To the best of my knowledge, this is the only time that the bassists and drummers of Red Fang and Kunz (also ex-The Ocean) came together to perform in front of an audience as Red Kunz. Of course, their debut EP, Teeth, Hair and Skin, was tracked live, as we learned in the video premiere of the session two weeks ago, but this gig at Le Romandie in Lausanne, Switzerland, seems to be it for live shows for the time being, though the two component bands — Red Fang and Kunz — have several shows lined up for August, and I guess there’s a chance Red Kunz could get some stage time in there as well.

The song in the video is “Four Good Reasons,” third of the four tracks on Teeth, Hair and Skin, which is out Aug. 15 through Hummus Records and Division Records. As you can see, Kunz‘s Louis Jucker and Red Fang‘s Aaron Beam share vocal duties while drummers Luc Hess and John Sherman tear up their drums behind. A catchy, upbeat heavy rock push ensues, interrupted only by a feedback-soaked, noisy bridge, and though the track is under four minutes long, its momentum is undeniable. And the crowd — which had never heard this or anything else Red Kunz played that night back in January — would seem to agree.

Teeth, Hair and Skin is out Aug. 15 through Hummus Records and Division Records. Special thanks to both labels for letting me host this second premiere, and even more thanks to you for checking it out. The only reason I’m able to do things like this is because you take the time to listen/watch. It is hugely appreciated.

Enjoy:

Red Kunz, “Four Good Reasons” Live

Red Kunz is a project that gathers RED FANG (Aaron Beam and John Sherman) and KUNZ (Louis Jucker and Luc Hess – ex-THE OCEAN, COILGUNS).

PRE-ORDER (release date august 15th 2014) visit:

http://hummus-records.com/portfolio/red-kunz/

http://divisionrecords.bigcartel.com/product/red-kunz-red-fang-kunz-teeth-hair-skin-lp

The whole HUMMUS RECORDS catalog is available for free here: http://hummusrecords.bandcamp.com

Not sure whether RED KUNZ will be performing, but RED FANG and KUNZ will play the following shows together:

2014
Aug 1st — Le Ferrailleur, Nantes, France
Aug 3rd — Le Grillen, Colmar, France
Aug 12th — Les Caves du Manoir, Martigny, Suisse
Aug 13th — Les Caves du Manoir, Martigny, Suisse
Aug 15th — Rock Altitude Festival, Le Locle, Suisse

Red Kunz on Thee Facebooks

Kunz website

Red Fang on Thee Facebooks

Hummus Records website

Division Records website

 

In January, bassist/vocalist Aaron Beam and drummer John Sherman of Portland, Oregon, heavy rock forerunners Red Fang flew to Switzerland after appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman. There, they met up with drummer Luc Hess and bassist/baritone guitarist/vocalist Louis Jucker, also known as the duo Kunz and also the rhythm section of The Ocean, to record an album together. Thus emerged Red Kunz.

You can read below the day-by-day breakdown of how it happened over the course of the week, but what’s staggering about the results on their Division Records/Hummus Records debut LP, Teeth, Hair and Skin, is both how fresh the material sound and also how solid and tight Red Kunz are as a band. You’d figure Jucker and Hess would work well together, and Beam and Sherman likewise, but on Teeth, Hair and Skin it’s all four of them. It doesn’t sound like two bass/drum duos jamming out at the same time. It sounds like a four-piece band who’ve been playing together for years.

I think even they must’ve been surprised, since the instrumental tracks they recorded live that you can see in the video below wound up as the final takes for the album, with Beam and Jucker putting their vocals on afterwards. No argument though. With the performances they give here — you’ll note Beam is set up in front of Hess and Jucker in front of Sherman — Red Kunz managed to capture a spontaneity that works exceedingly well with the upbeat bounce of the five songs, “Transatlantic,” “The Beggar,” “Four Good Reasons,” “Prisms” and “Teeth, Hair and Skin,” while still getting a full and clear sound.

Teeth, Hair and Skin is out Aug. 15 through Hummus Records and Division Records. Much more info follows the clip below, including pre-order links, but for now, enjoy the making of Red Kunz‘s debut as it happened:

TEETH, HAIR & SKIN will be released on August 15th.

Red Kunz is a project that gathers RED FANG (Aaron Beam and John Sherman) and KUNZ (Louis Jucker and Luc Hess – ex-THE OCEAN, COILGUNS).

This was shot on wednesday january 15th. Although it was not meant to be, these are the final versions you can find on the record. Vocals were recorded the day after so this is completely instrumental.

Filmed and edited by Camille De Pietro & Nathan Jucker (Le Manoir)

PRE-ORDER (release date august 15th 2014) visit:

http://hummus-records.com/portfolio/red-kunz/

http://divisionrecords.bigcartel.com/product/red-kunz-red-fang-kunz-teeth-hair-skin-lp

The whole HUMMUS RECORDS catalog is available for free here: http://hummusrecords.bandcamp.com

Not sure whether RED KUNZ will be performing, but RED FANG and KUNZ will play the following shows together:

2014
Aug 1st — Le Ferrailleur, Nantes, France
Aug 3rd — Le Grillen, Colmar, France
Aug 12th — Les Caves du Manoir, Martigny, Suisse
Aug 13th — Les Caves du Manoir, Martigny, Suisse
Aug 15th — Rock Altitude Festival, Le Locle, Suisse

Good records sometimes need to go that easy:

Saturday, January 11th 2014 : Aaron Beam and John Sherman “RED FANG” fly to Switzerland straight after the band’s performance at the famous Letterman Show in New York to meet Louis Jucker and Luc Hess “KUNZ” at the airport. The 4 guys drive to Lausanne, straight to the venue LE ROMANDIE, put their two bass amps and drums on stage, then go out for a beer in a funny local cover bands festival.

Sunday 12th, They write 4 songs in the deserted venue and go to sleep.

Monday 13th, a whole crew of video makers, graphic designers and other creative minds set up its camp in the club’s backstage. Mission is to get the most work done within a week.

Tuesday 14th, Everyone is super pumped and party a little too hard.

Wednesday 15th, The band spends the day tracking songs, goes out for a walk, buys a small acoustic guitar in a pawn shop, comes back to the club, plays the tunes again in front of the crew’s cameras and decides to keep these takes as the final ones.

Thursday 16th, Aaron and Louis write vocal lines and lyrics in Jucker’s attic studio. John and Luc drink beers and eat pizzas.

Friday 17th, The whole town is gathered in a packed venue to see the new born RED KUNZ playing their first record : TEETH, HAIR AND SKIN, 20 minutes of raw bass riffing and double drums battles that somehow manage to sound like proper catchy songs. Fact is that they were all conceived and taped within a single and cool week of friendship, beers, and jams.

Red Kunz on Thee Facebooks

Kunz website

Red Fang on Thee Facebooks

Hummus Records website

Division Records website