Tim Quirk (Too Much Joy) Posts Live Performance from Artist Activism Retreat, March '10

One of the best shows that I caught in 2007 was Too Much Joy's reunion show at the Knitting Factory. This one-time show was the band's first live performance in ten years and it doesn't look like the band will be performing again anytime soon. The band though posts a number of audio rarities (live, demos, rehearsals, etc.) to their website on a semi-regular basis.

A few months back, TMJ lead singer Tim Quirk, now the VP of Programing at Rhapsody, posted a two song live performance from the Artist Activism Retreat. At the closing benefit, Tim and the band performed "King of Beers" and a cover of The Clash's "Hateful".

That’s the horn chart for “King of Beers” above. Who knew it had so many notes?! My favorite part of the chart, though, is this notation in the bridge:

It just says, “crazy.” That’s pretty much how the whole night was. After “King of Beers,” we covered The Clash’s “Hateful,” and Tim McIlrath from Rise Against joined on guitar and vocals. - Tim Quirk

Links:
Too Much Joy

Too Much Joy Reunites for First Show in Ten Years

We sleep on floors and live on crumbs,We're a bunch of ugly bums.
A great idea when we were smashed...
Turning anger into cash.
To create, you must destroy.
Smash a glass and cry... Too Much Joy

Too Much Joy is playing a one-off all ages show at the Knitting Factory on May 4th. The band will be playing as a five-piece which will include both original bassist Sandy Smallens and later-day replacement William Whittman. This show is to celebrate Tommy Vinton's retirement from the NYPD.

Everyone has a band that was the soundtrack to their youth. Too Much Joy (along with Material Issue) were major parts of mine. Living in DC at the time, Too Much Joy seemed to headline quite a number of WHFS shows and you couldn't turn on the radio in the mid-90s without hearing a track from Cereal Killers. For whatever reason, the band never seemed to turn the corner and they ended up "fading away".

With the band members now living in different cities, this is probably the only chance to see this great band back together.

Check out some of the audio and video links below...buy a ticket to the show! I don't know if the show will sell out but the band certianly has the talent to pack the room.

Too Much Joy's website: http://www.sayhername.com/index.php

From the CD Cereal Killers: William Holden Caufield
From the CD Cereal Killers: Crush Story