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Vital statistics: Before ol’ Arnie decided to run for governor, an Oakland hardcore punk band came up with the ingenious idea to play songs inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best Commando-like movies. Complete with songs like “Running Man,” “Terminator,” and “Total Recall,” (sung, by the way, in an authentic Austrian accent), ArnoCorps just couldn’t have picked a better time to be them. And how’s the music, you ask? It’ll kick your butt just like Arnie does to all those slimy bad guys. But now that Arnold’s our governor, I wanna know if ArnoCorps will start to write songs based on his political life. Current status: ArnoCorps plays around town on a regular basis. Just don’t forget to bring your earplugs, and your best camouflage outfit. Make contact: Get to the chopper! www.arnocorps.com |
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Vital statistics: Formed in 2001 by Leslie Satterfield and drummer Carrie Walker Mills, and later with the addition of singer/keyboardist China Lajczok and bassist Hannah Reiff, BoySkout is a mixture of dark and mysterious, seductive yet playful tunes that are wonderfully attitudinal without being obnoxious. Synthesizer-guided melodies and a diligent rhythm section make their music the perfect soundtrack for your bedroom dance party or morning hangover. They’ve played shows locally with bands like Shonen Knife, The Lovemakers, Pansy Division, The Cuts, and Fabulous Disaster, among others. Current status: The gals of BoySkout have been awfully busy lately. After contributing to the Sound of San Francisco compilation (Alive Records) which was released in September, they just put out a 7” on the Berkeley label Isota Records called Secrets/Pictures from the Moon, and in January they will release their first full-length album, School of Etiquette, on Alive/Bomp! Records. Make contact: www.boyskout.com or info@boyskout.com |
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Vital statistics: Someone threw some Southern Cali sun-baked beach towels in with greased-up leather jackets found in a Soho basement and tossed them around in a Live 105-approved washing machine to produce this combination of Strokes-like vocals backed by shimmery guitar pop and a raucous rock-‘n’-roll pretext. Current status: With a demo under their belt and having played shows locally, the band is set to release its debut album, Extended Play, this month. Make
contact: Catch them at their record release party on November
6th at the Stork Club, where they are to play with Low Flying Owls
and The Proles. www.thenewstrange.com
or booking@thenewstrange.com.
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Vital statistics: The Bay Area sure isn’t short of angelic-voiced, building-moving, hair-raising singer/songwriters, and Odessa Chen is right up there at the top of the list. Sparse, lonesome melodies are given life by Odessa’s breathy, spirited voice. She’s been playing shows locally after moving here from Tucson, Ariz., in 1996. Current status: Her impressive debut-album, One Room Palace, is out now, and features a who’s-who of the local scene, including Scott Amendola and Devin Hoff from Nels Cline Singers, Josh Kilbourn from Winfred E. Eye, David Kesler from Thee More Shallows, and Matt Brubeck from Tom Waits’ band. Make
contact: See Odessa perform Wednesday, November 12th, at the
Make Out Room with John O’Brien and Priscilla Ederle. Her
CD is available for purchase through her website (www.odessachen.com),
at Amoeba Music (Berkeley store), and Aquarius Records. |