Genre Punk rock | Years active 2000 (2000)–present Associated acts Ex-Lion Tamers Record label Thick Records | |
Albums Take The System Down, God Won't Bless America, Modern Savage, Vortis | ||
Vortis is an indie punk band established in 2000, whose members include Mike Weinstein, the band's frontman and a professor of political science at Purdue University, as well as well-known music critic Jim DeRogatis (who is the band's drummer). The band was named after the Vorticist movement of the early 20th-century, and has released two albums--Take the System Down, and God Won't Bless America Again. Both albums were released on the independent Thick Records. Their sound has been described as eclectic, and they have been compared to the Dead Kennedys, Wire and the Butthole Surfers. In particular, some critics have drawn comparisons between Weinstein's demeanor in live performances to Jello Biafra's persona.
Contents
History
Weinstein joined Vortis in 2000 when his wife introduced him to several 30-year-old musicians from Chicago. Weinstein also goes by the stage name "Fellow Traveler" when performing with Vortis. They released their debut album, Take the System Down, on Thick Records in 2002, followed by God Won't Bless America the following year, also on Thick Records. They also released a split 7" in 2011 entitled "Things Won't Get Better", with the Cathy Santonies.
Songs
Things Won't Get BetterModern Savage · 2013
White Skin Black HeartTake The System Down · 2007
Shitting in a BagVortis · 2009