The Ex

haha "glad"

both times I have seen them (in Portland) the vocals were almost completely inaudible :(

the first time it was a bummer, the second time they were so great it was irrelevant.

The Ex & Unwound at Graceland, Seattle on June 30th, 2001 (two shows, went to both) is the best live music night of my life to this day.

I saw them at the Vera Project in Seattle in mid 2004 tour for Turn. It's the second best live show I've ever seen.

(dumb celebrity shoulder rubbing trivia, I was surrounded by and dancing with The Futureheads at that show. They were playing a few blocks away at the Crocodile and asked to play first and brief, so they could literally run over and see The Ex at Vera)

is it possible there is no c/d s/d thread for THE EX????????

Another one of the many Ex threads

THE ILILTA BAND - ETHIOPIA
Chalachew Ashenafi - masinqo / vocals
Mesele Asmamaw - krar
Asnake Gebreyes - kebero

I hope they bring this group, who they are doing European gigs with, to the US

I think I've mentioned this at least once (in response to your saying something similar), but I was at that Graceland show, Makro, or one of them, and while I dunno abt #1, it's easily one of 10 best shows I've ever seen. So cheers.

interesting, looks like Sok has a new band. from the Dualtrack blog...

Speaking about The Ex: their singer GW Sok has left the band and is now the force behind a 2CD set by The Rondos, which will be officially released on the 11th at Worm, in Rotterdam, which is probably the best news since the invention of fire.

Sok left the Ex?
am i wrong or was he the main consistent member?

Terrie was the main consistent member if I'm correct, just as much as Sok was.

I don't believe you could see The Rondo's as a new band though. The cd mentioned is a retrospective. You can find more at (in Dutch):
http://siebethissen.blogspot.com/2009/03/even-terug-de-rondos-1978-1980.html

from reading this thread i think i already know what the answer to this will be, but should i go see them on monday if i have absolutely no familiarity with their discography whatsoever? has anyone been to a show with the new singer? i've heard a couple tunes and dig it extremely, and the weekly alternative paper is promising one of the best shows of the year. also if anyone can recommend an album or compilation it would be much appreciated.

X vs. the Ex vs. the xx vs. the X-Ray Spex

whoa, where are they touring? can't find a current list of dates.

and definitely go! I saw them pretty much cold and it was one of the best shows I've ever been to. just REALLY GREAT.

take it you're in toronto or montreal, def go if tix are not sold out, the getachew/ex touring combo is excellent, written on it in the ethiopiques thread if you wanna check there, some reviews from last summer and a youtube link (tons of stuff on youtube from last summer's tour)
DC City Paper "After seeing the Ex and Getatchew Mekuria co-mingle punk, post-punk, Space Is the Place, free jazz clarinet skronk, and ecstatic semi-funk, there just isn't much to report back to your pals other than superlatives: top-five best show of all time, awesome, oh-my-God, etc."

http://chicago.metromix.com/home/review/the-ex-brings-an/567899/content
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/14/AR2008081403384.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt5UtIX4uUY

X vs. the Ex vs. the xx vs. the X-Ray Spex

The Ex >>>>> X-Ray Spex >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> X > uh who?

And yes see them live.

yeah, go!

saw getatchew + ex when they were in chicago...last year i think? it was AWESOME and they had a fire dancer. great great show.

also if anyone can recommend an album or compilation it would be much appreciated.

the Ex have covered a LOT of ground, so I usually suggest people get the Singles. Period., comp, which collects most of their singles/EPs from 1980-90. also, they recently released a 30th anniversary comp of some of their own favorites from their oeuvre, but I haven't seen a track list to judge that. I am sure it's great, though

otherwise, my favorite Ex records are Joggers & Smoggers, And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders, or Pokkeherrie. or whichever one of their records I happened to play last.

get the collab with Getatchew, also! so good!

"also if anyone can recommend an album or compilation it would be much appreciated."

Aural Guerilla is still my favorite.

cool thanks everyone for answering, i am definitely going to the show. i'm downloading singles and the getatchew album, which i think will make up for most of what they are going to play. i was reading an interview with the band, where they were like "yeah, we just found this 78 year old ethiopian saxophonist and we have no idea why, but every time we play with him it's just the great fucking music ever." funny how they even they were surprised at how well the collaboration worked out.

how was the show?!

saw 'em with Getatchew Mekuria at the Polish Combatants Hall.... so damn good.

Been listening to the new double disc comp "30", goddamn this band is awesome.

yes they are. didn't know that comp was out, looks like a good overview.

last friday they played with han bennink in Antwerp, Belgium. At the beginning of 2009 they released a dvd of their Convoy tour that is pretty good.

saw them years back i wondered why deerhoof who i had a soft spot for at the time were supporting the ex who i misunderstood to be vaguely dreary / arty herky-jerky agit-prop squat-punk, and DAMN! if they did not blow me totally away - funkiest thing i ever heard - a scratchy jitterfunk bulldozer like nothing on earth ! totally unstoppable !

http://www.theex.nl/img/flyers/BrassUnboundflyer800.jpg

^ this is basically gonna blow stuff up isn't it?

holy crap!

omfg i would kill to go to one of those shows.

Who are Roy Paci and Walter Wierbos?

Man - this better come to the states.

Tickets are like £7.50 for this I think which is pretty incredible (probly has some arts council funding but whatevs)

that is basically guarnteed to be spectaculicious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVmqs0MpRM

This is going to rule

The song in the video above is fantastic. Those rolling rhythms are kinda like a post-punk Tony Allen.

