THE HOUSTON EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC SCENE
BY: ANTHONY MAKTE.

One might not expect for a city in the cowboy state of Texas to have an explosive group of experimental musicians. This is true in the "Space City", Houston. I was oblivious to this "scene" until I learned more by reading, and by way of friends.

In the 80s/early 90s, The experimental music scene brought forth groups like Culturcide, Pain Teens, Turmoil in the Toybox, Rusted Shut, Esoterica Landscapes 7, Jesus Penis, Ustad Oni, and more.

Pain Teens also had a brief spin-off project, Fortunes of Vice(which was far more experimental than the band). Pain Teens were a combination of punk, psychedelic, industrial rock. Also, somewhat grouped here would be Rusted Shut. A bit of metal, rock, and noise. Pain Teens broke up. Scott formed Walking Timebombs, as well as, performing with Truth Decay. Rusted Shut is more noisy and still exists.

Turmoil in the Toybox made a name for themselves with their notorious live presentations: causing a disturbance in Beaumont, TX(home of the hicks), black mass, simulated abortions, and at times disturbing visuals. The music was a whirlwind of sonic psychedelic experimentations. Almost trance-like without being ambient. After several compilation appearances, a tape release, and a 7inch, the band split around 1996. Out of the ashes came, the noise project, Concrete Violin(fronted by Austin Caustic). Rotten Piece were a spin-off from Turmoil in the Toybox, but had existed prior to their demise. Rotten Piece has released many CDs and tapes, as well as, a 7inch record from their own label, Lazy Squid Rekkids. Carol Kelly (from Rotten Piece) also has a solo project called, Zahava.

Jesus Penis fronted by Jim Leggitt is somewhat of a mystery to many. Jim founded the label, The Bureaucracy of Hope, and released two CD compilations. However, Jesus Penis releases were few and far between. At this point, we are unsure of their existence any longer. Cyclops Joint was a project started by a former Jesus Penis member, John Kennedy. Cyclops Joint's sound ranged from static noise to rhythmic horror soundtrack. John also worked with Don Avera in this project. Mortal Engines later was formed.

Pleasure Center seemed like the American version of Nurse with Wound. Featuring ex-EL7 member, Tim Sternat, Pleasure Center had various members but was alway fronted by Sternat. Sternat was also responsible for the "Manifestation" CD compilations on his label, Awefull Records. Bill Kelley(a former part-time member)also worked solo and peformed with the now defunct, Chemical Wedding.

Also, after EL7's breakup, Voice of Eye was formed by Jim Wilson and Bonnie McNairn. Voice of Eye was more tribal ambient drone music than the harsh rawness of the other Houston acts. Another act that was in the vein of Voice of Eye was Terminus. Terminus was a duo Pamela Passmore and Ure Thrall. Ure also did solo work, and work with the projects Nocturne, AsiaNova, and others.

Houston had a brief encounter with such acts Dennis Sinned, Surgical II L's, Magnetic Church, Powdered Beatles, Eye Irritant, e.coli, LMPK, Threshold of Sleep, Bill Skins Fifth, Meatyard, Coathanger Abortions, Festula Mucosus, Depress, Scrotal Termites, Brain Tea, Static Ecstasy, Autopsy Experiment, Insect Libido Band, Ninth Massacre, Yohimbi Orchestra, White Wall, Limacon, Helmet Yard, The Black Gestapo, S.I.N., and Gun Kick.

Ustad Oni had a more electronic sound, short of power electronics. Ustad Oni also ran a label, J.S.L. which released work by Jesus Penis, Surgical II L's, Magnetic Church, Cyclops Joint, and others.

Black Leather Jesus came into the picture in Summer 1990. Black Leather Jesus fronted by Richard Ramirez, was one of the first extreme harsh noise band from this city. Ramirez also started his own label called, Deadline Recordings which catered to this genre. Black Leather Jesus also had its members doing side projects. Randi Shrum-Houston worked with Bill Skins Fifth. Scott Houston did My Blood. Future/former members of this band went on to do solo work under the names Engineering Entropy, Thee Know, Research 4, VFF, Alpha Jerk, Slave Labor, David Gilden, Fetus Furs, & S.H.A.F.T. Today, BLJ still exists with current members: Richard Ramirez, Kevin Novak, & Jovan Hernandez. Novak also works under the project, T.E.F. Hernandez works under the name, ze'r0-sum. T.E.F. remains harsh noise, while ze'r0-sum is more ambient with classical influences. Ramirez also works solo under his own name, as well as, with the project, Priest in Shit. Ramirez also worked with countless collaborations, too many to name.

David Gilden might be considered the "bad boy" of this scene. With his drug-induced noise mayhem, Gilden unleashes some brutal sounds in the vein of Ramirez. However, they each can hold their own. Gilden has released a few tapes, used to work with a band, Bondage Harvest, and has appeared on several compilations. It is unknown if he is still producing work.

Clawback. A band that used to be very experimental, and were involved with Eye Irritant. They seem like they wanted to become the next Skinny Puppy, but that genre died by the mid 90s. So did Clawback.

Rusted Shut has spawned two experimental/noise projects: Dethkraut and A Pink Cloud. APC has a hint of power electronics in his sound. Dethkraut is more grinding noise.

Another off shoot of Turmoil in the Toybox are Infant Mortality Rate and Xenophora(which might have broken up). Infant Mortality Rate blends tape cut-ups with loops and sonic creations. Infant Mortality Rate has released a tape and a few CDs. I'm told Infant Mortality Rate has a side project called, Frybrain.

The next generation of Houston artists might just be ze'r0-sum, Crawling Iris, Agns, a Pink Cloud, The Search Party(ex-member from Threshold of Sleep), Gerritt, The Last Bastions, Astrogenic Hallucinauting, P.A.D., In the Land of Archers, The Halo Effect, and others. I can't wait to see what develops in the Space City.

Anthony Makte (special thanks to: Jon Spore, Michael Treich, and Richard Ramirez for their assistance).