Even as the pandemic keeps many bands offstage, that hasn’t stopped the spirit of collaboration within the jam scene. During the most recent episode of Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast, Aqueous guitarist “Uncle” Mike “Muerto” Gantzer announced his latest collaboration with Ryan “Little King” Stasik (Umphrey’s McGee), featuring Mikey “Ox” Carubba (Turkuaz), called Death Kings.
Ahead of Frasco’s interview with skateboarding icon Tony Hawk, Gantzer took a moment to introduce listeners to Death Kings. Described by Gantzer as a “punk trio,” the timing of Death Kings’ debut was no accident as the Aqueous guitarist noted that “all the music on [Hawk’s] video games, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, is the music that most influenced this project.” Additionally, Gantzer is himself a lifelong skateboarder who said that “watching [Hawk] land the 900 live on TV was like the same thing as watching the fucking moon landing.”
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With that, Gantzer introduced the world to Death Kings with the band’s debut single, “Fight”. As the title may indicate, the song is floored with the very skate-punk energy that Gantzer described. Gantzer and Stasik have also collaborated to form the power trio Dookie alongside UM drummer Kris Myers, with whom they pay tribute to Green Day. Death Kings definitely embodies some of that same energy of 90s punk, while giving this all-star cast of musicians a chance to write some original music.
Listen to “Fight”, the first-ever single from Death Kings, in episode 116 of Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast. The song begins at 11:10.
Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast – Ep. 116: Tony Hawk
[H/TÂ JamBase]