As I've mentioned, I will be moving to the Big Apple very shortly...I believe as soon as this weekend. This whole opportunity never would've happened without a little help from my friends, whom I will plug right now! I actually had a giant story about how we met and everything, but Blogger went nuts and I lost the whole thing. I could only recover the first 3 paragraphs and it had about 20! I just don't feel like re-writing everything. So, I'll just make this a brief introduction to these guys and give you a little multimedia. I've been helping these two bands out with various promo stuff for nearly two years now. The lead singers of each band are brothers, and as fate would have it their sister is my new boss! They say it's all about who you know, right?
Vic Thrill + The Saturn Missile
I would never have had this opportunity if it weren't for Vic. He recommended me to his sister, she happened to be looking to hire a new person and it all fell into place. I followed Vic over to his new band after falling in love with his old band, The Bogmen. It was a much delayed, belated trip but one I was happy to make nonetheless. (If you're interested in a little more detail on that, you can read my CD reviews : Bogmen, Vic Thrill.) I guess I went from fan to friend at some point, and Vic's confidence in and support of me through this whole transition is really quite touching. If there's any reason in the world that he deserves to be hugely famous, it's because he's got more good karma stored up in his body than anyone else I know. He is honestly one of the nicest, most genuine people I've ever met in my life. But as I so often say, the music industry shouldn't be about personality or looks or whatever...it's about quality music. Now, I am well aware that Vic's music isn't for everyone. Hell, when I first heard about them I wasn't sure I would like it. But it's so inventive and just "out there" that I have to love it. It's hard to pin it down to any one genre, but it's kind of a mix of electronica, punk, rock and world beat. The video below is actually an older one for the song "Nobody's Watching the Radar", but I think it's one of their most accessible songs. It's kind of got a David Bowie meets Devo vibe. Besides, the video is pretty funny. It's based on a true story about a UPS guy who came to discover that he was delivering vibrators to Hasidic Jewish women. They have a new video out, but I don't really think it's the best example of their music, because the song isn't even 2 minutes long. Still, it kind of captures their personality and is a trippy, possibly strange, short and sweet intro to the band. If you want to see it and hear more music, you can check out their MySpace page. The first song featured there, "They Want You To Be Just Like Them", may very well be one of my favorite songs ever. And if you think that page is just lovely, let me know...I run it!
**Edit: I had the video files embedded here, but it was pointed out to me by an oh-so pleasant blogger that viewing my page has become a bitch because of it and it keeps trying to install MIME files on her computer...which I assume may be happening to others as well. (The heads-up I appreciate, just not the snotty, techno-snob attitude with which it was delivered.) It seemed to be loading a bit slow anyway. So, I'll just provide the links instead. Don't be lazy...click on 'em!
Knockout Drops
I discovered the Drops very soon after Vic. I heard that Vic's brother, Chris was in a band as well, and that they were more of a straight up rock 'n roll, power-poppy outfit. I immediately loved them. Even though I, personally, love Vic's music I can understand if they've been fighting an uphill battle as far as breaking through big-time. That kind of music is much harder to market to the masses. But, the Knockout Drops are so radio-ready it just boggles my mind that they haven't found a larger audience yet. And radio-ready doesn't mean the crap-pop that's being spewed out these days. These guys can write really great, thought-provoking lyrics but pair them with incredibly hooky, well-crafted pop melodies. Think of them as equal parts The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Guided by Voices and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. I think they're on the brink of a breakthrough right now though. One of the best parts of my new job is that I get to work with this band...and get paid! I'm helping to promote their new theater piece, "Escape from Bellevue and Other Stories", which will run at The Paradise Factory Theater from December 2 - January 14. If you're from NYC or will be in the area around that time, you should really check it out! (Tickets are only $20!) Basically, it's Chris's story set to the soundtrack of the new Drops record. He wrote some monologues that follow his life from the formation of the band up until the NYC blackout of 2003. It is, at it's core, a rock 'n roll show but in between songs, Chris tells the stories behind them and also throws in some weird video segments. He's a really interesting guy (another genuinely kind soul) who can tell a story like no one else. If you'd like to see the trailer for the show or hear more Knockout Drops music, you can hit up their MySpace page as well. Yep, I run that one too. I had the trailer in this post originally, but it's a fairly big file and it was making my page load really slowly. So instead, I've just included their video for "Wrong Side of Love".
