The Cryptkeeper Five (sometimes referred to as CK5) are an American punk rock/
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm a ...
band formed in 1997 in
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784. Johnny's first CK5-leaning lyrics were for a song called "Black Death A Go-Go." At the outset, the group were a "straight ahead punk rock band", according to D.T. Their first album, ''Dear Dr. X... I Wanna be the Creature'' (1997) not only reflects this musical direction, but also was characterized lyrically by a preoccupation with "B-movies." Although they have evolved since, they have retained a "raw" and unpremeditated approach to music, letting the music flow organically. This attitude is not, again according to D.T., to be confused with being content with "sounding like shit".
The band's name would appear to be a blended reference to the fictional "crypt-kicker five" from the ''Monster Mash'', and the host of
EC Comics
Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books, which specialized in horror fiction, crime fiction, satire, military fiction, dark fantasy, and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950 ...
's
Tales From the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt may refer to:
* ''Tales from the Crypt'' (album), by American rapper C-Bo
* ''Tales from the Crypt'' (comics), published by EC Comics during the 1950s
** ''Tales from the Crypt'' (film), a 1972 Amicus film starring Ralph Ric ...
. However, vocalist Johnny Ott has stated that this was only a subconscious influence, and that the name was instead a horror rock update of the pop/rock "Fives", such as
Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five, also known as the DC5, were an English rock and roll band formed in 1958 in Tottenham, London. Drummer Dave Clark served as the group's leader, producer and co-songwriter. In January 1964 they had their first UK top ten sin ...
and
Jackson Five
The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...
. Unlike those groups, CK5's name does not refer to the number of band members, which has fluctuated from between 3 and 7 musicians.Cryptkeeper Five keeps evolving GoUpstate.com. Retrieved on 2015-03-23.
CK5 have toured extensively along the US east coast and midwest since their formation, they toured Europe and the UK in 2016, and continue to play frequent dates, internationally, to this day. The current lineup includes Johnny Ott ''(vocals/ guitar)'', Jimmy Ray ''(guitar/ vocals)'', D.T. Graves ''(drums/ vocals)'', Mikey G ''(bass guitar/ vocals)', and Brian Mazzarini (''drums'').
The band's music was used in the 2007 movie ''Welcome to Dreadville II: Red in Dreadville'' written by Jason Patfield, directed by Michael Schmid and John Bienasz.
On December 13, 2014, CK5 played a benefit at the Brighton Bar for that legendary club's long time booker Jacko Monahan, who was battling necrotizing fasctitis.
Influences and musical style
In addition to
The Ramones
The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United S ...
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the la ...
among its influences.
While other punk rock and
horror punk
Horror punk is a music genre that mixes punk rock and 1950s-influenced doo-wop and rockabilly sounds with morbid and violent imagery and lyrics which are often influenced by horror films and science fiction B-movies. The genre was pioneered b ...
bands have produced a blend of 1950s rock and Ramones/Misfits inspired punk, CK5 are unique for introducing a sax-including Jersey rock element to that mix. Regarding this mix of influences, a writer for Punk Globe Magazine, in reviewing ''Rise of the Palace Depression''/''Darker Days'', suggested that a comparison to the
E Street Band
The E Street Band is an American rock band, and has been musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. For the bulk of Springsteen's recording and performing caree ...
is valid, and that CK5's Doo wop usage is in a more similar vein to Frank Zappa than to Frankie Valli. In a 2002 interview, drummer D. T. Graves said of the music which inspires them: "All the great genres of rock- 50's rock, the girl groups of the 60's, the 70's punk, Jersey shore rock... all tend to rely on the same qualities. They tap into something that makes your heart skip a beat or two, the magical quality."Cryptkeeper Five , Trenton Makes ... The World Takes , Interview Chorusandverse.com (2010-06-21). Retrieved on 2015-03-23.
Their sound has inspired some colorful descriptions. Music journalist-author Gary Wien, who wrote that CK5's music is "most likely like nothing you would expect", described said music thusly: "Roy Orbison singing lead for the Ramones covering
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band is an American rock band from Rhode Island which began its career in 1972, and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s. Originally known as simply Beaver Brown, they got their name from a paint can. The clas ...
". Other commenters have come up with "Elvis does the
Monster Mash
"Monster Mash" is a 1962 novelty song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton's Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called '' The Original Monster Mash'', which contained sev ...
",Welcome to the Elvis Information Network Elvisinfonet.com (2004-09-20). Retrieved on 2015-03-23. and "
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as " rock & roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis ma ...
