Asheville rockers Archers of Loaf, aka “the Loaf,” formed in the early ’90s when singer/guitarist Eric Bachmann, guitarist Eric Johnson, bassist Matt Gentling and drummer Mark Price were all at UNC-Chapel Hill. “Icky Mettle was the first of four studio albums for the band that seemed to personify what SPIN Magazine deemed ‘a tremendously optimistic time in underground music, that 15-minute period in the early 1990s when it looked like indie rock really might take over the world,’” according to the band’s bio. After a long hiatus (during which the band members worked on other projects), the Loaf reunited in 2011. “We got to the part where we missed those songs,” Gentling told Xpress. “Our friends would tell us to get back together.”
Out of that reunion came the documentary What Did You Expect? culled from footage of two nights at Cat’s Cradle in Carboro; and a limited edition vinyl pressing, “Curse of the Loaf,” from those same shows.
Press release from the band:
After a 12 year hiatus, the Archers of Loaf reformed in 2011 to play some old songs for fans old and new, and to show off the chemistry and energy that exists to this day between these four friends who met back in 1990 in the small town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Brian Paulson, the band’s dear friend and producer / engineer of “All the Nations Airports” and “White Trash Heroes,” was on hand to capture the moment for two nights of performances at the infamous Cat’s Cradle. Documentarian, writer, and director Gorman Bechard and his crew captured this energy along with some choice interviews with the band members in his concert documentary entitled “What Did You Expect?”
Now, four years later, the Archers are making a limited edition vinyl pressing of that weekend entitled “Curse of the Loaf” available direct to their fans in mid-July through Port Merchandise. The double vinyl gatefold package consists of 180 gram black vinyl, a copy of the “What Did You Expect?” DVD, and a replica of the original concert poster designed by artist Paul Friedrich. Each of the 2500 packages is hand-numbered in gold foil for authenticity. A presale of the double LP will be made available during the first week of June.
Tracklisting:
Side One – Audiowhore / Harnessed in Slums / Dead Red Eyes / Worst Defense / Attack of the Killer Bees / 1985 / Fabricoh
Side Two – Greatest of All Time / Lowest Part is Free / Freezing Point /What Did You Expect? / You and Me / Might
Side Three – Bacteria / Web in Front / Nostalgia / Slow Worm /Step Into the Light
Side Four – Wrong / Plumbline / Revenge /Scenic Pastures /Form and File / All Hail the Black MarketThe band will be performing several dates on the east coast in connection with the release as detailed below.
• 7.09.2015 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
• 7.10.2015 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
• 7.11.2015 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
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