No School like the Old School

Maybe I’ve been texting too much lately, so let me break this down… “Oh My Gosh, Tow Knee Chavez’s Your Favorite Band For the Win”..

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s start breaking it down more, Tow Knee Chavez consists of two members, The Nemesis and Dr. Stryker. The Nemesis, aka Aaron Brassea, is responsible for the “bass, beats, synths, guitar, [and] vocals” according to the band’s Bandcamp page. Dr. Stryker, aka Nathan Stryker, does lead vocals, additional guitars, and drums. With some added vocals by Nathan’s wife, Lisa Stryker, the duo recently laid down the full length album Your Favorite Band, a companion pieces to Aaron’s recent graphic novel, The Ballad of YFB.

While this lineup of two is not conducive to live performance, it didn’t seem to hurt the bands ability to put together a solid product. With 13 tracks in all, the album brings forth visions of bands like Dead Milkmen, The Ramones, and Mojo Nixon. The influences on the album, however, are not limited to pop-punk and cow-punk, but also branch into NYHC, modern metal, and Chuck Berry-era rock and/or roll. Vocal influences from vocalists like Jello Biafra and Gordon Gano seemingly shape Dr. Stryker’s unique delivery. Some songs sound strongly tied to 80’s bands like The Cure and The Smiths, others have a much harsher edge, and (as noted before) the sing-song punk of their base sound occasionally breaks into a hardcore fist pump or a metallic guitar solo.

This ringing endorsement isn’t to say that the album is perfect… in fact, it’s far from it. The album is good, but feels like the beginning era for the talented duo. The music could be tighter at times, the vocals could be improved upon, and some slightly better production would enhance their sound (mind you, sparse production is still key, as the band’s sound needs to continue to have that raw feel that this album does).

This all said… the bottom line on this album is that it’s enjoyable and interesting. Fans of early pop-oriented punk and the music of Pete Doherty and other rockers with an early punk flair will find a ton that they love here. The album also must be lauded for it’s ability to achieve its goal… it is a fantastic companion piece to the graphic novel.

Recommendation: Buy the book and the album… enjoy together.