New Jersey-based indie rock trio Quiz Show present their new ‘XONO’ EP, released via New Jersey’s Magic Door Record Label. This three-song collection captures the band at a point of transition, blending noisy, high-energy power-trio rock with a growing acoustic side in their performance.
Quiz Show is made up of Chris Matthews, a founding member of of legendary DC hardcore band Shudder To Think, and bassist Jesse Krakow, together with drummer Joe Billy III, who replaced the original drummer Kevin March (Guided By Voices, The Dambuilders, Shudder To Think).
You could say Quiz Show is a continuation of unfinished business. After a quarter-century break, Chris Matthews picked-up his guitar and again began to write songs, triggered by a chance meeting with his former Shudder To Think bandmate Kevin March. Now both living in Montclair, Kevin and Chris ended up forming Quiz Show with Frank Gibbons on bass.
This EP reflects Quiz Show’s recent evolution, honoring longtime influences and collaborators while pointing toward the band’s next chapter. Once again, Quiz Show worked with award-winning producer Ray Ketchem (Guided By Voices, Luna, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, The Dambuilders), who produced, recorded, mixed and mastered thie EP at Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, NJ.
The title track ‘XONO’ is about the high hopes of friendship and love, and the difficulties that lie therein, exploring the painful gap between idealized romantic aspirations and the harsh truth that a promising bond is ultimately doomed to fail. Chris Matthews shares, “I really love ‘XONO’ for being a tight, quick, and complex song. There is some great simplicity and pleasant dissonance in the music. That it tells a story about difficult relationships is something I am proud to have found a way to spell out”.
The second track, ‘Haircut Sphinx’, is a cover of a Guided By Voices song, written by Robert Pollard and recorded for their ‘Mirrored Aztec’ LP from 2020. .
“We were inspired to record the song to honor the genius of Pollard and his relentlessly amazing songwriting in Guided by Voices, and also to pay homage to our good friend Kevin March, GBV’s drummer on this song and many others,” says Chris Matthews.
“We slowed the tempo of the song and added an organ (played by Jesse) to capture a more sludgy feel. We also changed the ending to bring out what seemed to us a really cool musical change with a great vocal line that we thought was worth repeating.”
The EP closes with an acoustic version of ‘Pom Pom Boy’, a first generation Quiz Show song. Chris Matthews explains, “Originally released on our ‘Quiz Show’ album, we recorded this version to give this song a new life in a different costume.” Written by Kevin March and Chris Matthews in Chris’ basement years ago, it captures the spirit of what these two created when they sat down just to play and see what happens. This track highlights the multi-talents of Joe Billy III, whose killer drumming was set aside to showcase his acoustic guitar skills.
Quiz Show makes music still squarely within the punk and alternative rock spectrum with elements of Hüsker Dü, Pixies, Ramones, Fugazi, Sonic Youth, and Girls Against Boys. Blending the melodic hooks and songcraft of alternative pop with the raw energy and noise of punk, their layered guitars, heavy drums, and bass create a dense, dynamic sound that rewards repeated listens.
Their 2023’s debut ‘Quiz Show’ album is an electrifying collection full of protest, friendship and frustration. Their ‘Flotsam’ EP, released in 2024 and engineered by Ketchem and Brian Robbins (Blondie, Bring Me The Horizon, Papa Roach), explores the shattered, lost stories of people’s lives. Both releases received widespread critical acclaim.
“Our new ‘XONO’ EP captures the life of Quiz Show over the last year. After a run of EPs as a power trio, schedules and real life made time for the band tight. Nevertheless, we found a way to write, practice, and record ‘XONO’ and ‘Haircut Sphinx’. These songs give the best sense of where we have been trying to go with the band,” explains Chris Matthews.
“Joe and Chris are now playing as a duo and will be including an acoustic break in their live sets. The new recording of ‘Pom Pom’ shows how this will look”
As of September 28, the ‘XONO’ EP is out everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Quiz Show perform October 2 at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ, along with The Van Pelt.
TRACKLIST
1 . XONO
2 . Haircut Sphinx
3 . Pom Pom Boy (Acoustic)
EP CREDITS
Chris Matthews – guitars and vocals
Jesse Krakow – bass, organ, and backing vocals
Joe Billy III – drums, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Produced by Ray Ketchem
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Ray Ketchem
at Magic Door Recording, Montclair NJ
Recording at Magic Door Recording, Montclair NJ
Lyrics for Track 1 by Chris Matthews; Track 3 by Chris Matthews & Kevin March;
Track 2 written by Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices)
Music by Quiz Show
© 2024 Shake at the Thought (BMI)
Cover photo by Mike Roller
Design by Ray Ketchem
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR