This tape is a mystery. I have had this tape since June 24th, 1998, when I saw both bands at the Commerce street show space in Johnson City, along with a band called God Hates Computers that I recall having a record by at one time, and local favorites Kakistocracy. Why is this tape a mystery? Simple. I have lost all the packaging to this tape, I don't know any of the song names, but what I do know is that this split is awesome. I have listened to it many, many times, and now here it is for you.
Dempsey is first up (at least for me), with eight tracks of some great noisy, chaotic hardcore containing a healthy dose of atmospheric keyboards. The keyboardist also has a few solo piano pieces, including an old rag-time piece and a song about his hatred for computer nerds. I recall their set pretty well, they played a short, loud, intense set, the keyboardist joking between songs with the other band members, and at one point he put aluminum foil down on top of his keyboard, setting little plastic army men and other small toys on top of it, pouring lighter fluid on it, then setting it on fire, continuing to play. I was impressed.
Eleven Shot By Two offer us some more chaotic hardcore, even if the beginning of the first track does throw me a little because I think it's going to sound like early Dinosaur Jr., but then it's raging hardcore. I always listened to the Dempsey side more, but the 11SB2 side is awesome as well, it's definitely grown on me more over the years. Some of the tracks on their side segued into each, so I left those tracks as one mp3.
I'm putting this up because there is absolutely NOTHING about either of these bands online except for a shitty review of their show on my old show reviews page. I hope somebody in either of these bands comes across this and helps me fill in the blanks on this great tape.
Anyone who wants to hear some really good, unheard punk rock would be a fool to not download this.
