To promote the release of their sophomore album, last October's blistering "The Chemistry of Common Life," Toronto punks F-cked Up played a free gig in a New York boutique store. So what's the big deal you're wondering? The sextet's performance lasted a punishing 12 hours and saw them collaborating with electro wiz Moby, Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis and Ezra Koenig from alterna-pop buzz band Vampire Weekend.
The unabated love for F-cked Up from famed peers continued earlier this month with punk icons Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) joining them for songs during shows in California. Musicians aren't the only folks going gaga for the act's abrasive, experimental mix of vintage hardcore, prog and shoegaze. "The Chemistry of Common Life" has been universally heralded by the media, rightfully drawing comparisons to innovative hardcore classics by Black Flag and Sweden's Refused.
Finding a nonoffensive way to reference F-cked Up has caused headaches for some mainstream media outlets. Canadian book retailer Chapters banned the November issue of local music magazine Chart for publishing the band's uncensored moniker on its cover. The New York Times avoided similar controversy by running reviews of F-cked Up concerts in 2007 and 2009 that made no reference to the band's name at all.