Thunderbirds are Now!

Bursting out of Detroit's pollution-and-crime-ridden streets like Robocop after one too many Yellow Jackets, Thunderbirds are Now! deliver catchy, smart, melodic, fast, direct and danceable rock with a nod to late '70s and early '80s post-punk. Keyboards are used not as a novelty, but as a necessity, functioning as an instrument that provides everything from atmosphere to a song's main melody. Guitars are wiry and manic but still direct and not afraid of the occasional delayed part or barre chord. The bass rides an undercurrent, but also jumps out of the foray, delivering alternate melodies and power. Drums are never overcomplicated or flashy, but are instead used to generate a rhythmic pulse that carries throughout the song. Vocals dart in and out of the mix, sung with a sassy intensity. In other words, they fucking rule. Consisting of Ryan Allen (guitar/vocals), Scott Allen (keyboards/vocals/percussion/samples), Mike Durgan (drums) and Howard Chang (bass) Thunderbirds Are Now! started as a less than stellar tribute to Tool in early 2002. Their musical evolution has been diverse and deliberate, going from a more spastic and rambunctious sound to a more streamlined and focused n... more...