Boss Hog

All-star N.Y.C. blues-punk combo Boss Hog was helmed by the husband-and-wife team of singer <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Cristina Martinez</a> and singer/guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:5q6Nhg9lGUeSjODDdctHvN">Jon Spencer</a>, who'd previously teamed up in the legendary cult band <a href="spotify:artist:6w3S2c3TqD9lPPN2qOpHw1">Pussy Galore</a>. The duo formed Boss Hog to fill a last-minute cancellation at the famed CBGB, earning instant notoriety when <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a> performed their debut show au naturel; guitarists Jerry Teel and Kurt Wolf, bassist Pete Shore, and drummer Charlie Ondras completed the lineup for 1989's EP Drinkin', Lechin' & Lyin'. In the wake of 1990's Cold Hands, <a href="spotify:artist:5q6Nhg9lGUeSjODDdctHvN">Spencer</a> formed <a href="spotify:artist:2NOhotupwYbKRNJF7LMDPG">the Blues Explosion</a>, forcing Boss Hog onto the back burner; by the time the group returned in 1993 with Girl +, only <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5q6Nhg9lGUeSjODDdctHvN">Spencer</a> remained from the original lineup, with ex-<a href="spotify:artist:79S80ZWgVhIPMCHuvl6SkA">Swan</a> Jens Jürgensen assuming bass duties and Hollis Queens joining on drums. The record's success in indie circles resulted in a deal with major-label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Geffen%22">Geffen</a> that yielded a self-titled 1995 LP; little was heard from Boss Hog throughout the remainder of the decade (although <a href="spotify:artist:5q6Nhg9lGUeSjODDdctHvN">Spencer</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a> had a baby), but in early 2000 the group finally resurfaced with Whiteout, featuring ex-<a href="spotify:artist:5cTKg5ZNkGNiMEeerVI3Xy">Goats</a> keyboardist Mark Boyce.

Following the release of Girl Positive Plus in 2001, Boss Hog was quiet on the recording front (despite playing occasional live shows), but <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a> appeared as a guest artist on several albums by <a href="spotify:artist:2NOhotupwYbKRNJF7LMDPG">the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5q6Nhg9lGUeSjODDdctHvN">Spencer</a> collaborated on a 2010 album with <a href="spotify:artist:7uV7uQgiUQ3Ipxs5cHZsGL">Solex</a>, Amsterdam Throwdown King Street Showdown! While Boss Hog played a handful of shows in 2008, the band spent the better part of 16 years on hiatus as <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a> looked after her son and worked in the magazine publishing industry. That changed in 2016, when <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5q6Nhg9lGUeSjODDdctHvN">Spencer</a> announced that the group had two new recordings ready for release. Boss Hog -- whose lineup now featured <a href="spotify:artist:6ZI4HBDbf9txGgwMS22YII">Martinez</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5q6Nhg9lGUeSjODDdctHvN">Spencer</a>, Queens, Jürgensen, and Mickey Finn -- released an EP, Brood Star, in July 2016 via <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22In+the+Red+Records%22">In the Red Records</a>, with a short West Coast tour booked in support. A full-length album, Brood X, appeared in March 2017, and Boss Hog set out on a nationwide tour. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi