dIRECT ATTACK is in essence the solo recording project of New Orleans guitarist Jack Champagne, former member of Kindest Lines, The Public and Falling Janus. The project has evolved to feature collaboration with close friends in the context of live performances and arrangements. Currently the live band consists of Champagne and David Fransen, former member of The Fantastic Ooze and BANG CRASH POW!. Previous lineups have also included Justin Blaire Vial of Kindest Lines and Pretty Bleak.

Jack Champagne began his music career in New Orleans as a member of the final 2 lineups for 90’s gothic rock band Falling Janus. Several years after the dissolution of this band, Jack founded the post-punk-inspired band The Public with New Orleans drummer Brian Besse in 2003. Adding guitarist/singer Travis Shuler and bassist Ryan Plattsmier, The Public released 3 albums and several singles and were an active part of the New Orleans rock scene until the band’s eventual split in 2010.

Shortly thereafter, Jack formed the post-punk/synthpop/dream pop-influenced Kindest Lines with keyboardist/drum programmer Justin Blaire Vial and vocalist/keyboardist Brittany Terry. Kindest Lines were quickly signed to New York-based Wierd Records, for whom they released the album Covered In Dust in June, 2011 to critical acclaim. The band were championed by such notable music blogs as Stereogum and Drowned In Sound, with prominent and enthusiastic features on material from Covered In Dust appearing on The Fader, Brooklyn Vegan and the aforementioned Stereogum and Drowned In Sound. The album’s release was followed by a US tour supporting Xiu Xiu in late 2011.

Though the band’s members are still very close, Kindest Lines went into something of a hiatus following the Xiu Xiu tour, prompting Jack to begin self-recording much of the material that became dIRECT ATTACK’s debut aMPUTATE over the course of 2013-2014. Recording entirely on an old 8-track recorder and favoring the raw, lo-fi sound qualities of cheap drum machines and simple mic setups, Jack fashioned a dark, aggressive sound most prominently inspired by deathrock pioneers Christian Death and post-punk legends Big Black with additional influence derived from other deathrock and post-punk bands like Akubi Object and The Gun Club. These private self-recorded sessions culminated in the cassette and internet release of the debut dIRECT ATTACK release aMPUTATE in May, 2014. With an ever growing catalog of new material reaching completion, dIRECT ATTACK is already eyeing the release of a followup recording in the near future.

Jack’s vision for dIRECT ATTACK is first and foremost as a recording project. He wishes for the band to play live only sporadically, involving live lineups comprised of only close friends and maintaining a very selective approach to booking. He wishes to focus less on quantity of live performances or any “scene” considerations than on playing occasional memorable shows with quality lineups. Past show lineups have included Justin Blaire Vial’s project Pretty Bleak, DJ sets from Disko Obscura founder and ((PRESSURES)) member Joey Buttons, acclaimed 4AD artist Merchandise and emergent New Orleans band Heat Dust. dIRECT ATTACK is currently set to support former 4AD legends His Name Is Alive on their 25th Anniversary Tour.