Cock E.S.P. is a band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group draws on extreme, subversive and absurdist elements of popular and experimental twentieth century music and performance art.

History

Although the group has dabbled in various musical styles and techniques over the years, the most recent has involved the showcasing and amplifying of mistakes and equipment failures. E.S.P. began to feel that such unintended sounds actually had a greater capacity for chaos and intensity than those sounds they actually wished to create. Thus, recent studio recordings were edited to isolate and emphasize these sounds, creating an intricate web of pure noise.

The group's live performance has changed over the years, starting out as a standard recital of the recorded music, and eventually ending up as a drunken absurdist theatrical production utilizing homemade costumes, props and elaborate stage lighting set-ups; combining the elements of MTV’s "Jackass" with a literally crippling level of ineptitude. On a recent 2011 tour the group introduced an all wireless setup which allow not only greater freedom-of-movement but created another level of uncertainty with all manor of radio stations, shortwave, CB and other unintended electronic interference to play a role, including bizarre interactions between E.S.P. performers' signals.

Cock E.S.P. is often noted for injecting comedic and absurdist elements into their; the result of an ever-increasing level of hard work and professionalism. Despite releasing dozens of lo-fidelity demo cassettes in their early days that tend to consist of long, utterly lazy-sounding static tracks of heavily distorted low- to mid-range noise that sound like no one was paying any attention to any aspect of them, the group now embraces production values.

The roots of ESP date back to 1984, when founding member P.C. Hammeroids organized a metal-percussion noise ensemble called Grandpa Eats Goat Cheese. Over the next nine years, Hammeroids recorded and performed under several names, adding more and more electronic noise to the mix. In 1993 Hammeroids joined forces with Emil Hagstrom (of Wrong), beginning the project which would soon become known as Cock E.S.P. The name of the group appears to have been derived from one of the track titles of an album by the Japanese noise band Hanatarash.

Hammeroids retired in 1996 and was replaced later that year by Matt Bacon.

Members

  • Emil Hagstrom
  • Elyse Perez
  • Matt Bacon
  • Paige Flash
  • John Vance
  • Jason Wade
  • NoNo Vetsch
  • Jaime Carrera (deceased)
  • Nicole Rode
  • Greg Anderson
  • Mike Etoll
  • Tim Carrol
  • Caro Kora
  • Caitlin Karolczak

Discography

Albums

  • We mean It This Time (1999) Blackbean & Placenta
  • Excessive Size Punisher (2000) Fever Pitch
  • Hurts So Good: The Painful Remixes (2003) Offal
  • Cockworld Little Mafia
  • Last Train to Cocksville Little Mafia (with Panicsville)

Singles

  • Music for Man With No Name (1994)

Compilation appearances

  • "I Lied About Your Band So I Could Drink Beer For Free" on Brainwaves (2006)
  • OvO/Cock ESP split 7” on Little Mafia (2006)

Audio

Samples of Cock E.S.P.'s musical output can be found here.

References

  • Cock E.S.P press clippings
  • Cock ESP Official site
  • Emil's site
  • Video documentary of a 2019 show in Fargo ND
  • Cock E.S.P. Live August 23, 2019. Columbus, Ohio.