KOFFIN KATS

The groundwork for what has become the relentlessly touring sonic assault known as The Koffin Kats was laid near Detroit, Michigan when Vic Victor (Lead Vocalist, Upright Bass) joined forces with long-time friend Tommy Koffin (Guitar). After adding Damian Detroit (Drums), the band kicked off in June 2003, stopping for nothing. Now, with over 12 years of touring internationally, over two thousand live shows, and a few lineup changes. The touring trio’s current home is out on the open road.

The Koffin Kats began by putting together songs with such subjects as dealing with the horrors of the real world, as well as Science Fiction. The band started in small local bars playing for beer, hoping for gas money, and eventually made their way out of the Midwest. The next couple of years contained positives; including numerous North American tours, and negatives concerning changes at the drumming position with Damian being replaced by Katch Katcher. During this time they released their first three albums: Koffin Kats (2003), Inhumane (2005), and Straying From The Pack (2006). All on Hairball 8 Records.

The three album releases and their supporting tours gained attention for The Koffin Kats and helped get the band noticed in the wide world of punk and psychobilly.

Eric “E-Ball” Walls was the bands first drummer before being replaced by Damian in the bands beginning months. In 2007 Vic and Tommy re-connected with E-Ball to record the band’s fourth studio album, Drunk In The Daylight (2008), and catalyzed what the band is now known for: love for their fans and the road, and playing everywhere for everyone willing to watch and listen.

In the years following the release of Drunk In The Daylight, The Koffin Kats have established their name performing in Europe, and have also been included on tours with some of the tops acts in psychobilly, including, but not limited to, The Rev. Horton Heat, Mad Sin, Nekromantix, and The Meteors. In 2009 the trio released their fifth studio album, Forever For Hire, and Tommy departed KK at the year’s end. Shortly thereafter, “EZ” Ian Jarrell took over the guitarist position and joined the band on tour. While on the road they worked on the material that would become featured on their split album with fellow psychobilly act 12 Step Rebels, From Our Hands To Yours (2011).

The Koffin Kats signed with Sailor’s Grave Records in late 2011, and released Our Way & The Highway in January 2012. The trio supported their sixth studio album’s release with non-stop international touring, finally ending in summer of 2013. In autumn of the same year, they released another full-length album with Sailor’s Grave Records, Born Of The Motor.

Early 2014 brought another change to The Koffin Kats’ member roster. Ian had left the band to handle personal business at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Not wanting to bring someone too far removed from The Koffin Kats family into the fold, Vic and E-Ball enlisted John Kay (Guitar). John was the engineer on numerous recording sessions for the group, and producer of both Drunk In The Daylight and Born Of The Motor.

New Years day 2016 marked the departure of John Kay. John has since gone on to pursue a career with his own music, as well as sound engineering.

Tommy Koffin has returned from musical hiatus and is now back playing guitar. KK released a track with Tommy called “Cold Blood, Dead Eyes.” The Koffin Kats will be touring the US and Europe in 2016 and have plans to record a new album.

This December, Orange County’s The Last Gang will make their Fat Wreck Chords debut with the two-song 7-inch Sing for your Supper. And while The Last Gang may seem like a new band, their history is rife with chance encounters that led to big breaks. The band originally formed in 2007, with vocalist-guitarist Brenna Red leading the band and playing the king of ‘77 punk that allowed them to tour with the Anti-Nowhere League and Dwayne Peters Gunfight. But in 2012, shortly after drummer Robby Wantland joined, The Last Gang put their guns down and called it a day. Thankfully, that didn’t last long.
Reformed by vocalist-guitarist Brenna Red and drummer Robby Wantland the pair developed the sound that would become The Last Gang, a mix of tough-as-nails punk and bouncing melodies. As they rotated through bass players, the band quickly found themselves being asked to contribute
to the Rancid tribute compilation Hooligan’s United. But due to some email based mishaps, they’d be under a time crunch. “We found out we were gonna be on it the day before the deadline,” says Red. “Long story short, we learned and recorded the song in one day.”
But that one song—and the music video that accompanied it—would be the jumpstart the band needed. Before long, they’d find a permanent bassist in Sean Viele, and The Last Gang would hit the road, a handful of releases, and become a more dominant force than ever before. As the band prepped new material, another chance encounter would give the band an even shot in the
arm, as Wantland ran into producer Cameron Webb (NOFX, Motörhead, Alkaline Trio). Soon, Wantland would find himself in Webb’s studio, playing the esteemed producer some of The Last Gang’s songs. “I played him the demos and he was like, ‘Holy shit. Do you guys have a manager or anything?’ It wasn’t really my intent to con him into liking my band or anything, but it was a dream,” says Wantland.
With their lineup solidified, and a producer on board, The Last Gang went into the studio with Webb to record some songs. And as The Last Gang was just about to head out on a tour of England, minutes before they were up in the air, they got a call from Erin Burkett. “We’re getting ready to go to England, we’re at LAX, and Erin calls us and says she wants to sign us,” says Wantland. It’s the kind of story that you’d expect in a Hollywood movie instead of a punk band’s origin story, but it’s the product of years of hard work and dedication—and
the fact that The Last Gang is a band worth getting excited about.
When Sing for your Supper hits on December 8, that infectious energy will spread all the more once people drop the needle on the 7-inch. More than just a teaser for the 2018 full-length, the two songs serve as a perfect introduction to The Last Gang. The title track—which will also be on their new album—is the kind of palm-muted ripper that made Rancid famous, with a bouncing bass line, a huge hook, and airtight songwriting that’ll get stuck in your head for years to come. And the B-side, which is exclusive to this release, is no less throttling. From the jump, the song whips up a frenzy, shifting directions on a dime but never losing sight of The Last Gang’s pop-indebted ethos. After years of grinding it out, Sing for your Supper is the distillation of The Last Gang’s dedication, passion, and hunger. And for those looking for your new favorite punk band, look no further.

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