Flat Duo Jets “Introducing the Flat Duo Jets” 1995. Norton Records. The album’s title is misleading – Introducing the Flat Duo Jets is the band’s sixth LP since they formed in ‘83; it was recorded on one day in ‘94. I like this description of Introducing on Norton Records’ website “A heaping low-fi helping of the raucous subterranean sludge that first made these goofballs semi famous.” At times frenetic retro rockabilly (“Whoa Blue Baby,” “That’s The Way I Love,” “Breakout” and a fantastic cover of Bo Diddley’s “Pretty Thing”) or forlorn and lonesome ( “Is Life Real,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”), the two-piece Flat Duo Jets pack in 20 bite-sized lo-fi punk blues and country-tinged tracks.

We saw Flat Duo Jets around ‘95 at an in-store at RushMor Records smaller, original location in Milwaukee. Dex Romweber (guitar, vocals) and Chris “Crow” Smith (drums) wedged themselves in between record aisles, plugged into a lone amp and let loose their version of rockabilly garage blues crazy. I may not remember this correctly but I think that Crow may have played his drum case in lieu of a bass drum. We were standing so close to Dex that it was uncomfortable – like eye contact would have been at a level of intimacy you save for only close friends and family and even then it’s weird. That said, it was amazing to be so close that we could see the vibration of the guitar strings as Dex ripped through the set.