Born in Manhattan in 1994, the Lower East Side Stitches made a name for themselves in the local underground music scene with their infectious, high-energy punk rock. The band, formed by drummer-turned-vocalist Mick Brown and lead guitarist Curt Gove (formerly of the Radicts and later of the U.S. Bombs), brought a rough-hewn 1970s sensibility to the Giuliani era in the mid-1990s. They quickly conquered infamous New York watering holes such as CBGB, Coney Island High, Continental, Tramps, and the Wetlands—all now defunct—before moving to the national stage.
The Stitches recorded their first single, “Rustic City,” with New York-based producer Daniel Rey, who is perhaps best known for his work with the Ramones. The single, with the anthemic chorus of the title track and the dynamic B-side “Never Comin’ Back,” paved the way for three full-length albums: Snapped (1997), Staja ’98 LES (1998; also produced by Rey), and Lower East Side (2000).
In addition to regular episodes of destruction at local New York clubs, the band’s punk-rock mission led them on six tours of the U.S. and four of Canada. The Stitches also caused an international disturbance with a trip to Germany in 2001.
The band’s extensive résumé includes the 1998 Warped Tour, 1999’s Social Chaos Tour, and an opening slot for Bad Religion in 2001. Along the way they played with the likes of Rancid, NOFX, the Bouncing Souls, the Swingin’ Utters, Stiff Little Fingers, the Business, the UK Subs, and the Vibrators. The Stitches also were featured in the Spike Lee movie Summer of Sam (1999), in which they appear playing on stage at CBGB.
After countless shows over the years and many miles traveled, life interrupted, and the Stitches opted for a hiatus from 2002 to 2006.
For years, the Stitches were the bartenders, the club owners, and the salesmen at the local thrift shop and shoe store in their namesake New York City neighborhood. They could be found around town at any hour of the day, because if they weren’t working, they were sitting on a bar stool at one of their local establishments. The Stitches were the band that was always looking out for the kids, the band with a voicemail hotline to announce upcoming shows. In fact, if you happened to be a 17-year-old kid who called that number just because you wanted to tell the band that you thought their record rocked, they actually called you back to say thanks. And for a punk rocker of a certain age, that was just the coolest thing.
For all their success, the Lower East Side Stitches never lost their New York edge. And now they are back—a little older and probably no wiser, but definitely no worse for wear. Keep an ear out, because their new album, Still Bleedin', is set for release this year.
Brian Manning
New York City
July 7, 2009
