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We Are Scientists
(We covered this band at last year's festival; the following is a highly updated reprint.)
We Are Scientists are a New York trio via California who make grin-inducing pop-rock. I caught them by accident at a headlining gig at CBGB's and was blown away by the fullness of their sound, a full wall of rock composed of pure rock'n'roll energy. They've got maddeningly catchy hooks, impossible-to-ignore rythmns, clever wordplay ("Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt"), and, of course, great hair, a prerequisite of being a band from Brooklyn, it seems. They're a band that seems to be composed of the hippest of the hip, but without losing their sense of humor or fun.
If I were a cleverer person I might describe them as the danceability of Hot Hot Heat meets your favorite pop-punk band as a teenager, crossed with the charm of The Thermals. How does a three-piece band manage to fill out the whole room and get the entire crowd moving and grooving? Is it their toothy smiles, debonair stage banter, or red-hot intense performances? I have no idea.
Over the course of a few years, they've gone from straight up power pop (consider the perfection of "Selective Memory") to a more beat-oriented sound, with tons of hi-hat, matched harmonies, and dance-ariffic basslines, but while also still retaining a refreshing, never-too-serious approach. With several self-released EPs to their name, played SXSW last year to a full and enthusiastic crowd of New Yorkers and various music industry luminaries, one of whom was a certain BBC DJ, who became a champion of the band. We Are Scientists ended up signing with Virgin Records after the conference, and found themseles embraced by UK radio, catapulting them to stardom with the release of the ultra-catchy With Love and Squalor, one of my favorite records from last year.
By now, you've probably heard of the band, after they became the new blogger's delight, their mugs plastered all over the streets of Manhattan. They've graduated from an early Wednesday showcase at the Hard Rock Cafe to playing a 1:00 a.m. showcase at the Fox and Hound. Although SXSW is usually a chance to catch up-and-comers before the rest of the world finds out, and We Are Scientists are no longer a well-hidden secret, I might just pop over Saturday night at 1:00am to celebrate one of those bands entered Austin a year ago as nobodies and now are international, rising stars.
We Are Scientists - Cash Cow
We Are Scientists - Inaction
We Are Scientists - Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
We Are Scientists' official site. Purchase With Love and Squalor from iTunes Music Store or Amazon.
Shadows tags:wearescientists.
Posted by Queen of the Front Row at 03.05.06 at 11:02 AM
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