Red X Red M

from Austin, TX

Red X Red M is like Gang of Four meets Fugazi. I just pulled that off the top of my head but it sounds pretty good. They do too.

Press:

"Austin's Red X Red M has been steadily active since 2005, and while a power trio in number, they're a super-group drawn from a decade-plus of underground Red River grit. The trio is comprised of vocalist-guitarist David Uskovich (Switchhitter; Distorted Pony; Sweetpea), bassist-vocalist Yuri Campbell (Switchhitter; the f and the ©), and drummer Adam R. Hatley (Those Peabodys). A few years in the making, Between Your Prayers and My Curses Our Kind May Triumph Yet (Australian Cattle God) is their vinyl-only debut, and is a very clear notch in the American post-punk canon. In the contemporary climate of underground music, the hyphen does get overused - hence, it's a novel thing when bands flat-out rock. But attach intellect and complexity to the music, and that immediately becomes a qualifier placed on its motion.
"Step Now Nagurski" opens the first side in a stomping bass line, condensed and wiry guitar slides and flitting martial percussion as Uskovich's throaty yelps get squeezed out of a careening instrumental tautness. Sure, there are precedents to this sort of music - Killdozer, Arcwelder, The Jesus Lizard, Johnboy - but Red X Red M do it well and come by it honestly. "White Karate" has a differently ominous groove, like Gang of Four weaned on Middle American waste. "Boss of all Bosses" is Campbell's turn to unfurl a breathy diatribe in prickly pan-tempo gallops, its ascending bridge and fleet chug a hyperactive nod to Louisville sluggers Bastro. What really separates Red X Red M from contemporary and historical ilk is their noticeable lack of sludginess or lead feet, primarily attributed to Hatley's bright and straightforward approach to both the kit and advanced time signatures. That's not to say that Campbell and Uskovich can't also tweak a pummeling surge upward - "Flesh is the New Plastic" is undeniably kinetic and direct, even if it's more jittery than rump-jiggling. While certainly winking at a few forebears, Red X Red M has debuted with a refreshingly caustic bit of wax."

for THE AUSTINIST By CliffordAllen in Arts and Entertainment on May 5, 2010 12:41 PM

"I guess this a bit of an early write up, but hell…I couldn’t wait until the end of March to do so. I’d been waiting to hear recorded output from Red X Red M for probably two years now and right around Christmas time Australian Cattle God graciously ended that wait by passing along the bands upcoming full-length Between Your Prayers and My Curses Our Kind May Triumph Yet due out March 23rd I believe. I consider it one of the better presents I got this past year.
For anyone wondering who Red X Red M is, it happens to be the band that David Uskovich of Distorted Pony, Sweet Pea, and SWITCHhiTTER fame has been playing in with fellow SWITCHhiTTER member Yuri and drummer Adam Hatley. What you get here on their debut is something that is actually not to far from SWITCHhiTTER, but Red X Red M seem to be a bit of a tighter outfit while opting for a bit less of the hefty bass lines and feedback that some of Uskovich’s previous bands have so successfully utilized in the past. I’d say the late 70’s/early 80’s post-punk vibe is even more prevalent in these songs, obviously mixed in with a bit of the rough around the edges tinny sounding guitar work by Uskovich that gives it the sort of feel fans would expect. It’s been a bit of a wait, but it has most certainly proved to be worth it.
Red X Red M – Step Now Nagurskey (stream)
Keep an eye out for this one towards the end of March; it will be available on vinyl through Australian Cattle God."

-Built on a Weak Spot

Link to Red X Red M's myspace page
Red X Red M Onesheet (coming soon)