The Key Studio Sessions: Pissed Jeans

It’s kind of astounding, actually. Four mild-mannered, friendly guys walked into WXPN studios this past Sunday, gathered around microphones and set up their instruments. And then, like as if I’d gone and flipped a switch or something, Philly punks Pissed Jeans suddenly became total freaking demons. Brad Fry started off, coaxing a half a minute of mind-bending sounds out of his guitar amp and effects pedals. Sean McGuinness followed, pummelling away at his drums, backed next by Randy Huth, hammering away at a searing, fuzzy bassline. Enter Matt Korvette, safely ensconced in a vocal booth (pictured) – he’s somewhat soft-spoken in conversation, but once the music got moving, his voice took a total Captain Beefheart by-way-of Jesus Lizard departure. But it’s all part of the classic, thrilling tension-and-release that’s at the core of Pissed Jeans’ music. You can dig further into that mindset a few different places this week – Brian Wilensky interviewed McGuinness for The Key on Monday, and Elliott Sharp wrote a cover story on the band in last week’s City Paper. Pissed Jeans released its fourth LP, Honeys, on Sub Pop Records on Tuesday, and it’s a rager. Four of the songs they performed in our studio are drawn from it – “Pleasure Race” dips back to 2009’s King of Jeans. Grab a download of the wrecking ball of an opener, “Bathroom Laughter,” and stream the rest of the set below. And to join in on the catharsis in an active kind of way, the band celebrates the release of Honeysat Underground Arts this Friday night. Get amped.