NASA Space Universe

After the collapse of controversial, experimental Santa Ana Art electropunk band Zoophilia, Kevin Hermes (Drums), and Kevin Rhea (Vocals) joined with John Cardwell (Guitar), whom they had worked with prior in the SCHS (Santa Claus Hypnosis Show). NSU starting as a Pyramid Scheme system,{{cite web|author=Rex Reason |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-10-18/music/aural-reports/ |title=Aural Reports – Page 1 – Music – Orange County |publisher=OC Weekly |date=October 18, 2007 |accessdate=2012-02-20}} Punk crime group, and Socio-political project. After a group viewing of Videodrome and all having a connection that particular viewing, they then later played to what videodrome had influenced them to play that particular night. Soon after the Socio-political project was transformed to the current punk rock incarnation of NASA Space Universe . In the summer of 2006 they met Paul Kubasek of Noise Rock band Ex Oblivione during a Zoophilia show at The Smell{{cite web|last=Carnage |first=Sean |url=http://www.seancarnage.com/2010/07/08/interstellar-overdrive-nasa-space-universe-in-words-sounds/ |title=Interstellar overdrive: NASA Space Universe in words + sounds |website=Seancarnage.com |date= July 8, 2010|accessdate=2012-02-20}} Two months later they became a quartet and started playing shows in the Southern California Area.

After continuous touring, their first release was a self titled extended play on Gradual Limbo Records. NSU started to play more notable shows including the Smell's 10th anniversary,{{cite web|url=http://www.cockrockdisco.com/phorum//read.php?6,30497 |title=SMELL 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BEGINS TONITE!!! |website=Cockrockdisco.com |date= |accessdate=2007-12-27}} and a concert on a boat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzICJiy5CY|title=NASA SPACE UNIVERSE – boat show1 – YouTube|date=March 11, 2008 |publisher=YouTube|accessdate=September 27, 2020}} This followed with a tour of the Pacific Northwest with Okie Dokie a Cal Arts band featuring a then student Mikal Cronin. For much of the year NSU played numerous shows for Sean Carnage Mondays, Don Bolles' Club Ding-a-ling, as well as numerous warehouses, generator shows, and fringe venues. Despite the Reverb heavy punk movement of the Los Angeles scene NSU, had continued their abstract punk sound and played with many bands such as xbxrx, White Lung, Shearing Pinx, Mika Miko, White Flag, The Urinals, and Saccharine Trust.{{Cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/music/NASA+Space+Universe/+wiki?a=1&b=2|title=NASA Space Universe biography|website=Last.fm|accessdate=September 27, 2020}} NSU had also been played on several punk and independent radios as Nardwuar's WFMU show,{{Cite web|url=http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/35940|title=Nardwuar vs. Feist and The Mars Volta! : Nardwuar The Human Serviette Show|website=Wfmu.org|accessdate=September 27, 2020}} Razorcake,{{Cite web |url=http://www.razorcake.org/punk-music-podcast/razorcake-podcast-48-with-daryl-gussin |title=Razorcake | Punk Music Podcast | Todd Taylor | Razorcake Podcast #48 | with Daryl Gussin |access-date=2012-02-27 |archive-date=2013-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527235049/http://www.razorcake.org/punk-music-podcast/razorcake-podcast-48-with-daryl-gussin |url-status=dead }} Maximumrockandroll,{{Cite web|url=http://radio.maximumrocknroll.com/mrrradio1238/|title=MRR Radio #1238 • 4/3/11|website=Maximumrocknroll.com|date=April 3, 2011 |accessdate=September 27, 2020}} and KXLU's Demolisten,{{Cite web|url=https://demolisten.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/02012008-demolisten-the-douglas-lee/|title=02.01.2008 Demolisten – The Douglas Lee|website=Demolisten.wordpress.com|date=February 2, 2008|accessdate=September 27, 2020}} as well as performing live on air.[http://www.kxludemolisten.blogspot.com/.../4302010-nasa-space-universe.html] {{dead link|date=September 2020}} The Release and constant touring eventually caught the attention of many critics and fans including Kyle H. Mabson,{{cite web |url=http://www.eyesthatsee.com/reverseretro/?p=60 |title=Reverse Retro » Blog Archive » Kyle H. Mabson ((((((Interview Journey Part No. 2)))))) |publisher=Eyesthatsee.com |date=October 15, 2008 |accessdate=2012-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008031657/http://www.eyesthatsee.com/reverseretro/?p=60 |archive-date=2011-10-08 |url-status=dead }} V. Vale,{{cite web|url=http://researchpubs.com/Blog/?m=20100109 |title=Pranks, Punk and Industrial Culture from V. Vale | 2010 | January | 9 |publisher=Researchpubs.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-20}} and White Flag. The Second EP Brainrailers would then be recorded by Vic Alfaro of Christian Death Fame,{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/NSU-Brainrailers/release/2406576 |title=NASA Space Universe-Brainrailers |date=March 2010 |publisher=Discogs.com}} and released by French label Shogun Records in April 2010.

Shortly after the release of Brainrailers, NSU quickly went to recording work for their debut full-length release Across the Wounded Galaxies to be released on Shogun Records. A Nationwide Tour of California to New Orleans, Louisiana was had for the release. By 2012 Through playing numerous shows, and with constant touring including another Winter Pacific Northwest Tour, NSU's whole catalog had sold out, and American represses were announced.

