Leftöver Crack

Musically fusing abrasive hardcore punk, ska rhythms, and sly death metal nods, the New York-based outfit Leftöver Crack centers its identity on confrontational leftist activism. Their explicit opposition to policing, racial prejudice, and anti-LGBTQ bias surfaced clearly across the 2001 album Mediocre Generica and the 2004 release Fuck World Trade, flanked by numerous singles, EPs, and split records issued through Hellcat, HellBent, and Fat Wreck Chords. After an extended break interrupted only by sporadic concerts, the group resurfaced in 2015 with Constructs of the State, its third studio album and another vehicle for pointed political commentary.

Leftöver Crack took shape in 2000 amid the dissolution of its predecessor, Choking Victim. At its foundation sit vocalist, primary songwriter, and provocateur Stza (Scott Sturgeon), guitarist Ezra Kire, and bassist Alec Baille, while the drum position has rotated through J.P. Otto, Brandon Possible, and Ara Babajian, the latter also maintaining membership in his longstanding ska-punk band the Slackers.

Following the self-released 2000 demo Shoot the Kids at School, Leftöver Crack issued its first vinyl effort, the Rock the 40 Oz. EP on Bankshot, then progressed to the full-length Mediocre Generica on Hellcat and Fuck World Trade on Alternative Tentacles. (Hellcat required the band to retitle the debut LP from its original Shoot the Kids at School name and to alter its accompanying artwork depicting the phrase literally; the group departed the label once the record appeared.) Possible’s death from a drug overdose in 2004 prompted a temporary disbandment. The following year Babajian assumed the drum chair and Brad Logan (also known as Brad Minus of the California pop-punk band F-Minus) joined on second guitar, enabling renewed touring and the 2007 split album Deadline with Citizen Fish on Fat Wreck.

Activity gradually dwindled over subsequent years as members pursued separate endeavors, notably Stza’s Star Fucking Hipsters and Ezra’s Morning Glory. Ezra exited amid a public dispute with Stza yet returned briefly for several 2010 performances. In late 2015 Leftöver Crack delivered its long-delayed third album, Constructs of the State, on Fat Wreck; the refreshed roster revolved around Stza and Baille alongside guitarist Chris Mann and drummer Donny, both formerly of Introsp3ct, second guitarist Brad Logan, and vocalist Kate Coysh. A 30-track anthology of B-sides and rarities titled Leftover Leftöver Crack appeared in 2018.