Gaza Strippers: 1000 Watt Confessions

Gaza Strippers: 1000 Watt Confessions
Label: Lookout
Release Date: 2000
Review Date: 2001

Rick Sims defies anyone to accurately describe the sound of the Gaza Strippers. Nuts to you Rick, I’m going to try anyway. Did you groove on the Didjits? Imagine if the Didjits hadn’t burned out. That’s not really a description. OK, heavy rock, like an entire band full of the type of aural assault that Iggy Pop used to deliver. Like an Ed Roth drawing coming to life. Although they only share one member, musically The Gaza Strippers are comic book superhero-style phoenix rising out of the ashes of the later era Didjits. In the videogame of protopunk-rock, The Gaza Strippers ran over the extra power-up and are at sonic double health. Well, I tried at least.

1000 Watt Confessions is the follow up to Laced Candy, which was out on the now ruined Man’s Ruin records. 1000 Watt Confessions is stronger, better, faster. The familiar themes are there: rock, sex, cars, depravity, and moral bankruptcy – all the good ones. “Sex and the Drifter” is pulled from pulp books, reeking of a stale mattress in a roadside motel. “Get ‘Em Down” Has Rick referencing the Killer (Jerry Lee Lewis) again, and anyone who’s in the know can tell you that it’s a good thing. “Juvenile Detention” is a swinger that updates the classic teen exploitation flicks of the 50’s. Looking for vintage Rick Sims brilliance? Look no further than “My Car Is” for your lyrical dose of “Elvis’ Corvette” withdrawal medicine.

Overall, 1000 Watt Confession is like the soundtrack to a movie co-directed by Russ Meyer and John Waters. Don’t confuse the Gaza Strippers with the army of bands flying the white trash power rock flag. Unlike those types, the Gaza Strippers have a unique sound that relies more on skilled songwriting and intelligent satire than on pure volume and wife-beater t-shirts. 1000 Watt Confessions is more rock than punk, but it’s still more than you can handle. Buy it, and go see them live on stage.

The Gaza Strippers have also re-released their ep Electric Bible on TripleX records. The New Testament has new artwork and four new songs. You can order it direct from TripleX at www.triple-x.com. It’s not as tight as 1000 Watt Confessions, but it’s still a must have for fans.

Online Action: gazastrippers.com
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