SST vets Das Damen‘s 1986: Keeps Me Wild is out today digitally via Dromedary Records. It features a remastered edition of their debut EP, originally released on Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace label, and adds a bevy of unreleased demos, and reimagined tracks. Physical copies, which are not out till October 27, also come with a brand-new issue of Das Damen drummer Lyle Hysen’s fanzine, Damaged Goods, that includes featuring a comprehensive timeline, show flyers, oral history, testimonials from Thurston Moore, Tom Scharpling, and more. You can order it here and listen below.
We’ve got the premiere of a new video for the original EP’s “House of Mirrors” which was directed by Dave Rygalski (the TV writer, not the fictional Gilmore Girls character who was named after him). “‘House Of Mirrors’ was one of the featured tracks from the original ep and one of the only tracks that features Alex, Phil and myself on lead vocals,” says Jim Waters. “It is also was the only song that we played from our earliest gigs to our last New York city show at CBGB’s. Spoiler alert: it is currently on the set list for next week.”
By “next week,” Jim means Das Damen’s reunion shows — their first in 30 years — at Jersey City’s WFMU Monty Hall on September 14; and the Dromedary 30th Anniversary festival in Hudson, NY on September 16 at The Avalon & Left Bank Ciders with Antietam, Flower, Sleepyhead and more.
You can also check out a couple photos from Das Damen’s final NYC show at CBGBs by Michael Galinsky below.
DAS DAMEN – 1986: Keeps Me Wild:
ORIGINAL EP REMASTERED
Tsavo
Trick Question
Slave Bird
House of Mirrors
How Do You Measure
Behind My Eye
EP REVISITED
Tsavo (A Slight Return w/ A Girl Called Eddy)
Trick Question (Gary Lee Conner solo)
How Do You Measure (Thalia Zedek Vocal)
Behind My Eyes (John Robinson vocals / Dez Cadena guitar/vocals)
2-TRACK LIVE DEMO RECORDED AT FUN CITY
Trick Question (take 1 Demo)
I Feel Bad Now (take 1 – DEMO)
House of Mirrors (incomplete DEMO)
House of Mirrors
Living Statues (false start on take 2 DEMO)
Living Statues (take 2 DEMO)
BONUS:
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