(singing) for the Misfits"; a reviewer for punk fanzine ''
Razorcake
Razorcake is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that publishes the Razorcake fanzine, a DIY punk rock fanzine published bi-monthly out of Los Angeles, California. It was co-founded by Todd Taylor (former Flipside managing editor) and Sean Ca ...
'' chose a somewhat more contemporary reference, writing "imagine Danzig fronting Rocket from the Crypt".Punk Music Reviews , Cryptkeeper Five, The , The Rise of Palace Depression/ Darker Days Razorcake (2014-10-19). Retrieved on 2015-04-23.
The Cryptkeeper Five in Published Books
Gary Wien, a New Jersey music journalist who specializes in writing about the music of his home state, included the Cryptkeeper Five's 2006 full length ''The Rise of the Palace Depression'' ("a tremendously interesting release with a sound completely its own") as one of the top 100 disks of the decade 2001-2010, alongside offerings by artists such as Bruce Springsteen,
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance (commonly abbreviated to MCR or My Chem) is an American rock band from Newark, New Jersey. The band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, lead guitarist Ray Toro, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, and bassist ...
,
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne was an American rock band that formed in New York City in 1995. The band included founding members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter, and Brian Young. They released five albums from 1996 to 2011 before e ...
, and
Bouncing Souls
The Bouncing Souls are an American punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, formed in 1989. By the time of their acknowledgment by the national punk rock scene, they had reignited a "pogo" element to New Jersey punk rock by playing fast light-he ...
, in his book ''Are You Listening?'' The CK5 song "Sweet Baby Jane" was likewise listed as the 72nd greatest Garden State offering of the same decade. The book was the product of 6 months of research for Wien, during which time he listened to over 2,200 releases by New Jersey artists.
CK5 were reviewed in the 2009 book ''Music to Die For'' by former Melody Maker journalist
Mick Mercer
Mick Mercer (born Bichael Bercer, 2 June 1957) is a journalist and author best known for his books, photos and reviews of the goth, punk and indie music scenes.
Life and work
Mercer is primarily a writer focused on the gothic scene and its m ...
, published by Cherry Red Books, as part of that book's sub-titular international "Last Great Underground Scene."
Fitting for a band that has been so inspired by some of its famous alumni, CK5 is one of many bands whose logo can be found represented among the collection of graffiti and stickers on the walls of
CBGB
CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in Manhattan's East Village. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for '' Country'', '' BlueGrass'', and '' Blues'', Kr ...
in the coffee table book ''CBGB: Decades of Graffiti'' by Christopher D. Salyers. The band played the legendary club regularly during the time that both entities were extant.
Press Coverage
Steppin' Out Magazine/ Jersey Style columnist Josh Davidson has written that CK5 "plays a new brand of rock, drawing from some of its rawest composers like
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...
,
Eddie Cochran
Ray Edward Cochran (; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. Cochran's songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", "Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desir ...
and
Joey Ramone
Jeffrey Ross Hyman (May 19, 1951 – April 15, 2001), known professionally as Joey Ramone, was an American musician, best known as the lead singer and a founding member of the punk rock band Ramones. His image, voice, and his tenure with the R ...
. "
Ray Lujan of influential punk rock periodical Maximum Rock n' Roll included CK5's ''Unbeatable Cry'' CD as one of his top 10 recent recordings in the March 28, 2012 issue.
Dan Armonaitis of
Spartanburg Herald
The ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal'' is a daily newspaper, the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States.
History
The origins of the paper lie with ''The Spartan'', a weekly paper reportedly first printed in about 1842†...
compared the band to
The Dictators
The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth."
Origins
The band was formed in 1972 by Andy "Adn ...
and
Iggy and the Stooges
The Stooges, originally billed as the Psychedelic Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, was an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave ...
.
A writer for the
Trentonian
''The Trentonian'' is a daily newspaper serving Trenton, New Jersey, USA, and the surrounding Mercer County community. The paper in 2020 has a daily circulation of under 8,000 and a Sunday circulation under 7,000. As of August 2020, it was ranke ...
referred to CK5 as "punk-a-billy giants".
Scott Cronick from
The Press of Atlantic City
''The Press of Atlantic City'' is the fourth-largest daily newspaper in New Jersey. Originally based in Pleasantville, it is the primary newspaper for southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. The newspaper designated market runs from Ware ...
opined that "when it comes down to it, there's nothing really ordinary about The Cryptkeeper Five".
Jose Diaz of ''Ink 19'' magazine noted that Johnny Ott has a "Elvis-by-way-of-the Misfits" bearing, and described the band's music as having a "muscular, loud, and fast garage punk sound with rockabilly influences."Diaz, Julio. (2000-08-10 The Independents Ink 19. Retrieved on 2015-03-23.