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OH MY STARS!
So how much can you get away with by being named STRFKR? Answer: a lot. From excerpting Allan Watts lectures to performing entire gigs dressed in drag, the last thing frontman Josh Hodges and his bandmates want to do is take themselves too seriously. By Rita Faire Photographed by Tyler Kohlhoff
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n the future, everyone in the world will “wear the same color, make art, and say fuck”— or at least that is how STRFKR vocalist and guitarist Josh Hodges recounts the bogus dream in the equally bogus story he tells about how his Oregonbred band, STRFKR, got its interesting name. The question of how they got their name practically
asks itself. “Basically,” Josh explains, “I was in another band and just got sick of the music scene/industry [so] I started this new project—100% for fun—with a name so stupid it couldn’t possibly be successful at all.” How wrong could he get? With two syncopated electronica albums (including their newest release, Reptilians), two EPs,
Texan band SHEARWATER goes for Baroque in their first release via Seattle’s Sub Pop Records, Animal Joy. The album breaks away from their mellow melodies, expressing newfound rock vigor.
and a bunch of appearances on TV show and advertising soundtracks (e.g. Target’s Pink Pepto, and Showtime’s Weeds), Josh and bandmates Shawn Glassford (bass, keyboards, drums), and Keil Corcoran (drums, keyboards, vocals) are far from the failures they expected themselves to be—not that fame was the end goal. As Josh puts it, “I just wanted to make a live show that could be entertaining… even if [you] weren’t super into the music.” Mission accomplished.
myspace.com/strfkrmusic
Out of the joint and straight into the studio, rapper T.I. brings hard knocks to his latest album, Trouble Man. With his signature Southern swag, Tip is back in the game and hitting stronger than ever.
WARNING LABEL It was strange for Johnny Langer and Peter Duffy of MAN LIKE ME to be in a train beside a random guy, hearing their song “Carny” play from the man’s mobile. But, with such spunky music, it might be even stranger if they didn’t. By Reena Mesias Photo courtesy of Murray Chalmers PR
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proverb reads, “When the wine is in, the wit is out.” Johnny Langer and Peter Duffy of Man Like Me took that to heart—substituting wine with tequila though. “The best song I came up with when drunk was ‘Booze’ so that’s quite fitting,” says Johnny. Not only is alcohol a staple part of their preperformance or pre-recording sessions, but it has also become
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critical in mundane situations. “I can only communicate with people after a few drinks, so drunk texts and phone calls are a standard procedure.” Like booze, Man Like Me also comes with this warning: too much of their music can cause nonstop dancing. Although Johnny initially wanted the band to “make drum and bass,” he says, “What came out was just weird pop music.” Infectious pop techno beats and heavy synths are combined with technicolored outfits and rowdy acts onstage.
“We hardly ever argue—which helps—but we did get into a fight on stage in LA which was pretty embarrassing,” says Johnny. Vodka Red Bulls or none, Loud & Quiet wasn’t lying when they described Man Like Me as the “best damn live act in the UK.” They are everywhere—in an Ikea advert, in a train, in Adele’s and Lily Allen’s playlists—and that’s where they’re supposed to be.
myspace.com/manlikeme
Following the success of their full-length debut, Cape Dory, husband-and-wife jammers TENNIS release Young and Old, produced by The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney. Suitable for all ages, but best shared with someone special.
THE TING TINGS, who Started Nothing four years ago, are now going nowhere—Sounds from Nowheresville, that is. Their new album is finally coming out, for real this time.