The Drums Taking the unlikely templates of 50s surf-rock and Factory Records as inspiration and mixing in a new wave sound, brand new four piece The Drums, announce themselves as purveyors of some of the most exciting new sounds to come out of the US this year. Singer Jonathan Pierce and guitarist Jacob Graham met each other at summer camp when they were children and have been best friends ever since (apart from one particular argument that lasted five years). Though individually they've both enjoyed diverse and successful musical pursuits (Jon of former Columbia act Elkland, Jacob playing with various punk acts around his home state of Florida), the formation of The Drums marks the first time the long time friends have formally collaborated. Rounding out The Drums line-up are drummer and NYC native Connor Hanwick and guitarist Adam Kessler. THE DRUMS PRESS RELEASE New York's official Coolest New Band
this might be the most contagiously energetic NYC band of the past 10
years. NME
When asked to describe their sound, Jonathan and Jacob unanimously answered: We originally set out to start a band that sounded like The Wake. We heard their song Pale Spectre and went crazy! In the end, our music didn't turn out sounding too much like The Wake, but were inspired by so many of our musical heroes that the references ended up sounding really diverse. Were really just chasing that perfect pop song. Jonathan later elaborated to another interviewer: People have said a number of things, Joy Division on Prozac keeps coming up. Does that work? I dont know? When we were writing the songs, we really had this idea in mind, What if Joy Division threw in the towel and decided to make a dance-party record? Being near the beach, we started listening to a lot of Shangri-Las and The Zombies and started to fall in love with that 1950s pop stuff. It infused its way into our sound and so the end result is Factory Records had it been around 30 years earlier. We are obsessed with perfect pop. Three minutes is all you need to tell someone how you feel. There are a few songs we have done that are around four minutes, but then again, I would never call them perfect. Although Jonathan composes the bulk of The Drums songs, both he and Jacob do collaborate, with Best Friend being the first track that the pair ever wrote together: We couldnt believe how well it turned out and regretted waiting so long they recently revealed, whilst also talking of their urge to keep musical arrangements simple by cutting the fat. Currently recording and in rehearsals for their first major UK Tour, following their rapturously-received debut London show at the ICA in September (which was only the quartets 20th gig), Jacob has sat down with a R*E*P*E*A*T Q&A as The Drums get set to once again radiate their retro melodies, harmonies and hooks, onto eagerly awaiting audiences in good old blighty! And with soul-stirring songs that have a yearning sense of wonder, The Drums timeless music will give you more bang for your buck and make your heart go bump |
A very special thanks to Jacob, and to Tasha @ Anorak London, for all of their time and help. www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
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