Leftöver Crack
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | New York City, New York, United States  |
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| Genre(s) | Ska punk | |
| Years active | 2000–present | |
| Label(s) | Fat Wreck Chords, Alternative Tentacles, Hellcat Records | |
| Associated acts |
Choking Victim | |
| Members | ||
| Stza Ezra Kire Brad Logan Alec Baillie Ara Babajian |
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Leftöver Crack is a band that emerged following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim around the year 2000. The band is currently signed to both Fat Wreck Chords and Alternative Tentacles, they consist of Stza (vocals), Ezra Kire (guitar, vocals), Brad Logan (guitar), Alec Baillie (bass guitar), and Ara Babajian (drums).They are typically associated with Crack Rock Steady, Morning Glory, and INDK.
Leftöver Crack, combined with Choking Victim, Morning Glory and INDK, share a total of seven members between them. These seven musicians are collectively referred to as the "Crack Rock Steady Seven" (CRS7). The line-up of Leftöver Crack changes fairly often, drawing on members of other New York City punk bands such as The Stockyard Stoics and The X-Possibles. Stza, Ezra, and Alec are currently the bands only completely permanent members.
Leftover Crack spans several different music genres including crust punk, ska, gangsta rap, hardcore, and death metal. Leftover Crack writes songs that are anti-sexist, anti-homophobic, anti-religion, anti-racist, anti-police, anti-breeding, anti-government, and pro-drug use.
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[edit] Influences and history
Leftöver Crack combines elements of ska, hardcore, crust punk, and death metal/metal. Leftöver Crack's song "Gay Rude Boys Unite", which seems to borrow some stylistic elements from Operation Ivy, accused the ska scene of being homophobic[citation needed], and called for the inclusion of all minorities in the struggle for social equality.
Leftöver Crack has been banned from performing in many venues in New York City, such as ABC No Rio, the Knitting Factory, and North 6th. However, they still play at banned venues under different guises or individually as solo acts.
The band took an indefinite hiatus after the death of drummer Brandon Possible at the end of 2004. Stza spent the interim playing Leftöver Crack and Choking Victims songs by himself at a few solo acoustic shows. Leftöver Crack began touring again in the summer of 2005, including some dates with Citizen Fish and The World/Inferno Friendship Society, as well as playing dates in October 2005 in California after the Wasted Fest was cancelled. The so-called Crack Rock Steady 7 also embarked on a small European tour in November; however, this incarnation consisted of only Stza and The Infested, in some cases billed as the "Crack Steady Rockers".
Stza has also started a band called the Star Fucking Hipsterz, the line-up of which includes vocalist Kisston from Help Me Help Me I Can't Breathe(now in Aborticide), guitarist Jamie Toulan from Doomsday Cauldron and Old Skull, and drummer Gigi from Another Dying Democracy. The band started playing shows in the NYC area early in August 2005 but has sense been placed on hold.
Blacknoise Records released a 4 way split entitled "the kids are gonna pay" in March 2006 with Leftover Crack contributing 1 song, "Look Who's Talking Now", other bands on the split are Morning Glory, F-Minus, and Bent Outta Shape. The 7" and was limited to 1000 copies on white vinyl and is now sold out. The first 100 included limited edition patches designed by Brad Logan's wife, Kristen, and some included an insert.
On October 31st, 2006 Fat Wreck Chords released a 7" split with Citizen Fish. To support the release the 2 bands joined with other Fat bands, The Sainte Catherines and Dead to Me, went on a U.S. tour.The full length split with Citizen Fish, was released on March 6th, 2007 with Fat Wreck Chords releasing the cd version and Alternative Tenticles releasing the vinyl version, 1103 copies are on white vinyl.
[edit] Controversies
Leftöver Crack was originally signed to Epitaph Records in the wake of Choking Victim's demise, but the two soon parted ways before the bands full-length debut could be released. Part of the conflict that led to the split came from the fact that Leftöver Crack’s proposed title for their first album was “Shoot the Kids at School.” This was a particularly controversial idea even for a punk band in the wake of the Columbine shootings.
The band also accused Tim Armstrong and many of the Hell-Cat Records signed bands of being homophobic and talked about their accusations openly in interviews afterwards.
The urge to be controversial to the point of being offensive continues to have negative repercussions for the band. Following the tragic Station nightclub fire during a Great White show in West Warwick, Rhode Island, Leftöver Crack began advertising a dangerous pyrotechnics display at their concerts. Despite the fact that no such display was actually prepared the New York Fire Department began shutting down all of their shows locally. They have also made enemies of New York Police Department whose members they openly advocate be murdered. In March 2007 police in Brooklyn New York threatened to shut down a benefit concert the band had organized for Daniel McGowan if the group took the stage. There was also a minor riot after a show in Orlando after Leftover Crack played in early March, 2007.
[edit] Selected Discography
[edit] Studio albums
 1. Rock the 40 Oz. - (May 8, 2000) |
 2. Mediocre Generica - (September 11, 2001) |
 4. Fuck World Trade - (August 31, 2004) |
[edit] Splits
- Baby Jesus Sliced up in the Manger (as the Crack Rock Steady 7, with F-Minus), Hellcat Records, 2001.
- The Kids Are Gonna Pay (with F-Minus, Morning Glory, Bent Outta Shape), Blacknoise Records, 2006.
- Leftover Crack / Citizen Fish Split 7" (with Citizen Fish), Fat Wreck Chords, 2006.
- Deadline Split CD/LP (with Citizen Fish), Fat Wreck Chords, March 6th, 2007. (LP on Alternative Tentacles Records)
[edit] Compilations
- Give 'Em the Boot I, (Infested) Hellcat Records, 1997.Danzombi 08:06, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
- Give 'Em the Boot II, (Crack City Rockers[Demo]) Hellcat Records, 1999.
- Punk Rawk Explosion 6, (Nazi White Trash), ?, 2003.
- Give 'Em the Boot III, (Atheist Anthem) Hellcat Records, 2002.
- Go Kart vs. the Corporate Giant Vol. 3, (Rock The 40oz) Go Kart Records, 2002.
- 2003 Sampler, (So Ya Wanna Be A Cop) A-F Records, 2003.
- Fueling the Flames of Revolution Vol. 3, (One Dead Cop) A-F Records, 2003.
- Against Police Injustice,(Operation:MOVE, Super Tuesday[Demo]) Non Commercial, 2003.
- Mass Destruction, (Muppet N.A.M.B.L.A) BANKSHOT! Records, 2003.
- Riot Ska, (Drug Song, Nobody Is Free) Beer Records, 2004.
[edit] Live
- 2002: Straight Outta' Naples
- 2001: Live C-Squat 3/31/01
[edit] Bootlegs
- 2004: Fuck World Trade (demo)
[edit] References and Notes
- http://www.weeklydig.com/music/articles/leftover_crack
- http://www.alternativetentacles.com/bandinfo.php?band=leftovercrack
- http://nyc.indymedia.org/or/2007/03/83520.html
