A city deemed the birthplace of both rock and roll and blues, Memphis, TN is fertile ground for cultivating musical talent. Cue Ex-Cult—a musical project that brought together five local musicians. Drawing influences that transcend several decades, the members have woven psychedelic, garage, punk, and other terms that precede the word “rock” into their distinct sound, all the while engrossing modern audiences.
Ex-Cult (Sex Cult, before the band discovered that a New York techno label had already laid claim to the name) is what the members describe as a “meaningless” name for this up-and-coming punk band. Since their conception, Ex-Cult have been working their way through small local venues, house parties, and Gonerfest 8 and 9—an annual music festival in Memphis.
Ex-Cult also made a notable appearance at SXSW last year in Austin, where things suddenly clicked with fellow musician Ty Segall. The quintet had been good friends with Segall before their SXSW appearances, and it came naturally that Segall later produced their debut LP.
“A lot of people think we saw [Ty Segall] for the first time at SXSW, and he just agreed to do an album with us,” says lead singer Chris Shaw, pointing out that they’d been friends and mutual fans of each other’s music for about a year before Ex-Cult played at the festival.
For the band, making music has become so integral to their lives that the process of doing so no longer requires much planning; it just happens.
“We make music individually and we make music together,” says Shaw. “Then, when we come together in real life, we combine all of it.”
UK artists Television Personalities and Brian Eno, as well as fellow Memphis punk band Useless Eaters are among the artists that have shaped the sound of Ex-Cult’s debut album. Recorded in a small studio in San Francisco’s Chinatown, the self-titled release features 12 tracks, all of which are distinctly aggressive, while remaining masterfully controlled.
Gritty vocals are backed by Ex-Cult’s true driving force: instrumentation. Songs like “Better Life Through Chemistry” and “Don’t Feel Anything” bring a sense of wild exhilaration—the kind that sweeps you off your feet and never lets you back down. With relentless energy, the band plows their way through 30 minutes of hard-hitting music, while listeners try to keep up. The rawness of the album, both musically and lyrically, strikes a parallel with the down-to-earth personalities of the members themselves.
With so much intensity stuffed into a single LP sleeve, one can only imagine the kind of damage this band could do at a live concert. Luckily, Montreal is one of the stops on their tour across the US and Canada this month. They’ll be playing 21 shows in 23 days—an impressive number for a band going on its first extended tour. It’ll also be the band’s first time visiting their northern neighbours, alongside none other than Ty Segall.
When asked which other artists they would like to work with in the future, Ex-Cult says they wouldn’t mind a chance to perform with San Francisco experimental rockers Chrome. Although they currently have new music in the works, the band says they’re not focused on looking for producers right now.
Like everything else about Ex-Cult, there’s nothing really definitive, nothing too clear-cut about whatever it is they’re doing. This is Ex Cult’s strength—there’s always something you can’t quite put a finger on, which makes them worth looking out for.
Ex-Cult is performing with Ty Segall and K-Holes on February 5th, 8 p.m., Cabaret Du Mile End (5240 Avenue du Parc). Tickets are $15 advance, $20 at the door.
