The Explosion was formed in 1998 when Matthew Hock (Vocals), David Walsh (Guitar), and Damian Genuardi (Bass), at the time living together in the same Boston apartment, decided to get together and make music. Mostly for their own kicks, the band took the first five songs they wrote and recorded a demo. The demo ended up in the hands of premiere independent label Jade Tree Records, who quickly signed the band. Soon thereafter Sam Cave (Guitar) and Andrew Black (Drums) joined the band and the line-up was complete. The band released their critically acclaimed debut album "Flash, Flash, Flash" in the summer of 2000 on Jade Tree and a follow-up ep called "Steal This" on Revelation Records. The Explosion has spent the last three years organically growing a devoted fan base by touring with bands such as Sick Of It All, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Rocket From The Crypt, Face To Face, The Queers, AFI, One Man Army, Cave In, and Social Distortion.
April 22nd is the street date for The Explosion's 4th record to date. "Sick Of Modern Art" further develops the urgent, aware and intelligent theme that the band has become known for. This 5 song cd was recorded in the band's home town of Boston during the course of 2002 by Matt Squire and mixed by Paul Q. Kolderie. (Radiohead, Pixies) More than just an EP, "Sick of Modern Art" was the catalyst for the band to start their own label, Tarantulas Records. This new venture has enabled the Explosion to learn what it takes to finance and release records on their own, and to devote some of their ample energy to other bands that they believe in.
As the music on "Sick of Modern Art" started to take shape, so did the images and ideas behind it. "I started to think about what we really meant by 'Sick of Modern Art' and the phrase began to mean so much." bassist Genuardi says. "Here we are in this current condition where our mass 'art' (things like television, film, and pop music) are hitting such despicable lows. What we accept as our art is hardly inspiring." Yet the motivation to create and participate in the current state of things couldn't be stopped. "We are inspired by the way art used to cause riots. A painting could inform the world, change minds, often even putting the artists themselves in danger."
To see the Explosion live is to see them at their best - an opportunity to see how far they've come since their debut EP and, better yet, to see where they are going. The Explosion is currently out on the road with veteran punk band A.F.I. Touring plans for the rest of the year include select dates with The Transplants. The band is also tentatively planning a Tarantulas tour for the summer featuring The Explosion with other Tarantulas Records artists.
