Members of Clockcleaner, Paint It Black and Purling Hiss join forces in the rumbling new Dark Blue

A trio of Philly punk scene vets has joined forces in a new band called Dark Blue, blending elements of their various projects into a rumbling whole. Made up of singer-guitarist John Sharkey III (of Clockcleaner), bassist Andy Nelson (of Paint it Black and Ceremony), and drummer Mike Sneeringer (formerly of Purling Hiss and The Loved Ones), the band released it’s debut single for “Subterranean Man” today via Bandcamp, with a 7″ pressing via Katorga Works soon to follow.

As Nelson pointed out via email, the lineup is the same as Puerto Rico Flowers, Sharkey’s post-Clockcleaner recording project that was fleshed out into a live band in 2009. This group, he says, is meant to be more of a band-band.

Musically, Dark Blue dishes melodic rockers that sound a bit sinister – credit Sharkey’s pensive baritone to that – but it also hints at the nihilistic aggression and acerbic wit of Clockcleaner (consider the b-side, “Skinhead Wedding In Canberra”) as well as the nervy tension heard in Nelson’s Paint It Black. Maybe I’m stretching just a touch here, but it even seems that structural sensibilities Sneeringer honed in his past bands keeps his present bandmates reined in, making this a lively meeting ground between their oi! and proto-punk influences and timeless rock and roll. Recommended if you like The Cramps, The Buzzcocks, Flipper or The Replacements.

The band will make its Philly headlining debut on Tuesday, March 4th at PhilaMOCA; tickets to the all ages show are $5 and available here. Listen to the “Subterranean Man” 7″ below and get a name-your-own-price download at Bandcamp.