BEST LIVE BAND!! 2006 WINNER PITCH MAGAZINE BEST OF KANSAS CITY It was 2001 when The V8s gave premature birth to their demo (turned overnight spectacle with umbilical cord intact and dragging in an oily wake) "It's On!" on the Shock Factory Rockstar Manufacturing Machine. Man, how time flies when you're groping and bleeding on innocent spectators. After multiple lineup changes and debates over the word "The", they are back stronger than even I could imagine. Ryjo Mattes, Kriss Ward, J.Z., and latest addition Chico Thunder are killing it. From Pitch Magazine's Best of Kansas City 2006 Arts & Entertainment: Best Live Band "Time was, just about every car that rolled out of Detroit packed a V8 engine, the monster that drove families to church and propelled teenagers recklessly down back roads after dark. Now, big engines are the albatross around America's gas-guzzling neck, and workaday speed demons are lucky to have a V6 under their sensible hoods. So it's not the Dodge hemi that comes to mind when the Last of the V8s plays but rather a steel-bodied, four-door GM battle cruiser, trashed on the inside, rusty along the bottom, its crackly stereo blasting "I Wanna Be Your Dog." At every live show, band builds an altar to rock, with high priest-cum-lead singer Ryan Mattes sacrificing himself in a frenzy of growls, sweat, stage dives and self-inflicted bloody gashes. Meanwhile, bassist Chico Thunder and guitarist Jay Zastoupil mount roaring assaults; at least once every show, Zastoupil climbs atop Thunder's shoulders to form a chicken-fight totem pole of rock. In the back, Kriss Ward pounds bolts into the foundation, delivering savage backup yeahs into a mic. The overall effect is ridiculously thundering, like a Delta '88 motoring out of control through rush-hour traffic on the Denver-Lincoln-Detroit highway. For those just joining us: The Last of the V8s are back in full swing. for some a dream come true for some a reoccuring nightmare. For those new to the chaos, welcome. In 2001 The V8s released their first album "IT'S ON!" on KC label Shock Factory records with much local fanfair but before one speck of dust could settle the band was on the road touring the west coast and Canada sharing the stage with such acts as: Rocket From The Crypt, The Black Halos, Nashville Pussy, Mudhoney, Nebula, The Gaza Stippers and The Dragons and many others. The band continued to tour, members came and went but drummer Kriss Ward, guitarist Jay Zastoupil and singer Ryan Mattes remained the core of the band. In two short years and before releasing their second album the band broke up claiming artistic differences. Now 2006 the beast is back and it's pissed! With former Cretin 66 bassist Chico Thunder filling out the low-end the sound is more powerful, energetic and furocious than it ever before. Look out for the brand new release. This band's very existence in a market driven by the most poisonous, bullshit trends is poignant in itself. Seeing them play live is like watching a band of Comanche warriors go to battle for the last time majestic and tragic. But I don't mean to sound dire about the V8s future. They'll be playing shows at home in KC in the coming weeks, and maybe theyll go on tour and cut a record. This is a band we should be fucking thankful for. You can't put a price on rock that pure." - Jason Harper, Music Editor Pitch Weekly Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.