Personnel: Bob Byrnes, bass; Keith Robbins, drums; Fran Kondorf, guitars; Dave Bergeron, vocals.
Formed: Late 1987, when Bergeron and Lee Pope of the Slammin` Watusis got together to work on some songs and Byrnes joined them in the studio. The band`s first live show came in Milwaukee in December 1988, with Kondorf, Byrnes, Bergeron and someone named J.J. on drums.
Current lineup together since: Late 1989, when Robbins joined.
Sound: ”I would have to say aggressive, rhythmic teenage pop songs,”
Bergeron says.
Influences: Bergeron spins an odd anatomical analogy: ”One hand on Parliament, one hand on Killing Joke, one foot in the penitentiary and the other foot on a banana peel.”
Songwriting: ”It`s just like putting a puzzle together,” Bergeron says. ”Someone will come in with a certain guitar riff or bass riff, and we hammer away until it fits.” Bergeron writes the melodies and lyrics, which are often about ”confrontations,” he says.
Onstage cover versions: ”As a rule we never do covers,” Bergeron says.
”Actually we just did our first one, Iggy Pop`s `Five-Foot One.` ”
Memorable concert experiences: ”One time my pants split open on the second song, causing me to stand still for the entire show, and it was very cold,” Bergeron says. ”Another show I broke my hand punching what I thought was a dropped ceiling.”
Namesake: ”Actually, the name came from not having any money,” Bergeron says. ”That`s the first notion that came through my head: You don`t have Jack, you don`t have scratch. I also came across it in a comic book.”
Recordings: The band likes 7-inch singles. Its debut double 7-inch,
”Candy From a Stranger,” came out last November, and its latest triple 7-inch, ”When Worlds Collide,” came out in August on the band`s Itchy Brother Records. Another single, ”On Your Back”/”Name the Face,” is due out in Belgium in January. All were recorded at Acme Studios with Blaise Barton producing.
Philosophy: ”What are those bumper stickers: `Easy Does It,` `One Day at a Time,` `Church Every Sunday` and `Vote Early, Vote Often`?” Bergeron says. Goals: ”To make it onto a John Hughes soundtrack,” Bergeron says.
Next appearance: Friday at the Avalon.
