The Spicy Rizzaks

Role:
Co-founder, bassist, songwriter, manager, booker, poster designer

Challenge:
To create a band and play a one-off show at the Royal Flush Magazine release party at CBGBs.

The Project:
Throughout their brief career, the Rizzaks have drawn comparisons to a wide array of bands such as The Ramones, The Dead Kennedys, MC5, The Misfits and Rocket From The Crypt. Since forming in early 2001, the Rizzaks have made grown men weep with their music which is equal parts ’77-era punk, garage, psychobilly, maximum rock & roll and blue-eyed soul. The band has recently put the finishing touches on their debut album Endgame. The full-length release finally showcases the many moods and sounds that lurk in their mighty rock ‘n’ roll arsenal. The new songs run the gamut from two minute psycho-punk blasts to arena-rock sized epics that will violently peel the paint of your walls. Recorded at various locations around New York City, the album was produced by the band and Chris Flam of Mindswerve Studios, who had previously worked with Mindless Self Indulgence, Metallica, Korn and KMFDM. In 2002, the Rizzaks were asked to record music for the Off-Broadway production of David Rabe’s Hurlyburly. Recently, The Rizzaks also filmed a series of commercials to air on the AMC Network, which feature the Rizzaks performing their hit single “Sweep the Leg” live on a rooftop. The ads coincide with AMC’s airing of the 1984 classic, The Karate Kid. Most recently the Rizzaks had the great honor of participating in Little Steven’s Underground Garage “Battle of the Bands.”

Testimonials:
“The Rizzaks race through their punk tunes faster than a Mexican meal left out for a few days runs through you. They curse so much they make Andrew W.K. look like Barry Manilow and it would probably help to down a handful of speed just to keep up with them. Nevertheless, they’re also harmless fun and re-create American punk the way the Dead Boys, The Damned and the Ramones played it way back when.”
—The Village Voice

“Their music will have you scratching your head and your ass simultaneously. What the hell do these silly men think they’re doing and why am I liking it? This will turn off most thinking people, but for the rest of us it’s a dishonorably good time.”
—Punk Planet

“In a short time the Spicy Rizzaks have created quite the small buzz for themselves which has garnered a loyal following for these Lower East Siders.”
—Time Out New York

“Tired of songs praising the booty? Lower East Side Punks, The Spicy Rizzaks wrote an ode to the side of the body wherein the lion’s share of anatomical naughty bits are found, hence ‘Front Toucher.’ A song that’s six parts ‘77-era punk and one part class-clown-who-makes-farting-sounds-with-his-armpits. With the band, the record label, the comic book and now the sandwich, the Rizzaks have created quite the cottage-industry for themselves.
—OC Weekly

“ The spiciest guys in rock and roll! “Crack The Whip,” “Action Slacks,” and “Mudflap Girl” all kick some serious spicy ass.
—Neil Smith, 100 Punks Zine

“Vigorous NYC Rock N Roll with a huge dose of enjoyment. Great pace, great style. This is real entertainment and ability.”
—No Front Teeth Zine

“Combining the rock and roll intensity of the New Bomb Turks with the outright melodic profanity of G.G. Allin and the Jabbers, New York City supagroup The Spicy Rizzaks are operating at a whole different level. Under the radar, maybe, but hopefully not for long. Taking a playful dig at their citymates and all-around douche bags The Strokes, The Spicy Rizzaks know how to have a good time, even if it’s at other people’s expense. Vocalist Jon Bon Rizzak has a similar vocal delivery to Jason Kendall in his Amazing Royal Crowns days, so that conjures up a whole bunch of happy memories for yours truly. Coming in at a disapointingly short three tunes- disapointing only because we need more – “Actually, No…This Is It!” is a BONA FIDE SCORCHER.”
—Steve Dwyer, Fat City Magazine

“Although I have to disagree with the band on the abuse/cruelty of donkeys on the cover of this album, I don’t think this is what the Spicy Rizzaks are all about. The album is flavored in a sense of old punk rock until you hit “Cambodian Sweatbox”. This song takes me back to the era of The Dead Kennedys with sing a long lyrics and fast/punching guitars.”
—Crashin’ In

“Pretty fun concept for a pretty funny band. The three songs here are speed rock gone full blown backyard warrior with a great sense of humor and heavy enough sound to make them rise above the usual frat rock one would expect from an outfit like this. “Mudflap Girl,” is almost an epic fable of backseat love gone horribly wrong, or right…you decide. All in all, in three songs, The Spicy Rizzaks impressed enough for me to say check ’em out or maybe wait for the full length or even if they come through your town, because I bet they put on a pretty good show. When you hear them you’ll visualize the four boys jumping around and flailing through smoke machines and flashpots. At least that’s what I saw!”
—Whittaker, Shredding Paper

“ The Spicy Rizzaks have everyone here at Waste Central flying around the office. Keep it coming, can’t get enough.  Ripping guitar and death-throw vocals. Raw tunes that deliver. Shades of the New York Dolls with a couple shots of rockbilly. If you can sit still to this then you must be dead! Punchy, killer rock’n’roll. Don’t settle for less, these guys are the real deal.”
—Starr Tucker, New York Waste 

Video Clips:
Sweep The Leg – Official Video
Count of Monte Fisto – Official Video
Sweet Sass – Official Burlesque Video
Running From the Gun – Official Video
Nerds – Official Video
Crack The Whip – Official Video
Sweet Sass – Official Live Video
Cambodian Sweatbox – Official Video
AMC TV commercial
The Watermelon Incident

Live Performances:
Ramblin’ Rose – Mercury Lounge, 2013
Action Slacks – Mercury Lounge, 2013
Sweet Sass  -Mercury Lounge, 2013
Nerds  -rehearsals, 2013
The Immigrant Song, rehearsals, 2013
Not Your Bed – Parkside Lounge, 2011
Johnny B. Goode – Parkside Lounge, 2011
Fortunate Son – The Delancey, 2005
The American Ruse – The Delancey, 2005
Last Caress  – The Delancey, 2004
Kiss Me Deadly – The Delancey, 2004
The Spiceman Cometh – CBGBs, 2003
Blast Off To Kicksville – Southpaw, 2003
Battered – CBGBs – CBGBs, 2003
Dump Me, I Need the Material – CBGBs, 2003
Jesus Cadillac, Robo-Christ – CBGBs, 2003
Catfight! – CBGBs, 2003
Train Kept A Rollin – Southpaw, 2003
Running From the Gun – CBGBs, 2003
Santa Claus is Coming To Town – Pianos, 2003
Front Toucher – Pianos, 2003
Mudflap Girl – CBGBs, 2002
Psycho – Luna Lounge, 2002
I Love LA – The Gig, 2002
Sock It To Me Baby, The Continental, 2002
I Give – CBGBs, 2001
I Wanna Be Your Man – CBGBs, 2001