Roy Paci - Sicilian trumpeter. Was the the Ex Arkestra a few years back and now is famous in Italy through his ska band. He played with Mike Patton in his Italian pop project.

Walter Wierbose - top European improv trombonist. Worked with the Ex before.

The horn section alone would make for a brilliant gig. The Ex + free jazz is pretty much my idea of heaven as far as live music goes.

Here he is with Patton. Appreciate Patton's not to everyone's taste, but his Italian production pop romps are good fun and Paci gets a cracking solo at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm4Zg_tW8l4

Thanks Stew. Hugely excited by this, bring it on already.

Just bought ticket numbers 6 & 7 for this, band outnumbering the crowd at this stage.

and i was worried that the glasgow gig might sell out!

Well that was for Brighton, think we might be on the slack end of the ticket-buying spectrum.

don't worry, the Brighton noise scene hipsters will be along to fill the place up nicely on the night

Roy Paci was in Zu too, about a decade ago mind. Looking forward to this, I prefer The Ex with collaborators tbh, the best time I ever saw them was with Tom Cora (RIP).

oh, man. I never heard that tom cora had died! that's a bummer.

I see shows coming up in chicago and knoxville on their myspace page... hope some more US dates pop up.

Glasgow was sold out, but they've been given a capacity extension. Don't delay in getting a ticket!

Er, if I may be utterly shameless...

http://www.list.co.uk/article/23101-the-ex-and-brass-unbound/

I hope this configuration gets to the US/West Coast.

me too!

http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com.s3.amazonaws.com/Ex%20-%20Maybe%20I%20Was%20The%20Pilot.mp3

new song from their upcoming 7" (due out Feb 15th according to the site)!!!!!!!!!!!!

bump for impending new SV reissues of Digntty Of Labour (as an LP) and Tumult (one of my faves), with all original packaging posters etc.

also this:

Here is a mixcloud link of my radio show Blue Prints for Blackout on Amsterdams very own Echobox Radio ..i will have a regular slot every third Friday of the month ...i was quite nervous as Im not used to microphones and talking on the radio but it was great fun to do and the echobox radio crew helped me out and were a great bunch to hang with ...the music is great from Algeria, Napoli, Genova, Jamaica , South Africa, Ethiopia, Scotland, Netherlands, Ghana, Trinidad, and even England. Enjoy and check out other shows on echobox,,,,a splinter new radio station based in amsterdam with a crazy variety of shows from every imaginable corner of the universe.

https://www.mixcloud.com/echoboxradio/blueprints-for-a-blackout-1-andy-moor-echobox-radio-200821/?fbclid=IwAR2di-SVyfPj-21svLc5NTxIs-JY2jYLztE-61i4CxIUQN336vxyVFr4dJ8

, and even England.

Speaking of the Ex (somewhere) I really wish I had the time and energy to see Archer (Terrie's new-ish improv/jazz project) tonight. A bit of fomo at work.

omg there are FIVE King Champion Sounds albums?!? can't believe I hadn't heard of this before.

new album If Your Mirror Breaks out this week

sounded great my first time through, drums in particular

I saw them perform the new album in full the other night. The percussion is the joy of their work, it seems - even the guitars have this percussive quality. It was so so enjoyable.

Remarkable merch stand too (!), with many of the albums and side projects available, plus a bunch of other stuff they thought the punters might like.

it's nearly 10 years since I last saw them. they don't play the UK v often and they were just here last autumn but only played at Cafe OTO which is tiny and sold out quick. wish they'd play somewhere a bit bigger but I guess they probably won't be here again for a few years now

The percussion is the joy of their work, it seems - even the guitars have this percussive quality.

totally agree

Kat is a joy to watch.

it's nearly 10 years since I last saw them. they don't play the UK v often and they were just here last autumn but only played at Cafe OTO which is tiny and sold out quick. wish they'd play somewhere a bit bigger but I guess they probably won't be here again for a few years now

― Colonel Poo, Tuesday, 27 January 2026 19:16 (yesterday)

They're playing the 100 Club in May! (and Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester)

oh shit they are! just a got a ticket, thanks!

another +1 on the percussive comment, that’s a great way to put it. caught them more or less by accident once many years ago and this is exactly what drew my friend and i into a set of unfamiliar songs. the records are good too but they’re an extremely good live band first and foremost for me.

Ah this is brilliant news about UK shows. Phenomenal live band and very special to me. When I was dating my now-wife, we went to see The Ex together and it was pretty much there and then I knew she was the one. The power of Dutch post-punk!

Delightfully ironic to see the Ex with your future wife.

Ha!

wait till you see The XX with your current wife :)

I've been digging in to the Moa Anbessa album (2006). So satisfying. What an inspired idea combining Ethio jazz and this restlessly curious corner of postpunk.

yeah that's one of my faves, also search out the still-not-reissued Ethiopian tape they did with Han Bennink:

https://www.discogs.com/release/11791431-The-Ex-Han-Bennink-Ethiopia-Tour-2004

(the A-side hasn't been reissued, the B-side is a comp of their current-at-the-time material)

Thanks for the tip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL9BrZ-zUpQ

haha he is the best - there's an anecdote from the Ethiopian tour journal about him playing a chain link fence

One of favorite live Bennink bits was seeing him playing the drums with a burning paper grocery bag, then stuffing the smoldering remains in the hi-hat and making smoke rings with it

The Convoy Tour DVD has some great Getachew action plus a lovely bit where Han Bennink is near silently practicing his drum rudiments on the tour bus at dawn while everyone else is fast asleep.