Americans the Rock Band

MYSPACE

2004-10-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

hey kids--we have a news pace on the web at myspace. please sign up and get involved with us! We won't be updating this site much...so please, so go to:

http://www.myspace.com/americans

Americans at Siberia

2004-10-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'll say it. The Hook was off the hook.

Regs were Amazing. The Morning 40 Federation is in another league entirely. Lisa, the booker/bartender of the show, treated us just great--The Hook, ladies and gentleman, is a touch of class. It may be tough to get to red hook, but the Hook is just an amazing place to play. Can't wait to go back.

Next show on the calendar for now is:

Friday November 19 at Siberia! Yes, back to our beloved Siberia...look for more details soon.

2004-10-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

THE HOOK!! Hope to see y'all there!

Americans at 11, Regs at 10 and teh amazing Morning 40 will wrap the night up with big-ass bow!

FYI The Morning 40s are reviewed in PopMatters in September. Here's an exerpt:

The band has been steadily crafting a following in the New Orleans scene by equally exploiting and celebrating the excess of the city's legend, but for the sake of living the life rather than turning a profit on it...the band's free-wheeling attitude appealed to the locals who saw the reflection of their own community in the act, and the band's open-stage policies turned their shows into block parties as much as concerts, with actors and puppeteers and buskers joining Morning 40 on stage variously for every show. As the band's reputation spread, their abilities as musicians grew, and eventually they were touring the country, opening for national acts like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Modest Mouse, and even playing the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Local press, including the Times-Picayune, included their first two self-produced CDs (2000's Your My Brother and 2002's Trick Nasty) on their annual "Best of" lists. And so their mystique has grown. It's a great backstory -- it's a really great backstory; the kind of thing legends are made of...Citing influences from New Orleans' own King Oliver, along with Tom Waits and Jon Spencer, and combining rock, jazz, ska, and funk, Morning 40 Federation's sound is a blender of styles that whips up a frozen Hurricane. The guitars are fuzzy and rough, the beats swing, and the vocals are exaggerated whether they're aiming for inebriation or a gritty bluesman affectation. Fans have labeled the style "sleazy burlesque", and it's an entirely appropriate designation, conjuring up images of the Moulin Rouge and lascivious bacchanals. And while there's a sort of indie cum jam band feel to the compositions, everything comes off with a determined lack of seriousness. While Morning 40 never shies away from silliness, it's just tongue-in-cheek enough to stay fun and not drift too far into the ridiculous...

THE HOOK!

2004-09-30T08:48:00.000-07:00

Americans are back in the studio, post-flood, and even more rain from yet another dwindled hurricane couldn't stop us from getting ready for Saturday evening's performance with the Morning Forty Federation at the HOOK. No, the Hook is not the easiest venue to get to, but it is also, without question, one of the best venues in the city. They treat you right and the room sounds amazing. Once you arrive, there's nowhere else you'd rather be--there's a spacious music room, cheap drinks, a great outdoor space, and a lounge. So come on out and enjoy a night of great music and a great party!

On another note, the Continental show scheduled for Saturday, 10/9, with Fin is cancelled. Apparently the owner needed to have a show of his own there that night so he wiped the entire slate. Sorry kids, we were planning a big afterparty. Of course, to be truthful we really don't give a fuck about losing that show. In direct contrast to the Hook, Contintental is a shithole and every band I know has in some way been fucked by that club at one point. We won't be returning there, except for maybe their happy hour, which is really good and the bartenders are all very cool. As for music, two words describe most of the bands that grace that stage: GUITAR CENTER.

If you're planning ahead, pencil in Friday, November 19th, at SIBERIA, another favorite of ours. More details to come.

The American Way of Life

2004-09-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings Fellow Americans:

The Hook is next, saturday 10/2. Plan for a massive party as the headliner that night will be the remarkable Morning 40 Federation. The Regs will also be joining us once again, so come early and leave early the following morning. I also see that a band of white rappers from Colorado has been added to the bill. Fo' reeeeeal yo.

Speaking of Colorado, let's review: Kobe, she said no.

If you don't know the Morning 40 Federation, you'll wanna check 'em out. One of the best live bands in country.

www.morning40.com

Also, the regs have a new site in the works: www.theregsband.com
sexy kids.

We're back into our space after the flood, working on a new set for the Hook.

An unwanted vacation continues

2004-09-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are still without a studio. For those who don't know, we were flooded out of our current space on September 6th. We're still not back in, as there is a lot of mold to be cleaned out, and new carpets to be installed. We also lost a lot of gear, damaged by the water.

