This is the stuff of legend.
Back in 1989, in between the first and second incarnations of Screeching Weasel, bassist Dan Schafer (A.K.A Danny Vapid) and then-drummer Brian Vermin formed Sludgeworth, which then proceeded for a couple of years to virtually rule the Chicago scene. They eventually called it quits in 1992 and were supplanted by a reborn Screeching Weasel and a host of other Chicago bands.
Vapid continued on in Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, and The Methadones, but none of these projects (to me at least) captured the “lightning in a bottle” that Sludgeworth did. Their sound is often said to be Face To Face meets Screeching Weasel meets Samiam, but even that isn’t really fair. Sludgeworth was a special band and Losers Of The Year is a one-of-a-kind record.
Back in the early nineties it would not be uncommon to see flyers for shows at MacGregors featuring the likes of Sludgeworth, Jawbreaker, NOFX, and Smoking Popes for $5 (with Sludgeworth headlining of course). Sadly though, Sludgeworth released only one album on Lookout! Records during their short lifespan. Lucky for you Lookout! is selling copies of Losers Of The Year for only seven bucks. Buy it here.
MP3 | Sludgeworth – Waste It Away Losers Of The Year
MP3 | Sludgeworth – Someday Losers Of The Year
MP3 | Sludgeworth – Another Day Losers Of The Year
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ain’t nothing like punk rock from
Chicago… excellent post!
In my best Butt-head voice: “YES!”
i think in total they released 2 7“s and an LP. the losers of the year cd on lookout was a compilation that omitted the funk songs from the LP on Johann’s Face.