**Edit: Again, just the link is provided.
So, whattya think?
Vic Thrill + The Saturn MissileI would never have had this opportunity if it weren't for Vic. He recommended me to his sister, she happened to be looking to hire a new person and it all fell into place. I followed Vic over to his new band after falling in love with his old band, The Bogmen. It was a much delayed, belated trip but one I was happy to make nonetheless. (If you're interested in a little more detail on that, you can read my CD reviews : Bogmen, Vic Thrill.) I guess I went from fan to friend at some point, and Vic's confidence in and support of me through this whole transition is really quite touching. If there's any reason in the world that he deserves to be hugely famous, it's because he's got more good karma stored up in his body than anyone else I know. He is honestly one of the nicest, most genuine people I've ever met in my life. But as I so often say, the music industry shouldn't be about personality or looks or whatever...it's about quality music. Now, I am well aware that Vic's music isn't for everyone. Hell, when I first heard about them I wasn't sure I would like it. But it's so inventive and just "out there" that I have to love it. It's hard to pin it down to any one genre, but it's kind of a mix of electronica, punk, rock and world beat. The video below is actually an older one for the song "Nobody's Watching the Radar", but I think it's one of their most accessible songs. It's kind of got a David Bowie meets Devo vibe. Besides, the video is pretty funny. It's based on a true story about a UPS guy who came to discover that he was delivering vibrators to Hasidic Jewish women. They have a new video out, but I don't really think it's the best example of their music, because the song isn't even 2 minutes long. Still, it kind of captures their personality and is a trippy, possibly strange, short and sweet intro to the band. If you want to see it and hear more music, you can check out their MySpace page. The first song featured there, "They Want You To Be Just Like Them", may very well be one of my favorite songs ever. And if you think that page is just lovely, let me know...I run it!
**Edit: I had the video files embedded here, but it was pointed out to me by an oh-so pleasant blogger that viewing my page has become a bitch because of it and it keeps trying to install MIME files on her computer...which I assume may be happening to others as well. (The heads-up I appreciate, just not the snotty, techno-snob attitude with which it was delivered.) It seemed to be loading a bit slow anyway. So, I'll just provide the links instead. Don't be lazy...click on 'em!
Knockout DropsI discovered the Drops very soon after Vic. I heard that Vic's brother, Chris was in a band as well, and that they were more of a straight up rock 'n roll, power-poppy outfit. I immediately loved them. Even though I, personally, love Vic's music I can understand if they've been fighting an uphill battle as far as breaking through big-time. That kind of music is much harder to market to the masses. But, the Knockout Drops are so radio-ready it just boggles my mind that they haven't found a larger audience yet. And radio-ready doesn't mean the crap-pop that's being spewed out these days. These guys can write really great, thought-provoking lyrics but pair them with incredibly hooky, well-crafted pop melodies. Think of them as equal parts The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Guided by Voices and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. I think they're on the brink of a breakthrough right now though. One of the best parts of my new job is that I get to work with this band...and get paid! I'm helping to promote their new theater piece, "Escape from Bellevue and Other Stories", which will run at The Paradise Factory Theater from December 2 - January 14. If you're from NYC or will be in the area around that time, you should really check it out! (Tickets are only $20!) Basically, it's Chris's story set to the soundtrack of the new Drops record. He wrote some monologues that follow his life from the formation of the band up until the NYC blackout of 2003. It is, at it's core, a rock 'n roll show but in between songs, Chris tells the stories behind them and also throws in some weird video segments. He's a really interesting guy (another genuinely kind soul) who can tell a story like no one else. If you'd like to see the trailer for the show or hear more Knockout Drops music, you can hit up their MySpace page as well. Yep, I run that one too. I had the trailer in this post originally, but it's a fairly big file and it was making my page load really slowly. So instead, I've just included their video for "Wrong Side of Love".
**Edit: Again, just the link is provided.
So, whattya think?
Comments
I hear the David Bowie influence in "Radar." Cool and fresh sound. Like to hear more.
As for NY. You will love it. That is where I am from (many years ago). I am taking my kids there this summer to experience one of the most unique cities.
Hurry up and pack... ;)
Eric
MySpace is awesome. I am a full on addict.
When you move, don't drop out of site. Keep us updated, cause you know, next year, after you have gotten good and settled and know your way around, I'm coming to visit! ;) hehe
No, really, don't disappear from us!
Truly good luck!
yes i am,
the idiot