Column: In Da Club - 004, Dec 2003
By: Joshua K
Ho ho ho. 'Tis the season for reflection (and sloth), so this month 'In Da Club' drags itself drunkenly out of the club, to give good update: what's up with the first six NYC bands rockfeedback has profiled. But, 'tis also the season for giving, so we'll also list some new bands you just might see on these pages next year.
So check 'dis - and ask yerself, 'Who loves ya, baby?'
- DON'T I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE? (From In Da Club 001-003)
Go To Town have just self-released their debut five-song EP, produced by The Strokes 'guru' JP Bowersock. Unsurprisingly, it rocks. Hear clips and order a copy at www.gototownnyc.com.
Following a handful of December showcases, Unisex Salon are going into the studio in January to lay down demos with a producer from Sony.
Jonny Lives! hit the UK again for a two-week tour with Ambershades, beginning 27/1 at legendary/dingy London venue The Dublin Castle.
The Hold Steady release their debut album, 'The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me', on French Kiss Records in early March.
Following their recent tour with Stellastarr*, The Twenty Twos are currently recording their first EP, to be released in the UK this March.
The Affair's first single, on Vice, is due out this spring.
- NOW TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW! (Here's some of what's rocking rockfeedback's iPod... and - soon - yours...)
Morningwood - Boisterous, dirty rawk straight outta NYC, with one of the more charismatic frontwomen we've ever seen.
Optigrab - Old skool hip-hip like your grandmother used to make... if you're gran was Grandmaster Flash or the Beastie Boys.
Dead Combo - Trevor Jackson's latest signings to his Output label (Colder, LCD Soundsystem, etc.), playing aggressive electro-rock.
The Boy Explodes - San Francisco art-punks with a taste for Joy Division, The Cure, Devo and Gary Numan (think a more melodic Whirlwind Heat).
Ezra Reich - Roxy/Bowie/Cars/Talking Heads thrown in a blender and shot out, melodically, by this high-energy frontman and his shit-hot backing band.
Darling - Pop/rock combo featuring the only talented member of electroclash also-rans WIT... could that be why they kicked her out?
The Endless - Brooding, ethereal soundscapes from LA, by way of NYC and New Mexico, inspired by Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' graphic novels.
Red Rover - Driving emo-rock from New Jersey, by a band who've built their skills the proper indie way: repeated touring of the Midwest heartland.
Happy holidays! See you in a few...