East Bay Ray and The Killer Smiles

When:
The Shakedown Bar, 3048 Midway Drive

Where:
Sunday, October 9.

Legendary DEAD KENNEDYS guitarist EAST BAY RAY and current Dead Kennedys vocalist SKIP McSKIPSTER from the WYNONA RIDERS, have formed an exciting new band, THE KILLER SMILES. Drummer STEVE WILSON of TATU and bassist GREG REEVES, who has played with HER SPACE HOLIDAY and HANNI EL KHTIB, round out the lineup. The Killer Smiles will release their first 12 track album September 13, 2011 on MVD Entertainment. The recording was guided by producer (and BUTTHOLE SURFERS guitarist) PAUL LEARY, best known for producing SUBLIME’s massive self-titled CD and their single “Santeria.” Two of the new songs are being performed live on the current Dead Kennedys tours to a warm response. The Killer Smiles played SXSW 2011 and Skip and Ray met and hung out with DAVE GROHL of the FOO FIGHTERS. Dave said that Ray's guitar playing was one of his inspirations and Ray told Dave that he was one of his as well, coming from the classic band Nirvana but then going on to do something new. For its members, the name Killer Smiles invokes images of wolves in sheep's clothing and silver-tongued phonies, those masks people wear to hide their true intentions and con others. Some of the songs deal with this kind of emotional fakery, “You’re Such A Fake,” “Raising the Stakes.” Other songs careen from frenetic post-punk, “It’s Broken,” to cinematically tinged guitar rock, “Area 51,” “The Heart Is Something.” The band takes a deliberate approach to let things be a little more human and less of a religious cult. Always present is the distinctive guitar of East Bay Ray, who has penned some of the most recognizable and memorable guitar riffs to emerge from the West Coast punk movement, highlighted by the vocals of SKiP, plaintive one moment and full of old school attitude the next. Add to that the energetic feel of Greg Reeves with the driving beat of Steve Wilson, and you've got what promises to be a band to reckon with.