Lach

In the early 80's, after reading a Dylan biography while blaring The Sex Pistols, Lach came to Greenwich Village. He went to Folk City figuring they'd flip over him. They flipped all right: kicking Lach right out onto the street! So did the other folk clubs. It seemed Lach's form of punk/folk was not at all welcome. Fuck 'em, he thought, and moved to the Lower East Side, opening his own illegal after-hours club, "The Fort".

The same week Lach opened The Fort, Folk City held the New York Folk Festival, and so, Lach held the first New York Antifolk Festival. Thus, the first wave of Antifolk was born.

A year later the cops finally told our hero to move on. The Fort became a mobile club inhabiting various New York hotspots. Lach's Antifolk sound became the inspiration for many artists such as Beck, The Moldy Peaches, Jeff Lewis, Hamell On Trial, Michelle Shocked and countless others.

In 1990 Lach put out his debut CD, Contender on Danny Goldberg's Goldcastle label. The album received rave reviews in the press and considerable radio play but alas, three months later the label folded. Lach moved to San Francisco releasing an EP, Family Values Pack, containing The Hillary Clinton Song which aired on over 600 stations during Bill Clinton's first campaign.

In 1993 Lach returned to New York and started The Fort up again at The Sidewalk Cafe in the East Village, ushering in a new wave of Antifolk.

In 1997 Lach started his own label, Fortified Records, and released, in conjunction with Shanachie Records, Lach's Antihoot: Live from the Fort. Fortified subsequently released downtown comedian Rick Shapiro's Unconditional Love, produced by Lach (1998) and Major Matt Mason USA's Me, Me, Me (2000)

In 1999 Lach released Blang!, produced by Richard Barone (of The Bongos). Billboard dubbed it "a wholly enjoyable voyage into a strange and brilliant musical mind."

September 18, 2001 saw the domestic release of Lach's newest work Kids Fly Free, again produced by Richard Barone and receiving great praise in Mojo, Uncut, Billboard and The Big Takeover, amongst others. Tours of the UK by NYC Antifolkers such as The Moldy Peaches, Lach, Hamell On Trial and Jeff Lewis spark the beginnings of the UK Antifolk scene

In 2002 Lach signed with the Agency Group (White Stripes, The Strokes) as his exclusive European booking agent, and with Steve Hawkins (Dinosaur Jr, Inspiral Carpets) as his tour managemer. Track Records (original home of The Who, Hendrix etc.) released Kids Fly Free in the UK on May 7th. Lach was also featured on Antifolk Vol.1 (Rough Trade), compiled by The Moldy Peaches. The first regular UK Antifolk night is born. A monthly feature at London's 12 Bar Club named 'Blang!' after Lach's second album and hosted by Sgt.Buzfuz.

In 2003, Fortified released Testosterone Kills' CD and Fortified Management signed Nellie McKay to Columbia Records after negotiating an intense bidding war.

In 2004 - Sanctuary Press releases Waking Up In New York City: A Musical Tour of The Big Apple by Mike Evans, with an entire chapter devoted to Lach. The band arrives in UK March 3-11 for 8 shows in 8 nights including a show at The Basement Club organized by Strokes producer Gordon Raphael. Lach and The Secrets recorded their new album, Today, scheduled for a winter 2004 release. Lach tours UK and France performing 35 dates solo supporting Suzanne Vega, Television and The Fine Young Cannibals.
Fortified records releases Lach's Today to rave reviews (4 Stars (!) in Mojo Magazine.

In 2005 Lach tours UK to sold-out performances including support slot for The CasbahClub (featuring members of The Jam, The Who, and Big Country.
Fortified Mng. signs The Analogues and DJ Williams.