Angst for the Buddha

>> Zen Guerrilla's natural blues-punk blend

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

The line between punk and blues has always been a blurred one. History lesson: in the mid-'30s, Robert Johnson spits in the face of gospel-lovin', church-goin' folk by taking a trip down to the crossroads and selling his soul to the Devil. Sex Pistols tour the Bible Belt in punk's glory year 1977 and God-fearing rednecks spit in their faces. Protests erupt outside of venues, claiming Johnny Rotten to be a servant of Satan. Without a doubt the Devil's music has found a dancing partner in punk.

Many have successfully fused punk and blues--Jeffrey Lee Pierce's amazing Gun Club, the Birthday Party, Jack O' Fire, Sister Double Happiness--but more often than not we end up with prefab, watered-down crap. Zen Guerrilla have managed to marry the two with equal respect and honesty.

Before starting Zen Guerrilla, singer/guitarist/harmonica player/college punker Marcus Durant cut his teeth playing blues clubs in his home state of Delaware.

"When I was growing up, my dad was always playing blues, soul and gospel in my house. When I heard punk rock, it was just a natural evolution. Punk rock is filled with angst, and the blues is based on that. There is a lot of soul in punk rock."

After a stretch on Jello Biafra's label Alternative Tentacles, Zen Guerrilla is poised for greatness on the new rock 'n' roll-revamped Sub Pop, who are betting all their marbles on the recent rock 'n' roll resurgence.

"I was never embarrassed to call myself a member of a rock band, even when a bunch of other bands were jumping ship.

I can definitely feel something is happening again with rock 'n' roll, but outside of our shows or our rehearsal space I never really noticed it ever went away."

With the Hellacopters at Foufounes Électriques on Friday, September 17, 8pm, $16