To Live and Shave in L.A.

Experimental collective (with aggressive noise, avant-garde, and post-punk leanings) formed by Tom Smith and Rat Bastard in 1991. A third member, Ben Wolcott, joined in 1993. Smith had previously been in the groups Boat, Pussy Galore, and Peach of Immortality. Bastard had been in Miami-based trio Scraping Teeth; Wolcott was a filmmaker and sound designer. Their debut release was 1994's "30-Minuten Mannercreme." Went on a three-year hiatus beginning in 2000, during which time Smith formed the "Actionist" ensemble Ohne, and Bastard focused on his Laundry Room Squelchers group. TLASILA reformed in 2003; recordings and tours have followed, and the line-up has grown to include all-star players including members of Sonic Youth and Sightings. Group's recordings combine elements of musique concrete, noise, heavy dub, and pervasive electronics to create often violent, but increasingly lyrical backdrops which frame vocalist Smith's literate, oddly disturbing croon.