Leftöver Crack

Leftöver Crack is a band that rose around the year 2000 from the remains of the ska/punk band Choking Victim.

Line-up

Permanent:

Stza — lead vocals, guitar
Ezra Kire — guitar, vocals
Brad Logan — guitar, backing vocals
Alec Baillie — bass, backing vocals

Occasional:

Ara Babajian — drums
Candy — drums
J.P. Otto — drums
Brandon Possible — drums

Leftöver Crack, combined with Choking Victim and two other bands, Morning Glory and INDK, share a total of seven members between them. These seven musicians are collectively referred to as the "Crack Rock Steady Seven" (CRS7). The line-up of Leftover Crack changes fairly often, drawing on members of other New York City punk bands such as The Stockyard Stoics and The X-Possibles. Stza, Baillie, Kire and Logan are the only completely permanent members (though Kire was absent for most of the few 2005 gigs due to a blood infection). Logan, or "Brad Minus" from F-Minus, was not around for Mediocre Generica but was around for the first 7", "Rock the 40oz", and Kire was not around for the first 7".

Influences and history

Leftöver Crack, along with the rest of the CRS7, combines elements of ska, hardcore, crust punk, and death metal. Choking Victim in particular also referred to itself as squat-core, a term that comes from its focus on the lives of abandoned tenement squatters in New York City and writing songs about the poor. In fact, several members of Leftover Crack through the years have lived in a squat (which often served as a venue) located on 9th and C (155 Ave C) known as C-Squat. C-Squat references can be seen and heard on most Crack Rock Steady albums. Examples: "9C Lo-Cash crime family" and a heart with "155" written in it (from Morning Glory liner notes), "9th and C" (as heard in the background of the song "Homeo-Apathy"), and various others.

Leftöver Crack's song "Gay Rude Boys Unite", which seems to borrow some stylistic elements from Operation Ivy, accused the ska scene of being homophobic, and called for the inclusion of all minorities in the struggle for social equality.

Leftöver Crack has been banned from performing in many venues in New York City, such as ABC No Rio, the Knitting Factory, and North 6th. However, they still play at banned venues sometimes, usually under different guises or individually as solo acts.

In November 2004, at "Cracktoberfest", an annual event hosting squat bands and other ska/punk/hardcore bands, the police cut the power towards the end of the show, sparking a riot, complete with police violence, broken windshields, and helicopters. The New York Post's tiny blurb on the event sided with the police, implying that the punks caused the riot and that the police action was appropriate.

The band took an indefinite hiatus after the death of drummer Brandon Possible. Stza spent the interim playing Leftöver Crack and Choking Victims songs by himself at a few solo acoustic shows. Leftöver Crack began touring again in the summer of 2005, including some dates with the Subhumans and The World/Inferno Friendship Society, as well as playing dates in October 2005 in California after the Wasted Fest was cancelled. The so-called Crack Rock Steady 7 also embarked on a small European tour in November; however, this incarnation consisted of only Stza and The Infested, in some cases billed as the "Crack Steady Rockers".

Stza also started a short-lived band called the Star Fucking Hipsterz, the line-up of which included vocalist Kisston from Help Me Help Me I Can't Breathe, guitarist Jamie Toulan from Doomsday Cauldron and Old Skull, and drummer Gigi from Another Dying Democracy. The band started playing shows in the NYC area early in August 2005.

Stza is currently in Mexico, assembling a band (called The Crack Rock Steady Seven Mexico) for a handful of shows. Leftover Crack plan to tour the USA in April and June 2006, and Europe that August. After touring, according to Stza, Leftover Crack plan on recording their follow up to Fuck World Trade. They also recently contributed one song on a 4-way split 7", "Look Who's Talking Now", which was released in March 2006, and also included songs by Morning Glory, F-Minus, and Bent Outta Shape and was limited to 1000 copies. The first 100 included limited edition patches designed by Brad Logan's wife, Kristen, and some included a very limited insert as well.

Selected discography

Shoot the Kids at School Demo, Self Released 2000
"Rock the 40 oz." 7", BANKSHOT! Records, 2000.
Mediocre Generica, Hellcat Records, 2001.
Fuck World Trade, Alternative Tentacles Records, 2004.
Rock the 40 oz: Reloaded, BANKSHOT! Records, 2004.

Splits

Baby Jesus Sliced up in the Manger (as the Crack Rock Steady 7, with F-Minus), Hellbent Records, 2001.
The Kids Are Gonna Pay (with F-Minus, Morning Glory, Bent Outta Shape), Blacknoise Records, 2006.

Compilations

Give 'Em the Boot II, (Crack City Rockers^*) Hellcat Records, 1999.
Punk Rawk Explosion 6, (Nazi White Trash), ?, 2003.
Give 'Em the Boot III, (Atheist Anthem) Hellcat Records, 2002.
Go Kart vs. the Corporate Giant Vol. 3, (Rock The 40oz) Go Kart Records, 2002.
2003 Sampler, (So Ya Wanna Be A Cop) A-F Records, 2003.
Fueling the Flames of Revolution Vol. 3, (One Dead Cop) A-F Records, 2003.
Against Police Injustice,(Operation:MOVE, Super Tuesday^*) Non Commercial, 2003.
Mass Destruction, (Muppet N.A.M.B.L.A) BANKSHOT! Records, 2003.
Riot Ska, (Drug Song, Nobody Is Free) Beer Records, 2004.

Bootlegs

2004: Fuck World Trade (demo)

External links

Crack Rock Steady 7 | Hellcat Records groups | Later punk groups | Punk rock groups

Leftover Crack | Leftöver Crack

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