While every good band is more than a sum of its parts, it’s rare that a really good band plays together for two years and doesn’t record something––at least once. The Unholy Modal Rounders have been that rare really good band, playing in and around New York City from 1975 to 1977, with no history, no promos and no record––until now. “Unholier Than Thou” captures the band's energy and improvisation on the last two nights the Unholies ever played together, July 6 and 7, 1977, at Greenwich Village’s Bottom Line, sounding like they’re right next door, right now, inviting you to come in and listen.

The Unholy Modal Rounders had regular gigs and a following who liked to dance to their on-the-go versions of traditional songs, classic blues and American freak. They also had a few far-out bookings and some extraordinary fans, the band once being sought after by futurist Buckminster Fuller, who joined them on stage in Philadelphia. The Unholies consisted of rhythm guitarist Charlie Messing, bassist Kirby Pines, lead guitarist Paul Presti and fiddler Peter Stampfel, the four becoming five when joined by drummer Jeff Berman. They all went on to make their way musically––playing, writing and composing––except for Paul Presti, who gets brought back to life, as everyone’s messed-up best friend, in the album’s liner notes. In those notes, Charlie Messing says, “Our crowds were happy crowds, our music was happy music. We would evoke a dozen moods in the course of a set, but we always left them happy. Our last gig was July 7, 1977. Here it is.” Come on in. Listen. Be happy.