Garage-punk trio Cheap Time kicks off first installment

(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Raucous garage-punk trio Cheap Time will headline the first installment of SmashCrashBash, a semi-regular, rock ’n’ roll-themed party at the newly reopened Half Moon in Hudson, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at 8pm.

Hailing from Tennessee, Cheap Time has been around since 2006 and is hitting Hudson between dates opening for Social Distortion and Mudhoney. Equal parts scuzzy, lo-fi bombast and poppy 1970s glam punk, the group packs adolescent snottery and a strong sense of sing-songy cohesion into its two-minute blasts. The nucleus of Cheap Time is Jeffrey Novak, who writes and sings as well as playing guitar and keyboards.

The band’s self-titled debut bears the influences of glam and power pop bands like Sparks and the Quick; its sophomore album, “Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations),” is darker and more complex. “Wallpaper Music,” Cheap Time’s third and newest album, features still more attitudinal punk moves and pop-damaged glam jams and is the band’s most realized, cohesive record yet. Songs like “More Cigarettes” and “Another Time” are Aussie-esque punkers in an almost Saints-like vein. Tracks like “Underneath the Fruit Flies” show that Novak is finding a good medium between his punk tendencies and his desire to experiment.

SmashCrashBash will feature live performances by hand-picked touring bands; DJs spinning the best in punk, garage, vintage glam, rock ’n’ roll, and old-school soul and R&B for dancing and screaming pleasure; and wild and weird visual projections. Manning the turntables at the June 18 kick-off blow-out will be DJs Jeff the Chef (of New York’s legendary Empire State Soul Club) and Peter Aaron (the Chrome Cranks), while VJ Spike Priggen (Bedazzled.com, Scopitones.com) will delight with rare eye candy from his amazing video archives.