Hands-down one of the best live acts in the country, the Jay Reatard band (Stephen Pope on bass and Billy Hayes on drums) fueled a phenomenon by sheer force and efficiency: Shows frequently featured 18 songs (or more) in 25 minutes (or less), often running through his catalog at double or triple speed, and announcing the next song title before the first song ended.

With the exception of “I’m Watching You,” Watch Me Fall was entirely recorded in his home studio, Shattered Studios, with Jay playing every instrument, except Billy Hayes drumming on “I’m Watching You,” “Wounded,” “Rotten Mind,” and “Hang Them All” and Jonathan Kirkscey’s cello on “Hang Them All” and “A Whisper”. The album pits his instantly memorable melodies and uplifting Ramonesian simplicity against forceful, tireless playing and aggressive, often paranoid lyrics.

Jay Reatard performed at Amoeba Hollywood on 8/18/09, at Amoeba San Francisco on 8/22/09, and Amoeba Berkeley on 8/23/09.