The Seas have given us what are hands-down our most fun Sound Off responses yet. And really, we expected nothing less from them. Boasting two members from the Shim Shams, the Seas are familiar with crafting ridiculously addictive pop tunes and show off the skill on their debut self-titled EP. The group caught our attention with their impressive live shows – frontman Nurk carries himself with a sexy, flamboyant swagger that bounces somewhere between Mick Jagger and Brandon Flowers and is matched by the swings of his free-ranging vocals. Songs like “Rita Lee” burst with old-school garage energy and touches of new wave rock, while “Little Girl” brilliantly purrs out enough sexually-ambiguous energy to make Bowie blush. It’s a sound you could drown in - if you weren’t already bobbing so much. The Seas play Friday January 19 at Trophy’s
Profile: The Seas
Year Formed:
Summer 2006
Members/Instruments Played:
Nurk: Lead vocals. Guitar, kazoo, melodica, keyboards.
LaRue: Backing vocals. Bass guitar, keyboards, dinner bell.
The Reverend P. Wayne: Backing vocals. Guitar, bass guitar, cell phone.
Schmengus “John Ashley” McMonstersauce: Drums/percussion.
Former Bands/Side Projects:
Nurk: Formerly of The Shim Shams; Also occasionally performs with John Willie and the Roughrangers
The Reverend P. Wayne: Formerly of The Devil Bites Dirty and The Innocent
LaRue: Formerly of The Shim Shams
Schmengus McMonstersauce: Formerly of Absalom Rising
Albums:
Four-song EP not released on any major label this past fall 2006. We just burn copies of it and assemble them at home. Recorded at Million Dollar Sound. When we get into some money or find a label that will help us, we’ll put out tons of music!
Influences:
Postmodern film and art, surrealism, magical realism, escapist fantasy mixed with street grit. Oh, yeah, are you asking about music? The Kinks, Bauhaus, Brian Eno, The Clash, Roxy Music, The Happy Mondays, Buzzcocks, Talking Heads, Galactic. We take influences from all different kinds of artistic expression, and we especially dig music that incorporates a theatricality and postmodern sense of humor (i.e., quoting clichés but using them in a new way and celebrating the drama of art).
Strangest comments or comparison ever made about your music:
Schmengus: There was a guy at Hole in the Wall who told me we were a lot like early Cars, but had our own sound.
The Reverend: That Nurk sounds like Liberace. In his poorer days.
Favorite local bands:
Cavedweller, Manager’s Choice, Yellow Fever, Hello Lovers, Teddy & Marge, Attic Ted, Oliver Anderson.
Nurk: Bob Taylor. His singing makes you wanna grow a backbone.
LaRue: He’s so well dressed.
Schmengus: Like Liberace in his “blue-collar era.”
LaRue: The “blue period.”
Favorite Local Venue:
The Reverend: Beerland. Whisky Bar, Hole in the Wall.
Nurk: L_M_N_L.
The Reverend: Under the 5th Street bridge.
Shmengus: Emo’s, Ginny Little Longhorn Saloon, Hole in the Wall and Stubb’s, yeah I said it.
Upcoming Shows:
We’re scheduled to play at Trophy’s Friday, January 19th. So far we have Stanley Roy (formerly of The Heart Project), who will perform with his own act, Stanley Roy and The Pigfuckers, or with a different project he’s involved with. Also scheduled to play is Beau Charron.
Shows over the next month you’re excited to see:
LaRue: I don’t leave the house. But if I did, Of Montreal and Dr. Dog at Emo’s coming up soon.
Schmengus: Bobby Whitlock & Coco Carmel.
The Reverend: Midlake @ Emo’s, I think. (*ed. note - The Parish)
Schmengus: Liberace at Elysium.
The Reverend: Daniel Ash @ Elysium.
Nurk: Some random dirty country act at Hole in the Wall. Or the all-female mariachi group that plays Las Manitas sometimes.
LaRue: I also like the country bluegrass acts at Artz Ribhouse.
The Reverend: The Lion King.
Favorite Albums of past year:
Nurk: We Are the Pipettes by The Pipettes; Estudando O Pagode by Tom Ze
LaRue: Also a big fan of the Tom Ze album. The Information by Beck; At War With the Mystics by The Flaming Lips. One of my favorite songs of the year: “Gold Lion” by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Oh, and “I Can’t Decide” by The Scissor Sisters. I’m a fan of singles.
Schmengus: The Letter Z by My Morning Jacket; Broken Boy Soldiers by The Raconteurs
Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:
The Reverend: Love & Rockets.
LaRue: The Happy Mondays. I’ve never done Ecstasy before! Or maybe The Who�that would probably kill your career though.
Nurk: Devendra Banhart. Or any one of Stephen Merritt’s plethora of projects.
Schmengus: (In no particular order) Pavement, Talking Heads, The Roots, Liberace
The Reverend: (Fart noises�) Whiner.
Austin Sound Questions:
Which sea best represents The Seas and why?
The Reverend: The Sea of Tears. ‘Cuz it hurts so good.
Schmengus: The Dead Sea. You can float in it.
The Reverend: Because we’re partin’ shit. ‘Cuz we’ve got an angel of fire and pillar of love.
What can possibly “save our American souls”?
The Reverend: Repealing the unconstitutional Federal Reserve Act of 1913.
LaRue: If every one wore more red, white and blue.
The Reverend: But not necessarily in that order.
Nurk: (Laughs maniacally) If I only knew!
Schmengus: Rock ‘n roll and booty shakin’.
Song Introduction:
“Rita Lee”:
This song is about Rita Lee, former member of Brazilian 60s psychedelic band Os Mutantes. The song started out as some twisty old-school punk chords that LaRue heard in her head while picking out a toothbrush at the grocery store. Nurk took those chords and fashioned a catchy lead melody and penned lyrics that paid homage to the Brazilian icon and Os Mutantes.
Notable lyrics: “I’m a full-grown man/but I could use a little mutant hand/to show me how to use a bug spray can/I’ll ride your acid dreams.”
Sound Off:
The Reverend: In the end, we hope to inspire within ourselves and in others the creative spark that is our divine birthright and topples the shit-sucking tyranny of mediocrity.
Nurk: We hope to blow our own minds and hopefully in the process blow a few others as well.
Schmengus: I really just wanna make booties shake. Real fast, you know? But not like, violently, just shakin’ real hard with passion.
LaRue: I hope we bring people into a fantasy world where they can realize their true, authentic selves.
Nurk: Or try on a few new selves other than the same ole’ boring options. There are so many more possibilities!
Mp3’s from The Seas EP:
Rita Lee
Little Girl
Websites:
www.theseas.net
Myspace
