Japanther

Quite likely the most unapologetically artsy punk-related band since the early days of Sonic Youth -- when Kim Gordon was writing for Artforum, Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo worked with Glenn Branca, and underground movie star Richard Edson was their drummer -- Japanther is not in the least bit afraid to get all conceptual 'n' stuff. Japanther was formed in 2001 by Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek, undergrads at New York City's highly regarded art school The Pratt Institute. With Reilly singing while playing a three-stringed bass as Vanek simultaneously attacked a drum kit and a ban...