gross-out direction then they did when Geej actually WAS in the band, so prepare yrself for middle-aged gutbuckets cranking out sleazebag stuff like "Cock Magnet" and "Cunt Sandwich". On the classier side, there’s a redux of the ‘ol Jabbers classic "Don’t Talk to Me", which sounds, strangely, like "Gloria" now, but rocks like crazy anyway. The haulin' ass trucker-punk of "Porno Stars and Muscle Cars" is pretty fuckin’ boss, too. I coulda done without the umpteenth punk-fuck rehash of "I Wanna Be Your Dog", but you, know, you can't tell a Jabber what to do.

Certainly, GG hisself woulda been proud of these salty old fuckers, and if yer in the mood for some raunchy, paunch old-skull sleaze punk, the Jabbers'll be more then happy to stuff yr ears full of the stuff.
Sleazegrinder

 

 

 

February 2004

>> 02.22.04: Chris and Wimpy's interview with Italy's Garbage Dump magazine is posted here.

>> 02.12.04: Ed Flynn of WPKN in New Haven CT does a 15 minute phone interview with Chris about the upcoming show at Rudy's... and what it means to be a signed band. If we get a copy we will post it here.

>> 02.04.04: Rolling Stone does a piece on a new GG documentary.

>> 02.02.04: California's Orange County Weekly does a bit on "Punk Rock Karaoke" and of course, GG Allin & The Jabbers are mentioned.

>> 02.01.04: February...It's the month three of the five Jabbers grow another year older and wiser. It is also the month the record labels says we either finish up our f'ing CD or get our ass kicked. We have decided to finish and will not be playing any shows this month. We will also be ordering new merch and new guitar picks this month. Here is a little know fact...we get our custom guitar picks from the same place as Ted Nugent and the blonde guy from STYX. yup... no shit.

January 2004

>> 01.30.04: Chris and Wimpy are interviewed by a bunch of European magaines. We'll post the interviews as we get 'em. so that you can read what we had to say about Merle and the other Jabbers behind their backs.

>> 01.24.04: The Jabbers play Philly. Killer show with a killer crowd. Thanks to everyone who went and to all the fans that traveled from New England to attend. If anybody bothers to review the show, will post it. BTW, Chris, Mike, Rob, and Wimpy really did have a great time. Alan, had a bad time because his Philly Cheese Steak had, honest to God, two onion bits on it, though he distinctly "asked for it with NO onions".

>> 01.11.04: From the Philadelphia City paper... We couldn't have said it better ourselves..."The Jabbers Jan. 24, with ANTiSEEN, The Bad Vibes and The Dead Kings, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888. Do you remember when punk was dangerous? G.G. Allin's old bandmates do. That's why they've enlisted Wimpy (of hardcore idiots The Queers) to sing lead for them in this sort-of reunion tour. Let's see what goes down when the shit hits the fans.

Heh-heh. Heh. What made this double enjoyable for us was the fact that on the same page they were touting Sting and Elton John shows.

December 2003

>> 12.27.03: Mass Movement: Gospel X... Hey, it is the title of a coffee table book..from the Olde Country (Merry olde England, ya dumb punk). Chris has been asked to submit an entry for this book which is going to be a "gospel for the generation x'er"... Because, brothers and sisters, it's time to testify. Religions rise and religions fall, but one thing is definite, there has never been a religion for the common man, and there never will be, so it's time to rewrite"The Gospel" for Generation X, the slackers and for those of us for whom the idea or notion of religion and omnipotence have no bearing whatsoever. It is time to produce a guide to everyday "life", with commandments and lessons laid down for posterity.

Who the hell knows when it is coming out. We sure as crap don't.

>> 12.22.03: The new Fat City Magazine is out with a great piece on the 10th Anniversary shows. Also in the new issue, Chris does a guest bit for their "Worst Sing of All Time" piece. You'll have to buy the mag to find out what the song is. Okay, screw it... he chose "Funky Man" by Dee Dee (Ramone) King.... "It would have been to easy to pick a Bob Seger or Styx song... Funky Man was just too disappointing" he said.

>> 12.06.03: Ahh... The Blizzard or '03. Our Rudy's show is canceled and is to be rescheduled for February or March 04.

>> 12.03.03: Rob is Interviewed for a special GG Allin & The Jabbers edition of "Sonic Space" on WPKN out of Bridgeport CT. Their signal doesn't carry this far so we have no way of knowing what Rob said about the rest of us.

November 2003

>> 11.24.03: The Wire (Portsmouth NH weekly) ran a full page on the Jabbers as a sort of transcript of selected portions of the NHPR interview.

>> 11.22.03: Maximum Rock N Roll's Bruce Roerhs does a piece on our Vegas Show. Read it here, fella.

