Mike Watt keeps on moving. The guy is an unstoppable force for good in the world of punk music. His latest project is called Jumpstarted Plowhards. The band is Watt and guitarist/singer Todd Congelliere (Toys That Kill, F.Y.P, Underground Railroad to Candyland) and various drummers, including George Hurley of Minutemen and fIREHOSE, Patty Schemel (Hole), as well as regular Watt colleagues Jerry Trebotic and Raul Morales of Mike Watt's Missing Men, among others. The racket made on the group's new release, Round One, out now via Recess Records, is unholy and great.
"The Punk Setup" buzzes like old tunes from Minutemen, while "Claws Break Down" is more spindly and discordant. At times here, Jumpstarted Plowhards favor energy over nuance, while at others, like on "On the Counter", the band simply revs things up to 11 and drives over the cliff. Some of this, like "Yea, We're Gonna Learn to Fall", made me think of D.C. legends The Snakes, but Jumpstarted Plowhards are less art-rock and more post-punk, with Watt, as usual, favoring a band who's willing to explore new territory, even as the power of the tracks keeps things in the realm of the familiar and ferocious.
Round One is out now via Recess Records.
More details on Jumpstarted Plowhards via the Facebook page for Recess Records, or via Mike Watt's official website.