American Death Ray

In Memphis, Tennessee, around 1998, ex-'68 Comeback member Nicholas Ray assembled American Death Ray from local expats and miscellaneous pieces, igniting the group's sleazy, punk-damaged R&B sound. Brendan Lee Spengler, who had previously performed with both the Comeback and Compulsive Gamblers, handled keyboards, while Rich Cook, also of the Reatards, sat behind the drums. Bassist Jon Acosta and saxophonist Suzy Hawkins completed the early roster. Welcome to the Strange and Erotic World of the American Death Ray arrived in August 2001 and was followed a year later by the second LP, Smash Radio Hits; Sympathy for the Record Industry released both albums. By 2003 the lineup had shifted to Ray on vocals and guitar, Harlan T. Bobo on bass, and Shane Callaway on drums. This configuration delivered the economically named A New Commotion, a Delicate Tension (And the Exquisite Corpse of Mr. Jimmy) via Memphis indie Misprint in autumn 2003.