THE GREAT UNWASHED
Reviews
Ben Johnson, Staten Island Advance, 8.09.2007, on our first record: "The Great Unwashed" by The Great Unwashed (Self-released on What's a Fegarsky Records)"This unsigned S.I. quartet (MySpace.com/thegreatunclean) is barely able to contain its musical energy on its first record, constantly boiling over with explosive riffs and bombastic drum fills. For musicians, it's the kind of punk-inspired math rock that is constantly shape-shifting and interesting. For the average listener, it ranges from satisfyingly muscular to confusing, since tightness and complexity only go so far. Beyond the dizzying licks of Sean Kuhl and Chris Colton, the powerful and precise drumming of Scott Jacobi and the well-constructed bass lines of Anthony Scuderi, the best parts of this record arise when these four capable musicians play as a band -- as a unit -- allowing the tendency to keep themselves interested to be eclipsed by real hooks, and having the courage to stay and explore the band's simpler moments. The swinging chorus at the end of "Villa Victoria," where a powerful jam is repeated under actual singing and even harmony, or the beginning of "Untitled 1," are those kinds of moments, and the band's songs would benefit from more of them. Nonetheless, it's a powerful debut from a local band, and once they hone their sound, The Great Unwashed will be a force to be reckoned with."
Ben Johnson, Staten Island Advance, 5.17.2007, on both the previous and upcoming TGU show @ Martini Red: "The Great Unwashed played a recent show at Martini Red that was so loud and relentless, it's a surprise the Hot Fuzz didn't come and break up the party. But what are you supposed to do when your mixed-meter rock and scream-singing is conducive to the raw power of a wall of sound? Turn down? Yeah, right.
Saturday, the band's going to press its luck with another show, joined by local hard-rocking outfits Farewell Division and The Ghost Armada. With the help of Martini's resident music-masher DJ Dave Elliott, it should be another solid chance to exercise your music trivia knowledge, get some use out of your ear plugs and feed that insatiable appetite for blistering rock 'n' roll. Great Unwashed guitarist Sean Kuhl says the band's got some free demos to hand out as well.
Free show and free demos? Now all you need to do is try and sweet talk the bartender into some free drinks. Good luck with that one."
Ben Johnson, Staten Island Advance, 10.26.2006, on not being worried about being cool: "Judging from their name, neither do The Great Unwashed, unless you know that they're referencing the potentially revolutionary working class masses. Revolutionary is cool, right?
Rehearsing in Staten Island and tracking their tunes in New Jersey, The Great Unwashed describe themselves as some sort of orgy involving At the Drive-In, Fugazi, Nirvana, Husker Du, Bloc Party, Television and some dirty jazz musicians.
Kind of gross when you think about it, but it sounds pretty damn good, so the young bed-heads in The Great Unwashed are allowed to name drop. Their technical, energetic rock plays with time signatures like it's no big whoop, giving nods to math rock without getting too geek-ish."