JON SPENCER and Black Mekon

Arising out of the ashes of the garage rock act Pussy Galore, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion took shape in the early 1990s, initially creating early demos awash with chaotic noise. Their unpredictable, improvisatory feel outshone the poorly mixed recordings, alluding to the band’s future potential. With their 1992 self-titled effort and their following “Crypt Style” release, the band had began to tighten their recordings and songwriting, offering up solid slabs of blues-tinged garage punk.

The band’s breakthrough was found in 1993, with “Extra Width,” which gained them exposure on MTV’s alt-rock show, “120 Minutes,” with their single and accompanying video “Afro” gaining rotation on the show. The band had tightened up, offering some seriously catchy and funky grooves that were still sounding chaotic to the ear, as if Elvis Presley had taken a shed load of speed and fallen into company with a bunch of anarcho-punks. Yet it was with their live show that the act really stood out, offering a frenetic show that captivated many an audience.

Their next releases displayed a more streamlined sound, with 1994’s “Orange,” 1996’s “Now I Got Worry” and 1998’s “Acme” finding them an ever-growing legion of fans. Despite growing success, the band took a four year hiatus, not returning until 2002 with “Plastic Fang.” A move from Matador Records to Sanctuary ushered in a new polished sound with 2004’s “Damage.” Three years later, they released the “Jukebox Series,” on new label In The Red Records before again announcing a hiatus.

In 2010 they returned to the fore, playing a number of shows in support of their catalog been reissued. New material was soon on the way, with the release of 2012’s “Meat + Bone,” leading the way for “Freedom Tower: No Wave Dance Party 2015,” a homage to their hometown of New York City, released in 2015, featuring the production talent of Alap Momin.