This comes just months after we were forced to move on a day's notice from our old space to this new space, after some illegal tenants who moved in above our old space anonymously complained to the police about NOiSE! We were cool about it, but that move cost us $200 in van rentals, and a couple days work for some band members, for which they were not paid. Now, we're unable to play, and have taken another financial hit, having to replace at least $300 worth of pedals, cords and powerstrips just to plug in.

Poor us. Still, our landlord is a good guy and has been fair to us. So this may turn out alright. He's an artist (and an excellent one) and can understand what we're going through. But we need to hit it!

See y'all at the hook...

The Hook is next!

2004-09-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

Greetings, fellow Americans.

The band extends its thanks for a great night at Plaid. Big thanks to Jeremy and Jordan for setting up the party. They do the city a great service and treated the band really, really well. Thanks also to the club, for the hopsitality and the truly great sound engineers. The room sounded great.

How incredible are the Regs?

As for Amercians, Plaid was a trial by fire for Chris Butler, bassist for Fin, who joined the band on bass after only a few times jamming with them. With the studio flooding this week, cutting rehearsals, it was quite a test for Chris, but he passed beautifully.

Thanks especially to everyone whose patience was tested by the Inflatable Men's inflated set. Funny, they've deflated their name to the Inmen, and their "brief" bio said their set was short and energetic--but then again their "brief" bio was three paragraphs long. Anyway, thanks to those who stuck it out and came back to life to give Americans such a great reception. Americans told me only to "offer best wishes to the Inmen on their CD release." You know, the Inmen opened for Gary Numan and Dougie Fresh. (see paragraph three of the Inmen bio for more namedropping.)

SAT. OCTOBER 2, 2004! The Hook!
So the hook is next on the calendar--plan for an all-night affair! Americans will once again be joined by the Regs, and the headliners will be the incredible, incomparable Morning 40 Federation from New Orleans! The party starts at nine and will go all night!

Also on the calendar

10/9 CONTINENTAL
Continental...yeah, we know, but it is early, with Chris Butler's excellent band Fin, and there will be a birthday party for him after the show. Check out Fin at www.fin-land.com.

10/14 BAR MATCHLESS
Bar Matchless, Driggs and Manhattan Ave, w' burg on 14. Also with the Regs!

PLAID, babies!

2004-09-08T11:04:00.001-07:00

Greetings from the Politburo!

Hey kids, Friday night is set, with a big thanks to the New York Underbelly folks--who throw one of the sickest rock parties in the city. If no one lends Courtney Love a guitar you should all get home safely. For those of you who don't know, at a Plaid rock party not long ago Courtney wrecked Alabama Blacksnake's Chris Piss' new tele and also impaled a clubgoer with a mic stand. She still faces charges for that. Now that was a party to remember--not because of courtney, who was kind of a sad footnote, but because of the Blacksnakes, the Regs and the other band that night, the Giraffes, who for our money might the best fucking band in the world.

Well, we offer a hearty american salute to New York Underbelly for giving bands a good situation to play in, and for giving music fans an excellent, and cheap night of music in a city known for stupid cover charges and high drink prices. Also thanks to Plaid, a swank place to hang, for hosting. Come on out, you won't be disappointed.

Party Details:
--Plaid, 76 East 13th Street. The party is called Between (a Rock and a Hard Place) and is free to get in on the UNDERBELLY list from 9-11

--OPEN BAR from 9-10, from 10 pm til 1 am we have $5 whiskey and vodka drinks and $4 beers at the back bar (where the music is).

--The door girl will have the UNDERBELLY guest list. You can get on the guest list by emailing rsvp@newyorkunderbelly.com or going to the website at http://www.newyorkunderbelly.com/ , but as long as you mention the party or our band name, AMERICANS, you’ll be fine. Try to rsvp, though!

The Regs, god knows we love 'em, will open the night at 9 pm

The Inmen, celebrating the release of their new CD will hit it at 10 pm

Americans at 11

Hope to see you there, cats.

Shows, and some surprises

2004-09-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

My fellow Americans:

Well, the republicans are getting out of town, so it's back to abnormal for the city, one hopes. I've been a little creeped out by all the helicopters.

A few things. First, Register and comment on our blog! Americans the Rock Band will be the official meeting place for Americans news and commentary.

Next, some great upcoming shows.

Friday, September 10 at Plaid, 13th Street and 4th ave. Amercs will hit the stage at 9 sharp, but come early for the open bar! Free Show with the Regs, yes, you know and love them as do we, and the InMen, formerly the Inflatable Men.

Saturday October 2nd, at the Hook, with the incredible Morning 40 Federation. Do not miss this show! It promises to be a great night, with the Regs again joining us on the bill.

Look for more show postings in the coming days.

Can You Smell the Love Tonight?

2004-09-01T13:21:00.000-07:00