Black Eyes

Black Eyes is a five piece art-punk band formed in 2001. With two full-time drummers, two bassists, two vocalists, one guitarist and an array of auxiliary percussion, the five piece blended exuberantly danceable post-punk with an abrasive, caustic wildness inspired in equal measure by hardcore, free jazz, and 20th century composition. Singers Hugh McElroy and Daniel Martin-McCormick wove breathless tirades around each other, building densely-layred lyrical deluges exploring trauma, the crisis of masculinity, queer sexuality, a post 9-11 political landscape and the early rumblings of 21st century fascism. Drummers Mike Kanin and Dan Caldas engineered a roiling rhythmic interplay that maintained a tight groove as often as it erupted in furious explosions. Bassist-turned-saxophonist Jacob Long and McElroy meanwhile weighted the rhythm with thick, dubby undertows and punctuated it with springy, lithe countermelodies, while Martin-McCormick unleashed sprays of flinty chaos on guitar.


The band released two full-length recordings on D.C. label Dischord Records: 2003’s self-titled and 2004’s Cough. They also released the 2002 two-song “Some Boys” seven inch on McElroy’s Ruffian Records, a two song split seven inch with Early Humans on the Planeria label, and had a track on the Closet Full of Clothes compilation on the White Denim label.