The Gotobeds
Definitely Not a Redd Kross EP
Chunklet Industries
Pittsburgh-bred post-punkers The Gotobeds have never been ones to shy away from acknowledging their influences. The ramshackle foursome named themselves after Wire drummer Robert “Gotobed” Grey. Their second full-length and first Sub Pop release, Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic is, obviously, a play on the Red Hot Chili Peppers breakout album. Curiously, “Fucking Machine” from The Gotobeds’ debut album starts with one bar of the main beat from C+C Music Factory’s hit “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” before heading into a breezy and somewhat atonal riff.
So, it’s fitting that The Gotobeds recreated Redd Kross’ self-titled debut EP. Like the cult punks’ original 1980 release, Definitely Not a Redd Kross EP, clocks in at just over six minutes. The straightforward opener, “Cover Band” is the longest track – coming in at just under a minute and a half. Although staying faithful to the original EP, The Gotobeds’ version features better production and deeper vocals. (Case in point: The Gotobeds’ “Annette’s Got the Hits” is smoother than the jumpy original). But make no mistake; Definitely Not a Redd Kross EP still retains the same bratty feel as the actual Redd Kross EP.
In addition to Redd Kross’ EP being out of print, so is the limited edition release of Definitely Not a Redd Kross EP. All 200 copies of The Gotobeds’ 7” are sold out. You can, however, still stream the tracks. Was manufacturing 200 physical copies a ploy? Nah. The Gotobeds just wanted to avoid potential legal trouble. Since forming in 2009, The Gotobeds have done most things with a wink and a nod. They’re sarcastic without being pretentious, making them a perfect fit to pay tribute to Redd Kross.