OFF!

OFF! (Vice)

Fun Fun Fun Fest Saturday Reviews

OFF! (Vice)

Keith Morris' ranting vocals sound more berserk on the first full-length offering from OFF! than they did on punk brand Black Flag's essential 1978 EP Nervous Breakdown. He was 23 then, and now, at 57, his sharp, minutelong flip-outs have only increased in potency. "I want to club you like a baby seal, staple your scalp to my steering wheel," he barks in "King Kong Brigade." Led by Burning Brides frontman Dimitri Coats' urgent jigsaw guitar phrasing and Redd Kross sibling Steve McDonald's bass, OFF! boasts tight, violent execution, where every chord, every drum blast, every scream ricochets essential. These 16 songs in 16 minutes are a lean demonstration of hardcore punk purity that only lacks memorable songs. (Sat., Black stage, 4:45pm)

**.5

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More OFF!
Phases & Stages
Off!
Wasted Years (Record Review)

Tim Stegall, Aug. 1, 2014

More Music Reviews
Texas Platters
Xetas
The Cypher (Record Review)

Rachel Rascoe, Feb. 21, 2020

Texas Platters
Martian Warlords
Area 69 (Record Review)

Tim Stegall, Jan. 3, 2020

More by Kevin Curtin
Michael Corcoran Has Died and Austin’s Lost a Voice That Always Kept Things Interesting
Michael Corcoran Has Died and Austin’s Lost a Voice That Always Kept Things Interesting
Columnist, author, historian found dead at 68

July 2, 2024

The Austin Chronic: Mobile Head Shop the Glassmith Puts Down Roots
The Austin Chronic: Mobile Head Shop the Glassmith Puts Down Roots
The Glassmith graduates to brick-and-mortar

June 28, 2024

KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY

OFF!

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle