by Sam Beresky
Daily Lobo
Albuquerque's Sweatband - newly renamed The Foxx - has taken a page right out of Shakespeare's book.
After all, what is in a name? Apparently not much because The Foxx is ready to take the rock world by storm with a new self-titled album.
"We wanted to avoid legal issues with the name Sweatband, since there are already several other bands that have recorded under that name," bassist Zac Webb said. "The Foxx was suggested by Juliet Swango (guitar/vocals) in the final hours before we had to send the CD off to be pressed."
From influences ranging from '70s glam, bubblegum-pop and even old country, comes a sound Webb describes as "alternately sweet and bitter, like a good Thai soup."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The Foxx is leading Albuquerque into the much-hyped return of hip rock 'n' roll popularized by bands like the White Stripes and Jet.
When asked about the possibility of being lumped into that trend, Webb responded stoically.
"The current return of rock 'n' roll trend in pop music isn't bad so far. It involves a number of bands whose influences seem well-deserving of critical attention," he said. "Playing pop music necessarily involves turning one's art into commodity, and commodities - when being sold - cannot help but be classified in some way or another.ˇIf that means having to accept the whole throwback-rock tag, so be it. It's fun to play, fun to go and see and fun to dance to."
The Foxx is certainly fun live and on the new CD. The album is littered with singable, danceable numbers ranging in sound from early Rolling Stones to a little bit of the Stooges. It's also a possible marriage of the Strokes and the White Stripes.
Songs like "Ready To Go," "Bands (Don't Want Me To Dance)" and "Landslide" are all hip-shaking good. The themes seem to be similar: fun, dancing and - the good old rock 'n' roll standby - love. "Ooh girl, you're a landslide" Isaac Bonnell sings in an almost British accent with Swango singing backup, "You're comin' down over me."
The biggest surprise on the album is the sweet song "Sad Desperation." It is a slowly building number that allows Swango to showcase her astounding vocals. It is a song that Dusty Springfield or Patsy Cline couldn't have sung better.
The Foxx is certainly filled with talent and has a catchy, trendy sound that will keep your toes tapping. To top it off, they are possibly the coolest looking band in town.
Drummer Ryan Roehl doesn't exhibit cool, he defines cool. He typically has a lit cigarette dangling from his lips like he doesn't have a care in the world. He is often dressed in jeans, a white t-shirt and his cool lives somewhere between the Fonz and Snyder from Alice's Diner.
The rest of the band is always dressed to kill in authentic hipster outfits from the '60s and '70s.
Fun, dancing and coolness aside, the band wasn't ashamed to take on more serious subjects, such as the meaning of life.
"Ask the earthworms," Webb said. "If they all disappeared tomorrow, life as we know it would cease to exist.ˇ If humans disappeared, the world could pretty much go on as it has.ˇExcept, of course, for the notable lack of cooked food and rock fans."ˇˇ
With a recent successful tour of California and a nationwide tour planned for later this year, The Foxx is prepared to keep those hipster kids dancing from sea to sea. Hopefully the members won't forget where they started.
Who: The Foxx
When: Friday
Where: Launchpad 618 Central
Ave.
Price: $5
Tickets
& Info: 764-8887
ˇ
