Legendary New York accidental post-punk band ESG has decided to call its September 21 appearance at Chicago's Abbey Pub for this month's Estrojam Fest its last. The group, originally comprised of the four Scroggins sisters (Deborah, Marie, Renee and Valerie) and conga player Tito Lebran, began replicating their favorite funk and disco musicians in the early '70s and eventually unconsciously tapped into the energy of early-'80s post-punk rhythm bands, making them favorites amongst hipsters like Tony Wilson (founder of Factory Records, who released the band's most well-known single) and Ed Bahlman (owner of 99 Records, whose roster included like-minded bands such as Liquid Liquid and Konk).
The band's relatively sparse output has become a ubiquitous presence in sampling; to list a few artists that have sampled ESG: LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Liars, Gang Starr, Wu-Tang, J-Dilla. The band's material has been compiled and released by Soul Jazz in recent years (check out A South Bronx Story 2, released this July). It's not exaggerating to say that the rhythm-centric indie dance wave of late (the Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, !!!, Liars, Out Hud, etc.) that has been largely inspired by ESG's music has rarely produced anything as forceful and hypnotic as the band's records. Here's your last chance to see 'em:
Estrojam 2007's website