Matthew "Banger" Grimm, principal songwriter of New York`s Hangdogs, offers an unflinching look under the plastic coated complacency shield of America`s political coverall. Tart, biting, with kid gloves left in the bin, Grimm describes his new material as art that "punches you in the throat." He doesn`t mince words and he doesn`t excuse the "blue" language, because that`s the way he talks. But when he sings lines like "Before the meek claim our inheritance you`d better `Kill The Poor`", you clearly sense the sharp irony imbued in his anti-holy war ode. And with his now familiar nasal-y twang, he vents a roots-punk protest record of entertaining weight; the heady stuff you would expect from a graduate of political science and journalism. And, no doubt, from a bar room demonstrator such as he. Grimm now resides in Iowa City, where he can blatantly exorcise -- with crunchy guitar in hand - his First Amendment rights with the help of band members Jason Berge, Matt Winegardner and Eric Straumanis. Produced by Peter Lubin and Pete Anderson, the rockin` Dawn`s Early Apocalypse also features support from Charles Pettus (Tears For Fears), Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams) and Dusty Wakeman (Dwight Yoakam). -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (self-released)
