Led by Cristina Martinez (ably assisted by her faithful sideman/husband Jon Spencer, as ever playing Flavor Flav to Cristina’s Chuck D), Brood X feels less like the work of a group who’ve been on ice for so long, more a slithering and sludgy monster of an album, a boiling pot of hot funk keys, growling punk attack, searing blues breaks and the ground-shaking holler of Martinez.

The 17-year cicadas have re-awoken, and not a moment too soon. New York has changed beyond recognition and there’s a buffoonish villain entering the White House, but Martinez’s towering vocals and vicious, hilarious, emboldening lyrics have never sounded so sharp, nor Boss Hog so timely. Opener ‘Billy’, all brawny low-end and delirious funk organ, finds Cristina and Jon howling about “The brink of destruction!” over apocalyptic beats, while Ground Control, a prismatic vision of today’s Big Apple, includes the bitter observation, “This is the cost of privilege”.

“A lot of Cristina’s lyrics on this album resonate with me more deeply since the election,” nods Spencer. “They’re blues songs, protest songs.”

“The songs do feel oddly relevant now,” Cristina adds.

Ground Control Video Credits:

Directed by Andrew Hooper

Special Thanks: Jim McGrath, Jordan Potch, Kathy Reynolds, Emilie Wheaton, & Jordan Wolfe

The Boss Hog All Stars:

• Cristina Martinez - vocals
• Jon Spencer - guitar & vocals
• Jens Jurgensen - bass
• Hollis Queens - drums & vocals
• Mickey Finn - keys

Tour Dates:

May 19 - Lee's Palace, Toronto ON, w Danny & The Darleans (feat Dan Kroha of The Gories) and Catl.

May 20 - Bar Le Ritz PDB, Montreal QC, w Danny & The Darleans (feat Dan Kroha of The Gories) and Pale Lips.

May 21 - Higher Ground, Burlington VT, w Aspero Saicos (feat members of Rough Francis).

Jun 2 - Cattivo, Pittsburgh PA, w Danny & The Darleans (feat Dan Kroha of The Gories) and The Homisides.

Jun 3 - El Club, Detroit MI, w Danny & The Darleans (feat Dan Kroha of The Gories) and M SORD.

Jun 4 - Do Division Street Festival, Chicago IL, w She Devils, Protomartyr, and many more.

Buy Brood X here

Boss Hog – Brood X Links:

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photo credit: Jeri Lampert