With Rocket From The Crypt and Hot Snakes now defunct, principal member John Reis has transitioned into a new band, the Night Marchers. The group’s debut, “See You in Magic,” is due April 22 on Reis’ own Swami label through Vagrant.
“Even after Rocket From The Crypt and Hot Snakes ran their course, I knew I didn’t want to stop playing music,” Reis tells Billboard.com. “I like collaborating, and I wanted to be part of a band. I wasn’t interested in becoming a bedroom artist. I also love to play in front of people.”
Reis is joined in the new band by ex-Hot Snakes cohorts Gar Wood and Jason Kourkounis, plus CPC Gangbang’s Tommy Kitsos. “The album got pushed back because we had trouble coordinating the artwork; even the band photo was hard to schedule because one of our members lives in Philly,” Reis says.
To accommodate the distance, the band recorded “Magic” over the course of four days in a studio. “Most of the demos were sent through the mail, the old-fashioned way,” jokes Reis. “The 4-track was definitely getting a workout.”
Look for the Night Marchers at South by Southwest in mid-March and on a late-spring tour. Meanwhile, a DVD of Rocket From the Crypt’s final live performance, recorded at San Diego’s Westin Hotel Ballroom on Halloween 2005, is due Feb. 26 via Vagrant.
Here is the track list for “See You in Magic”:
“Closed for Inventory”
“In Dead Sleep (I Snore ZZZZ)”
“I Wanna Deadbeat You”
“Jump in the Fire”
“Branded”
“Who’s Lady R U?”
“You’ve Got Nerve”
“Open Your Legs”
“Bad Bloods”
“And I Keep Holding On”
“Total Bloodbath”
“Panther in Crime”
“We’re Goin’ Down”
