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The Sharp Things
Gigantic chamber pop ensembles aren't just coming out of Canada -- apparently the boroughs of New York city play host to a number as well, including The Sharp Things. The ten-member strong band boasts a string and horn section the likes of which haven't been seen in indie rock since ... well, ever, perhaps. Okay, maybe not since the heyday of Elephant 6, or the apex of Beulah -- which is to say long enough ago that it's very nearly ancient history.
Sounding a little like if Greg Dulli sang on all those instrumental Burt Bachrach records, or if Ben Folds had a singing voice that sounded like 10 miles of bad road instead of his sweet pipes -- The Sharp Things are fronted by Perry Serpa, who founded the band with drummer Steve Gonzales back in 1995 when they were just a couple of buskers in the subway tunnels. They added guitarist Jim Santo to the lineup in 1997, and things expanded exponentially after that. (Interesting sidebar -- cello player Claire runs NYC indie rock show listing ohmyrockness.com, and Perry is a principal at Good Cop PR, which specializes in representing indie rock bands -- I find this totally fascinating.)
Other influences, at least to my bizzare ears, include Van Dyke Parks, Lambchop, and The Association (the latter two, much to my suprise, we actually listed on the band's Myspace page as actual influences -- neat!). Which is to say that The Sharp Things are melodic and mellow, but not boring -- more sassy Sunday brunch at a hip local eatery than a dreary, slow, and rainy afternoon trapped at a an outlet of bohemoth chain of coffehouses which shall remain unnamed. There's an edge and a bite to Serpa's songs that's a litttle too discomfiting to merely label the The Sharp Things "coffehouse indie" -- and I hope you'll agree.
The Sharp Things - There Will Be Violins
The Sharp Things - The Suicide Bombers
The Sharp Things - She Left With The Sun
The Sharp Things' official site. You can but their latest, Foxes and Hounds, from Amazon or the iTunes Music Store. The Sharp Things play the Bar/None showcase on March 17 @ 8pm at Friends on 6th Street. I hope they can all fit on that tiny little stage!
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Posted by Little Miss Rock'n'Roll at 03.10.06 at 10:52 PM
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