Iron Chic
Iron Chic are a rock band from Long Island, New York, formed in 2008 and built around longtime friends and collaborators who kept writing and touring steadily as their lineup shifted over time.
The band’s current lineup is Phil Douglas, Jason Lubrano, Gordon Lafler, Mike Bruno, and Jesse Litwa.
They have released three full-length albums, including You Can’t Stay Here, which came out on October 13, 2017 and marked their first album for SideOneDummy Records.
Starting After Latterman
Iron Chic began after Latterman, the previous band of Phil Douglas and Brian Crozier, came to an end.
After that breakup, Douglas briefly played drums in Small Arms Dealer, a band that included vocalist Jason Lubrano. When Small Arms Dealer ended soon after, Douglas and Lubrano decided to start a new band and brought in Crozier, drummer Gordon Lafler, and bassist John Mee.
Early Releases and Early Turbulence
That early lineup released Demo 2008 and Shitty Rambo.
The band nearly split the following year when Crozier had to step away due to health issues and Mee was asked to leave after internal tension.
New Members and a First Full-Length
Iron Chic continued with guitarist Rob McAllister of Capital and bassist Mike Bruno, who had played in Down In The Dumps, Get Bent, and Jonesin’, stepping in to fill the gaps left by Crozier and Mee.
With that lineup, the band released their debut album Not Like This and toured consistently in support of it. In 2011 they also released their third EP, Split N’ Shit.
Bridge Nine Era and Another Guitar Change
In 2013, Iron Chic released the Spooky Action EP ahead of their Bridge Nine Records album The Constant One, which arrived later that year.
In 2015, Jesse Litwa, a guitarist from Broadcaster, replaced Rob McAllister. That year the band released two more EPs, a split with Low Culture and the single Y’s.
Rob McAllister died unexpectedly on January 9, 2016, at age 36.
You Can’t Stay Here and the Years After
In 2017, the band released their third album, You Can’t Stay Here, and their first for SideOneDummy Records. The record was written in response to Jason Lubrano’s divorce and McAllister’s death, and it leaned into darker subject matter and more experimentation compared with their earlier work.
The band released a music video for the track “My Best Friend (Is A Nihilist)” and toured in support of the album with Propagandhi, Hot Water Music, and Heartsounds.
On November 16, 2018, Iron Chic released a split with Toys That Kill made up of songs from the You Can’t Stay Here sessions. It came out through Recess Records and Dead Broke Rekerds.
Keeping It In House
Iron Chic have been recognized for handling much of their work internally.
Phil Douglas records the band at his studio, The Hobo House, and has also produced releases for other bands including Latterman, RVIVR, Petal Head, Crash The Calm, and Tender Defender.
Jason Lubrano creates the band’s artwork and also runs the graphic design company Righteous Indignation, with additional design work contributed by Gordon Lafler.
Most releases and merchandise have been handled through Mike Bruno’s label Dead Broke Rekerds, with exceptions noted for The Constant One and You Can’t Stay Here.
Members
- Jason Lubrano, vocals
- Phil Douglas, guitar
- Mike Bruno, bass
- Gordon Lafler, drums
- Jesse Litwa, guitar
Past Members
- Rob McAllister
- Brian Crozier
- John Mee
Discography
Albums:
- Not Like This (2010, Dead Broke Rekerds)
- The Constant One (2013, Bridge Nine Records)
- You Can’t Stay Here (2017, SideOneDummy Records)
EPs and singles:
- Demo 2008 (2008, Dead Broke Rekerds)
- Shitty Rambo (2009, Dead Broke Rekerds)
- Split N’ Shit (2011, Dead Broke Rekerds)
- Spooky Action (2013, Bridge Nine Records)
- Split with Low Culture (2015, Dead Broke Rekerds)
- Y’s (2015, Poison City Records)
- My Best Friend (Is A Nihilist) (2017, SideOneDummy)
- Split with Toys That Kill (2018, Recess Records and Dead Broke Rekerds)
- Catgut (2021, Dead Broke Rekerds)
- Ancient Pistol (2023, Iron Chic)
