While their name belies the fact not all of them happen to be African-American, Cleveland, OH's This Moment in Black History is an incendiary quartet who delivers fast, loud, and angry punk rock with a bluesy edge and a sense of humor that's clear despite their politically motivated rage. This Moment in Black History also boasts an impressive pedigree; guitarist Buddy Akita has played with the Spasms and the Bassholes, keyboard player Christopher "CK1" Kulscar also performs with the Chargers Street Gang, original bassist Mike D'Amico was a member of the Teenage Heartthrobs and the Lesbian Makers with Akita, current bassist Lawrence Daniel Caswell also works with Lives of the Saints, and drummer Lamont "Bim" Thomas's résumé includes stints with the Bassholes and the Cheater Slicks. This Moment in Black History was formed in 2001, when Akita and D'Amico found themselves living in a group house in Cleveland after the breakup of their band Neon King Kong. As it happened, the Chargers Street Gang was scaling back at the time, leaving Kulscar free, and Thomas had just moved to Cleveland from Columbus, OH. The four compared notes and formed This Moment in Black History, gigging locally and releasing their debut EP, The Cleveland Finger, in 2003. A two-song 7" soon followed, and in 2004 the band released a split 12" with the Fatal Flying Guilloteens as well as their first full-length album, Midwesterncuttalistick. In 2005, D'Amico left the group and Caswell (who also helps run the celebrated film society the Cleveland Cinematheque) signed on; that fall, the band went into Chicago's Electrical Audio recording studio with noted engineer Steve Albini and recorded their second album, It Takes a Nation of Assholes, which was released by Cold Sweat Records in the fall of 2006. Extensive touring followed for the group, including a well-received appearance at the 2007 South by Southwest Music Conference. ~ Mark Deming