Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Seminal Chicago indie rock outfit the Jesus Lizard will play its
first shows in 10 years in 2009, while Touch & Go will remaster
and reissue its first four studio albums.
The original lineup of David Yow, Duane Denison, David Wm. Sims and
Mac McNeilly will return to the stage May 9-10 at All Tomorrow's
Parties' the Fans Strike Back in Minehead, England, which will also
feature Devo, Spiritualized, the reunited Sleep and Young Marble
Giants. The group will play "very limited" as-yet-unannounced dates
in the months to follow, concluding with a November show in
Chicago.
Meanwhile, Shellac's Bob Weston and Steve Albini are supervising
the remastering of the albums "Head," "Goat," "Liar" and "Down,"
which will be available on vinyl and CD. Release dates have not yet
been confirmed.
A contemporary of like-minded acts such as Fugazi, Helmet, the
Melvins and Nirvana, the Jesus Lizard is revered for its visceral
noise-rock attack, driven by Yow's unhinged persona.
After splitting with Touch & Go in 1995, the band jumped to a
major-label, Capitol, and released two more albums that sold
appreciably less than its prior efforts. Its last show was in late
March 1999.