>> 11.13.03: The Portsmouth Herald did a bit on the Jabbers. The best line in the piece, you ask? Here it is..."An old fan at a Boston gig told us that seeing us was the first beer she had in five years," Wimpy states, with a droll smile. "It’s because we spit it on her." Read the entire piece here.

>> 11.12.03: The New Hampshire Public Radio audio interview with Alan and Chris is posted on NHPR's site. Ahhh... the beauty of New Hampshire... Surprisingly, those two didn't say anything too stupid. NHPR does edit most of the embarrassing groupie stuff.

>> 11.10.03: The very few Las Vegas photos we have are posted in the Pictures section. Yup, that's blood on the little fella's forehead.

>> 11.07.03: Alan & Chris do the New Hampshire Public Radio "Front Porch" interview. They only get water to drink during the interview, which they feel "threw them" creatively. It will air Wednesday the 12th on you local NHPR station. You can also listen online to an archived version here after the broadcast date.

>> 11.03.03: John Clayton of The Manchester Union Leader (and NH Cross Roads) does a small bit on the upcoming Manchester show. You can read it here. He did a real good bit aunt 10th anniversary show as well.

October 2003

>> 10.27.03:The Jabbers sign with Steel Cage Records. Look for our full length CD in the spring of 2004.

>> 10.25.03: Reviewer Magazine out of San Diego does a brief review of our promo-only Badass CD EP. They like it. Read what they had to say here. In the same issue they pan the video of us and the Murder Junkies at the Middle East. Read that review here. It is actually more of a story about the show and the GG phenomenon. It is still pretty cool.

>> 10.24.03: Chris and Alan have been asked to appear on New Hampshire Public Radio's show "The Front Porch"... The Front Porch for those of you out of state, is kind of a NH lifestyles type of interview show about "the people who make NH and interesting place to work, live, and visit" (or something like that!). It is a half hour long and done by a guy named John Walters... who does know a ton about music and who has also interviewed our friend Joe Queer for a show about The Queers. Check back here for an air date and an archived link to The Jabbers broadcast.

>> 10.20.03: A possible record deal... or two... or three... More info when final but it does appear we have a few labels interested.

>> 10.05.03: Las Vegas COS Super Show review. There have been a few reviews of the shows in print, but this is one of the few digital ones forwarded to us.

>> 10.03.03: Wimpy Drives Through Vegas... actually Harlan from the Tunnel Rats did the driving on our day off in Vegas (on a switchblade hunt). The show was a gas. Folks from Europe, Canada and all over the US flew, drove, or hitchhiked in for the show. Wimpy bled and Chris heaved a mic stand into the crowd. We did a lot of drinking and sitting by the pool doing interviews in our spare time. Wimpy learned to play Black Jack and only got yelled at a couple times by the dealer for using two hands to look at his cards and for saying "hit me". Of course any news about our show there was over shadowed by the Roy Horn tiger attack, which is why you no doubt heard nothing about how good we were.

September 2003

>> 09.20.03: The DVD's legal paperwork is finally done. Look for the Jabbers and The Murder Junkies sets from the 10th Anniversary of GG's Death show at the Littleton Opera House. Merle had some bonus GG footage tossed on there ta' boot.

>> 09.10.03: The Boston Groupie News review, with some pictures too, of the Return to the Scene of the Crime show at TT the Bear's.

August 2003

>> 08.30.03: Middle East "Return to the Scene of the Crime" Show featuring The Jabbers & The Queers.

>> 08.20.03: Boston fanzine FNS does a piece on the 10th Anniversary show. Sorry for the quality, it is from a scan we were sent... see it here

July 2003

>> 07.07.03: Official Boston Groupie News coverage of the 10th Anniversary of GG's Death show at the Middle East, by cub reporter Miss Lyn.

June 2003

>> 06.30.03: The Caledonian Record of St. Johnsbury VT reports "all's well that ends well and that it was all blown out of proportion".

>> 06.27.03: NHPR reports "Police Brace for GG Allin Anniversary" Hear the streaming audio report here (this is going to take you to NHPR's site).

>>0 6.27.03: Hey! Some more intelligent pre-show coverage of the 10th Anniversary show from the Boston Phoenix.

>>0 6.27.03: Intelligent coverage of the 10th Anniversary hullabaloo by a guy who remembers GG... The Manchester Union Leader's John Clayton. Here ya' go!

>> 06.17.03: The Littleton Courier story which mentioned digging up GG and hiding his body for the weekend! This one is good. Real good.

>> 06.17.03: The Caledonian Record of St. Johnsbury VT pre-show hysteria.

Rob Basso AlboJeff Dahl and Chris LamyPool Side in Sin Citycock e.s.p.Wimp at TT'sTempest and the JabbersmikeJabbers!fans crush stageAlan & Mike!

[Home] [News] [Shows] [Story] [Pics] [Buy] [Links] [Contact]