Their debut album received positive reviews internationally, with United Kingdom paper The Quietus recommending the band, with the comment that "Musically, their high-pitched wall-of-jangle/atonal solo approach has earned them plenty of Die Kreuzen comparisons, which have merit, but I’m equally reminded of the collective mentality of those mid-Eighties Ron Johnson Records bands, only with a hardcore upbringing."{{Cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/07651-noels-straight-hedge-2011-in-review|title=The Quietus | Features | Noel's Straight Hedge | 2011 In Punk & Hardcore: A Review|website=The Quietus|date=January 4, 2012 |accessdate=September 27, 2020}}

In June 2012, NSU along with Manager Alan S. Tofghi embarked on a second Nationwide Tour in support of the Ice EP, Treated Versions of Various songs in Various Speeds, and the Tour Documentary "Van Warped Tour Death Drive", Directed by Longtime NSU associate Vincent Catanho.{{Cite web |url=http://bradfordskull.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413223413/http://bradfordskull.com/ |archive-date=2014-04-13 |url-status=dead }} With both items selling out prior to tours end, NSU had successfully completed the Bi-Coastal tour.

Drawing from Science-Fiction, Philip K. Dick, Cosmicism, after death preservation, and H.P. Lovecraft K- Rhea's lyrical delivery is often carried with a Jerry Falwell delivery, and has been described as "speaking in tongues". Musically influenced by Japanese hardcore, SST, Funk, Noise music, and containing syncopated drum beats, Cowpunk and Free Jazz guitar licks, along with a constant start stop song aesthetic.

NASA Space Universe's unusual performance style drew comment from UK paper The Guardian, who remarked on the "chaotic shows in unusual locations and unusual clothes" in calling out the band to exemplify a wave of "interesting, uncompromising and just plain bonkers" punk bands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/21/tim-jonze-on-punk|title=Tim Jonze On Shuffle … Punk|first=Tim|last=Jonze|date=April 20, 2012|accessdate=September 27, 2020|website=Theguardian.com}} The latter praising NSU's credibility compared to other contemporary bands.

Coming from a DIY punk ethic, NSU rarely use a stage, even when one is provided. Constant audience participation has been a part of the NSU live show, which can include group reciting of curses,{{Cite web|url=https://alittlenecrophilia.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/nasa-space-universe-the-why-of-necrophilia/|title=NASA Space Universe: The Why of Necrophilia|website=Alittlenecrophilia.wordpress.com|date=October 26, 2009|accessdate=September 27, 2020}} sacrificial consumption, desecration of objects, handing out texts, and various topic based actions. Copious amounts of receipt tape and books have also been a part of the NSU aesthetic, often at times with the whole audience being covered in receipt tape, and the floor unseen.

As of 2011 Video Projections have been an ever present force via a Self rigged projector. The subject usually containing various film collages nearly untraceable in obscurity.

Apart from playing generator shows, art galleries, and overpasses, they have also played on a boat on the Long Beach coast, along with many often regarded unconventional settings.

At The Smell, a wall of aluminum foil was created, in which the back of the wall would be shined on by full stage lights. The options would be either to stay behind the wall and face a twelve-foot glare, or view the band who were positioned in a configuration facing the stage. as a result, those who wanted to avoid slamming would stand on the stage while all others would be on the floor level with the band.

• Kevin Rhea, Vocals (2006–2016)
• John Cardwell, guitar (2006–2016)
• Kevin Hermes drums, percussion (2006–2016)
• Paul Kubasek bass, backing vocals (2007–2016)

• Across the Wounded Galaxies (2011){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/NASA-Space-Universe-Across-The-Wounded-Galaxies/release/2954865|title=NASA Space Universe – Across The Wounded Galaxies|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=September 27, 2020}}
• 70 AD (2016)

• NASA Space Universe (2008){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/NSU-NSU/release/2407281|title=NSU* – NSU|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=September 27, 2020}}
• Brainrailers EP (2010){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/NASA-Space-Universe-Brainrailers/release/2406576|title=NASA Space Universe – Brainrailers|website=Discogs.com|date=March 2010 |accessdate=September 27, 2020}}
• Secret Sins (2011)
• Ice EP (2012){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/NASA-Space-Universe-ICE-EP/release/3675910|title=NASA Space Universe – ICE E.P.|website=Discogs.com|date=June 12, 2012 |accessdate=September 27, 2020}}
• EGM EP (2013)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://nsusa.bandcamp.com/ NASA Space Universe] on Bandcamp
• [http://www.seancarnage.com/2010/07/08/interstellar-overdrive-nasa-space-universe-in-words-sounds/ Interstellar overdrive: NASA Space Universe in words + sounds]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111008031657/http://www.eyesthatsee.com/reverseretro/?p=60 Reverse Retro » Blog Archive » Kyle H. Mabson ((((((Interview Journey Part #2))))))]

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Category:Hardcore punk groups from California

Category:American noise rock music groups

Category:American art rock groups

Category:American experimental rock groups

Category:Musical quartets from California

Category:Musical groups established in 2006

Category:Musical groups from Orange County, California