TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb explained

TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb
Origin:Philadelphia, PA, US
Genre:folk rock, Americana
Years Active:2008 - present
Label:Good Behavior
Website:tjkongandtheatomicbomb.com
Current Members:Dan Bruskewicz
Dan Martino
Joshua Machiz
Josh Olmstead
Past Members:Joshua Willis
Kevin Conner
Johnny Bee

TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

History

TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb was founded by songwriter Dan Bruskewicz and drummer Dan Martino in March 2008, after the pair began working at the same restaurant in central Philadelphia. At that time, Martino (formerly of punk band Our Time) ran a house show venue in Philadelphia called The Blue Room, which was the group's initial practice and performance space.[1] The band's name references the film Dr. Strangelove,[2] and was initially used by Bruskewicz as a moniker for his solo material prior to meeting Martino.[3] Bruskewicz also performed in the band's early years as a busker in Philadelphia's Suburban Station.[4] They played initially as a duo, but put up ads on Craigslist for additional members; through this site they found Josh Willis, who played bass and banjo with the group from early 2009 to mid-2010.[5] Less than a year after its formation, the band self-released its debut EP, The Hinterlands,[6] and in the fall of 2009 they played the Pop Montreal festival.[7] Kevin Conner was added as a guitarist in early 2010. The band's debut full-length, Idiots, was released in May 2010 by the four-piece.[8]

In late 2010 they added upright bassist Joshua Machiz, who first appeared on the band's 2012 full-length, Manufacturing Joy.[1] The group organized a Tom Waits tribute night in January 2013 at the venue Jose Pistola's.[9] Conner left the group in 2013 and guitarist Josh Olmstead joined later that same year. The KONG EP, recorded in a single day with minimal rehearsal, was issued in March 2014.[7] A music video was created for a song off the KONG EP entitled "Blood in the Bathtub".[10] Following the release of the EP, the group toured the US, including a performance at SXSW.[11] American Diamond Recordings, a label run by Ron Gallo, picked the KONG EP up for digital distribution later that year.[12]

In 2017, the group signed with Good Behavior Records to release a third full-length, which was recorded at Kawari Sound Studios with producer Bill Moriarty.[13] That album, Dancing Out the Door, was released in October 2017.[14] The band framed its first three full-lengths as a trilogy; Bruskewicz noted, "Idiots explores folk music, Manufacturing Joy explores garage, delta blues and country, and Dancing out the Door adds horns as well as organ and keys to explore our strange version of New Orleans, the holiest of the holies."[15] The group filled out its sound for the album with trumpeter Patrick Hughes and pianist Mike Frank, who joined them on subsequent live dates.[16] A tour in support of Dancing Out the Door was launched in October and November 2017,[17] as well as a performance at Paste Studio.[18] [19] A track from Dancing Out the Door, "John Wilkes Booth", was included on a Good Behavior benefit compilation for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.[20] Salute magazine named Dancing out the Door its #1 "great album you might have missed" of 2017.[21]

Bruskewicz cites Patti Smith, Talking Heads, and Bob Dylan as major influences.[22] The band has hosted an annual Halloween weekend concert series called the "Rock 'n Roll Murdershow" in Philadelphia since 2010.[23] [24] [25] The eighth installment of the series was given in 2017.[26] [27]

In October 2020, Bruskewicz announced a side project, Dan the Movie, as well as the release of a single, "Annalily".[28]

Members

Current
Former

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Bryan Bierman, Editor's Pick: TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb at Johnny Brenda's. Philadelphia Weekly, September 26, 2012.
  2. Drew Lazor, Cover Story: TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb. Philadelphia City Paper, October 4, 2012. (mirror at Internet Archive)
  3. Q.D. Tran, Where Is My Mind?: TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb's Dan Bruskewicz. The Deli Philadelphia, September 2012.
  4. Kia Gregory and Sam Wood, "A Platform for Local Talent". Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 2009, p. A01.
  5. Sophia Varoumas, Features: TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb: Idiots are So Honest. Origivation, July 2010. (mirror at Internet Archive)
  6. Jacob Decoursey, Dancing Out the Door review. Shockwave Magazine, October 13, 2017.
  7. Beth Ann Downey, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb: Confessions of a Storyteller?. Jump Philly, February 16, 2015.
  8. A.D. Amorosi, Review of Idiots. Philadelphia City Paper, May 6, 2010. (mirror at Internet Archive)
  9. Julie Miller, TJ Kong Presents: An Evening with Tom Waits (tonight at Jose Pistola’s). WXPN, January 23, 2013.
  10. Sarah Hughes, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb release gritty new music video for “Blood In the Bathtub”. WXPN, November 1, 2014.
  11. Julie Miler, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb announce new EP Kong, throwing tour kick-off show at Kung Fu Necktie on 3/6. WXPN, March 4, 2014.
  12. John Vettese, Watch TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb’s irreverent new video for “Don’t Come Home Pretty Woman”. WXPN, September 2, 2014.
  13. Dom Vigil, TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb Announce New Album, "Dancing out the Door" out Friday The 13th of October. The Prelude Press, August 22, 2017.
  14. Rachel Freitas, Album review. Music Existence, October 12, 2017.
  15. https://glidemagazine.com/192624/song-premiere-tj-kong-atomic-bombs-explore-joyous-unhinged-piano-rock-john-wilkes-booth/ SONG PREMIERE: TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb’s Explore Joyous Unhinged Piano Rock on “John Wilkes Booth”
  16. Lauren Silvestri, TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb’s Annual Halloween Show is Out of this World. Rock On Philly, October 27, 2017.
  17. https://veraciousmagazine.com/2017/10/01/tj-kong-the-atomic-bomb/ Interview: TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb
  18. Scott Russell, Streaming Live from Paste Today: Whitney Rose, iLe, TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb. Paste, October 27, 2017.
  19. https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/10/tj-kong-the-atomic-bomb-full-session.html TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb - Full Session
  20. http://philadelphia.thedelimagazine.com/31985/new-track-john-wilkes-booth-tj-kong-and-atomic-bomb New Track: "John Wilkes Booth" - TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb
  21. Daniel Offner, Sounding OFF: Great Albums You Might Have Missed in 2017. Salute, November 17, 2017.
  22. John Vettese, Interview: Dan Bruskewicz of TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb on dark realities and writerly aspirations. WXPN, September 27, 2012.
  23. http://thekey.xpn.org/2010/10/20/the-key-studio-sessions-t-j-kong-and-the-atomic-bomb/ The Key Studio Sessions: T.J. Kong And The Atomic Bomb exorcise their musical demons
  24. Sarah Hughes, This year’s TJ Kong Murdershow is going to be a rager; check out the lineup. WXPN, September 9, 2014.
  25. Erin Blewett, Tonight’s Concert Picks: Sad13 at PhilaMOCA, Mexrrissey at The Kimmel Center, T.J. Kong and The Atomic Bomb at Underground Arts and more. WXPN, October 29, 2016.
  26. Sarah Hojsak, Tonight’s Concert Picks: TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb at Underground Arts, Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Appel Center, The Dead Milkmen at The Trocadero. WXPN, October 28, 2017.
  27. Michael Cerio, Celebrate Halloween With One Of Philly’s Best Bands. CBS Philadelphia, October 25, 2017.
  28. https://xpn.org/2020/10/20/dan-the-movie-annalily/ Dan The Movie embraces fun and simplicity with debut single “Annalily”

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