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Public recordCompiled from 9 credited sources · Updated Oct 5, 2026

James Chance and the Contortions

Punk band from New York City, NY · formed 1977

Visit the band website
James Chance and the Contortions photo
Photo from the public record
Shows on record
6
Rooms played
5
Cities
5
Releases
14
Last show
Mar 12, 2019Oslo

About

James Chance and the Contortions is a band from New York City, NY, formed in 1977, tagged avant-funk, dance-punk, jazz-funk by its sources. Shows on record run from 1978 to 2019, across 5 rooms in 5 cities.

The summary is assembled from the record fields and shows on this page; each fact listed names its source. See Sources & corrections for what each source supplied.

Shows

6 on record · Songkick
No upcoming shows on record.Know of one? Tell us

Shows per year

  1. 19781 show
  2. 20161 show
  3. 20171 show
  4. 20182 shows
  5. 20191 show
Show history
DateVenue
Mar 12, 2019Oslo · LondonSupportwith James Chance, Black Country, New Road
Dec 29, 2018Coney Island Baby · ManhattanHeadlinerwith James Chance, The Art Gray Noizz Quintet
Oct 12, 2018Market Hotel · BrooklynSupportwith James Chance, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, Martin Rev, +1
Mar 14, 2017Barracuda · AustinSupportwith Dead Leaf Echo, Sextile, Creepoid
Apr 29, 2016Market Hotel · BrooklynHeadlinerwith Gary Wilson, Horse Lords, Eartheater
Jun 18, 1978Paradise Garage · New York (NYC)Supportwith Richard Hell & The Voidoids, Senders, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks, +3

Where they play

5 rooms in 5 cities

Rooms played most

Cities played

  • Brooklyn2 shows
  • Austin1 show
  • London1 show
  • Manhattan1 show
  • New York (NYC)1 show

Releases

14 releases, 1979–2016

  • Melt Yourself Down

    2016 · Single

  • The Flesh Is Weak

    2016 · Album

  • Incorrigible!

    2011 · Album

  • Incorrigible

    2010 · Single

  • Soul Exorcism Redux

    2007 · Album

  • Sax Education

    2004 · Compilation

  • Buy / Off White

    2003 · Album

  • Irresistible Impulse

    2003 · Compilation

  • Molotov Cocktail Lounge

    1996 · Album

  • Lost Chance

    1995 · Album

  • Soul Exorcism

    1991 · Album

  • Live in New York

    1981 · Album

  • Live Aux Bains Douches

    1980 · Album

  • Buy

    1979 · Album

Lineup

  • Don Christensen
  • Richard Dworkin
  • Jody Harris
  • Pat Place · keyboard
  • George Scott III

Former

  • Adele Bertei · keyboard
  • James Chance · eponymous, lead vocals, saxophone

Airplay

  • KEXP airplay: 39 plays, 2001-08-23–2024-12-25 — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Variety Mix' (Reverend Dollars) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Jazz Theatre' (Noel Brass Jr.) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'The Afternoon Show' (Larry Mizell, Jr.) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'The Midday Show' (Stevie Zoom) — KEXP

Photos, art and posters

James Chance and the Contortions — Coney Island Baby, 2018-12-29
Poster · Coney Island Baby, 2018-12-29 — Songkick
James Chance and the Contortions — Barracuda, 2017-03-14
Poster · Barracuda, 2017-03-14 — Songkick

Sources & corrections

Report a correctionRequest removal
What each source supplied
SourceUsed for
MusicBrainzArtist facts
WikipediaArtist facts
James Chance and the Contortions on Last.fmArtist facts
James Chance and The Contortions on GeniusArtist facts
KEXPAirplay
SongkickShow history, Show posters
GeniusCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
Last.fmCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
WikidataCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it

This is a partial record of publicly documented activity. Missing shows, releases or members do not mean there are none. It does not confirm availability for booking.