Killdozer

Midwestern noise-rock monsters Killdozer grabbed hold of the screaming, gnarled sound created by Australia's Birthday Party and gave it a harrowing, at times hilarious Bible Belt twist. Formed in the early 1980s by brothers Dan and Bill Hobson and guitarist/vocalist Michael Gerard, Killdozer's brand of post-punk was unique thanks to a healthy sense of humor, as well as an odd political vision. While album titles such as INTELLECTUALS ARE THE SHOE SHINE BOYS OF THE RULING ELITE and covers of mundane classic rock songs such as "American Pie" were on one level tongue-in-cheek, they also pointed to what was a genuine critique of traditional American values and blue-collar living. Killdozer underwent several line-up changes and broke up in the late 1990s, but regrouped to play Touch & Go Records' 25th anniversary show.