Crimpshrine: Demo (1987)

The second figure in the early Lookout Records trinity (Op Ivy HERE, Isocracy to come) is surely Crimpshrine. Drummer Aron Cometbus looms large over the entire Bay Area scene, not only for his role in Crimpshrine, Pinhead Gunpowder et al but also for the scene-defining zine, Cometbus and for having a style of printing that is one of the key visual traits of the era. Melodic growler Jeff Ott (later of Fifteen) also influenced a generation of punk singers.

Here's a 1987 demo that shows all the band's elements coming together, a reminder of just how great the band wold be. For the uninitiated, The Sound of a New World Being Born (which collects up the band's earliest work) is the best point of entry*.





*Upon further inspection (Amazon, Interpunk and iTunes), all Crimpshrine material is completely out-of-print, so enjoy this till that wrong gets righted!