BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Ex-Bombers

Out of Charleston, Ill. and originally from Columbia, Mo., The Ex-Bombers are doing swell with a minimalist setup of bass, drum and vocals saying all that needs to be heard. Drummer and vocalist Keri Cousins says the music is “dirtbag spy jazz or beatnik punk” and proudly adds that “our songs come from seedy and sleazy places.” Eight-string bassist and vocalist Scott Walus continues the lo-fi way by taking on the digital world, claiming that, “both music making and listening are very human activities that deserve a dedicated space away from the place of textual communication, dirty pictures and brightly colored games.” The live show is kept intense and simple, matched by their recording style. The Tightwire (Cavetone, 2012) is available only as a vinyl record with no CD or digital download offered or made. That’s reason enough to support the Velvet Underground/Sonic Youth influenced group. If you have a problem with not being able to listen to it “un-digitally,” their advice is to go get a turntable.