May 15–22, 1997

music

Ten Years After

Philly's punk rock reunion.

By a.d. amorosi

In 1987, three Philly punk bands — Ruin, Electric Love Muffin and Flag of Democracy — played a memorable show on the Trocadero's stage. These three acts were the progenitors of Philadelphia's DIY post-punk scene — the religious neo-jazz hardcore of Ruin, the buoyant thrash of Flag of Democracy and the raucously melodic growl of Electric Love Muffin. This West Philly troika — along with then burgeoning national wackos Rodney Anonymous and his Dead Milkmen — influenced a boatload of present day musos with their trash can aesthetic, high-priestly goofiness and take-charge stance. They also represented the first music scene since the late '70s/early '80s when Philly glamourpunks like the Autistics, Bunnydrums, No Milk and Sadistic Exploits held court.

"I wanted to book this gig before everyone forgot that moment," says Rich Fravel, the Troc's current booking manager. Fravel was at that show 10 years ago and booked their upcoming reunion.

As a young artist, Fravel — the guy who started in the Uptown Bones and Latimer — recognized not only the musical importance of these groups but the ritualistic and spiritual energizing of "the Muffin" in particular.

"It was pre-Nirvana times," says Fravel, "the only moment where DIY was in real effect. Everyone did everything themselves. That was the only way to ensure things worked. [ELM's leader] Rich Kaufmann was the reason I learned to play guitar. I saw him play at the Crypt when I was a 17-year-old freshman at Temple. It was my intro to punk. That's why I started the Bones. We wanted to be the Muffin."

For his part, present day Rolling Hayseed Kaufmann — a melodically mellow twang type — wanted one last chance to play a guitar real loud.

"I wanted this to be great, a very big show," said Kaufmann about being worn down by a persistent Fravel (and Rick D., booking agent at Upstairs at Nick's). Not "nostalgic," adds Kaufmann, but to create anew. A new song, "You Don't Listen," was recorded at Gary's Cycle Sound — to be included on a forthcoming Electric Love Muffin/Ruin double single. This time out, the Muffins may actually rise in the oven as guitarist Butch Lauer, bassist Brian Campbell, drummer Frank Campbell and rhythm guitar/vocalist Kaufmann barrel their way through loud pop.

"The Hayseeds grew out of the fact that there were things I wanted to do with the Muffin that obviously weren't going to happen," says Kaufmann. "That's why this is more satisfying this time around. I tried to inflict some Hayseed-like disease onto the Muffin and everyone, gamely, tried to have a go. Now we can reveal everyone's strengths as opposed to doing something we're uncomfortable with."

Save the uncomfortability for the Troc's upstairs treats. Ex-Milkmen Rodney and Joe will spring out with their evil offshoots Burn Witch Burn and Town Managers just to make sure any joy about witnessing a happy reunion is made messy.

Electric Love Muffin, Ruin, F.O.D., Sat., May 17, all ages, The Trocadero, 10th & Arch Sts., 922-LIVE.