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What is it about Texas? Well, I guess it IS enormous, so statistically, that helps of course. But whatever the reason, the Lone Star State has been churning out a whole slew of good bands lately. Though Dallas has been picking up the pace recently, you can always count on Austin to have an ace up its sleeve. Such is the case with The Lemurs. This six piece from Texas' BBQ-loving capitol city is ready to burst out onto the national stage. The self released, eight-song EP that recently made its way into my hands is ready to be picked up, as is, by someone who can see the main stream potential of this band and really put some effort and resources into getting them "out there."
This shit has alternative "radio hit" written all over it. Comparisons to Bloc Party, The Strokes, The Faint, The Killers or Franz Ferdinand wouldn't be too off base, though it's hard to tell from their MySpace photos whether or not they're quite as "photogenic" as those bands. One thing is clear though, The Lemurs' music can hold its own against any of the bands mentioned above. The production is top rate. The musicianship is outstanding. The songs are great and filled with big hooks and choppy, alt radio guitars. Really, I'm surprised that I haven't heard of these kids sooner. Even the more mellow closing track, "For You To Me," is damn good. Have a listen to "They Do What They Like" below and see what you think. There's seven more where that came from and, should you feel so inclined, you can pick up your own copy on the band's MySpace page. - TheTripwire.com
You may have already purchased tickets, or you might have been our lucky winner last week (Dax Riggs post-show included), but what you didn't know at the time was that local heartthrobs the Lemurs would be opening.
The Lemurs are an impenetrable Austin mainstay, and they have been very busy these last couple months. They headlined our Local Music Is Sexy IV party ACL weekend, then went on tour, then said goodbye to their long time keyboardist, and now they're working on demos for the new record.
We bet you'll hear a few of those tunes tonight at Stubb's, so if you haven't already purchased your tickets, get on the ball, y'all. - Austinist.com
The Mohawk presents a solid double bill of local pop this evening. The Lemurs have been writing new material over the last few months and a handful of those songs will be included in their set tonight. The band enjoyed a stellar 2007 -- highlights included licensing their music to NBC show Las Vegas (as well as an Australian indie flick called Newcastle) and touring with Canadian act Stars. This past Sunday, ME Television telecast a 2nd ME Live! featuring The Lemurs' shimmering melodies in concert at a recent La Zona Rosa gig.
The Lemurs expertly alternate between guitar driven synth-rock and memorable power pop ditties, making for a rousing live performance that has the audience dancing and bobbing their head in agreement all show long. Instrumental synth jam sessions amidst the songs, catchy guitar hooks at choice moments, and Mitch Billeaud's affecting vocal delivery throughout are reasons enough that this band deserves to scale the same heights that acts like The Killers and Bloc Party have been able to. The Lemurs will release a split 7" vinyl (in April if all goes to plan) with California's Castaneda via Voodoo Cowboy Entertainment but we could be in for some other treats before that vinyl hits the streets -- the band also hopes to drop some remixes for our yearning ears leading up to SXSW.
Keeping busy in 2008, The Lemurs will open for What Made Milwaukee Famous at the latter's CD Release bash at Emo's on March 7th. Be on the lookout for various gigs during SXSW as well; The Lemurs are scheduled to play the Red Bull Moon Tower After-Party as well as the Green Potato Ventures Showcase. - Austinist.com
Discography
The Lemurs (s/t) 2006 EP
- "My Definition" Added to regular rotation on KROX 101x (Austin)
- "They Do What They Like" Licensed to NBC's "Las Vegas"
- "They Do What They Like" Licensed for AU movie "Newcastle."
- "My Definition" Licensed to Toyota for Yaris web campaign
- "They Do What They Like," and "No Net" Licensed for Indie Film "7 Seconds on the Freeway."
Photos
Bio
Coming up at a time when the dance-rock wave was reaching its crest, the Lemurs initially drew comparisons to Bloc Party, The Faint, Franz Ferdinand, and the Killers. But for every synth melody or dance beat employed, the Lemurs find a counterbalance of raw, driving guitar and frenetic rhythm that imbues their music with a crackling atmospheric sheen and anxious intensity. The result is a fast paced, layered sound-scape that owes as much to the pop lushness of My Morning Jacket as to the broader explorations of Television. With an interest in sustained instrumental sections, the Lemurs experiment with traditional pop arrangements, often using the chorus and dominant melodic section as a rejoinder to the larger thematic implications of their music.
Bassist Justin Mosley and drummer Danny Reisch keep the rhythm section in order while lead guitarist/keyboardist Davy Click crafts a live sound that falls somewhere between howling feedback and ethereal arpeggiation (lots of knob twiddling, button poking, and pedals – lots of pedals). Keyboardist Josh King sustains the sonic energy with two keyboards and a theremin-inspired sampler, and singer Mitch Billeaud leads the band with a dynamic and emotive voice occasionally channeled through a vocoder.
This Austin based five piece formed in late 2004 at the TX State School of Music and soon entered the teeming Austin music scene. In support of their eponymous 2006 EP, the Lemurs embarked upon a string of regional tours which culminated in licensing a number of songs to NBC, Toyota, and various film projects in the US and Australia. With regular radio play from Austin's alternative station, 101X, the Lemurs have quickly gained local and regional notoriety, garnering enough attention to support the recent Stars show on the celebrated Stubb's outdoor stage. Local music and entertainment television station, ME TV, recently telecast the Lemurs 2nd ME Live! performance, and with a bevy of new songs recorded, the Lemurs will independently release some of the material on a 7" vinyl with plans to finish recording their first full length effort by year's end.
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