Pezz Formed in 1989, Pezz are something like the elder statesmen of Memphis punk, which is something of an oxymoron. After all, the youth-driven nihilism of the music doesn't lend itself to nurturing Yoda-like sages. But as a recent CD-release party at the Map Room showed, Pezz apparently have found a way for punk to age gracefully without losing any of its teeth or bite. Guitarist/singer Marvin Stockwell describes the current incarnation of his band as "Mark II." The original group, which included current members J.D. Reager on bass and Ceylon Mooney on guitar, started with the modest goal of "just to put out a 7-inch [record] and play the Antenna." They managed to put out two 7-inches and a full-length album, but by the mid-'90s the group had started to lose momentum. That's when new drummer Chris Coble jumped on board. As the recent Map Room show demonstrated, it's easy to see why the addition of Coble would be a kick in the pants for any band. He's a powerful and propulsive drummer who rocks with an ease and subtle groove that reminds one of Soundgarden's extraordinary stick man Matt Cameron. Unfortunately, in a tiny, acoustically alive room like the Map Room, Coble's drumming is too powerful; his pounding drowns out the meeker guitars and vocals. Which is a shame, because Stockwell has written some pretty good lyrics that stand aloof from the typical punk theme of youthful alienation. Perhaps because he is married with, until recently, a steady day job at FedEx, Stockwell's words have a more mature though melancholy slant to them. Though occasionally maddening in their pseudo-poetic obtuseness, songs such as "Never Enough" (about love's urgency) and "New Math" (about never being afraid to change who you are) are surprisingly fragile for such a hard-rocking band. The only hint of this softer side is in their ingratiating pop melodies. In this regard, Pezz may remind some of popular acts such as Green Day or Nirvana. It's apparently a comparison not lost on others. The band's latest CD, Warmth And Sincerity, was produced by Nirvana board man Steve Albini. "Having worked on big records by Nirvana and the Pixies, I thought he would be a perfectionist," says Stockwell. But "he's very interested in getting a raw sound. So if something was technically imperfect but had soul, he'd encourage us to keep that." Fortunately, Pezz wed feeling and virtuosity quite well. They may lack the sloppy swagger many like in their punk bands, but that is part of the whole growing-older-gracefully bit. You can't play for 10 years and not get good. Maybe if they had had that proficiency when they started a decade ago, Pezz might have caught the grunge wave to stardom. But it is not an opportunity the band feel they've missed. Their lackluster stage show belies it, but these guys revel in the D.I.Y. ethic. Stockwell recently quit his FedEx gig to take the group on a three-month nationwide tour. -- Mark Jordan The Memphis Flyer reviews local bands on demand. To schedule your group's Moment of Truth, call Mark Jordan (575-9441) or Jim Hanas (575-9408).