CITIZINE NEWS
Unsigned stars
on the rise
The inside scoop on some new
discoveries in rock and comedy.

By Thom White

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The Man Pies

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Formed from the remnants of Austin’s lesser-know electro-rap insurgency The Vittamins, The Man Pies deliver a twin guitar attack of traditional blues folk on this six-song treat. The Man Pies have not yet been corrupted by superior recording equipment, and keep to the underground in making this blues folk record low in fidelity, but high in soul.

Frontman Michael Sammons serenades the listener with tales of Greyhound buses, railroad tracks, and the woman he misses bossing him around. Rhythm master Gil Harris doubles the power of this band, and allows frontman Sammons to get wild with harmonica and crazy Texas blues talk on disc closer “Rollin’ On Down the Tracks.”

Sammons’ bluesy singing style is the result of ten years of fronting some seriously rocking bands. On “Don’t Forgive Me” and “To Get You Back”, his clear cutting lyrics combine with haunting guitar duels to make for the best musical pieces of The Man Pies’ extended-play pie.

The Man Pies

Cooker

LOS ANGELES --- The guys in Cooker join forces to make a variety of harmonized punk rock on their Shocking and Awful EP. This record (produced at fabulous Westbeach Recorders) kicks off with the high-speed NOFX-inspired “Does It End” and moves quickly into the catchy title track “Shocking and Awful” which has great drumming and great lyrics [“I won’t support the death!”].

Some songs on this disc are intense and lightning fast while others are mid-tempo pop-punk. The songwriting is strong throughout and each member adds something interesting to the band’s sound.

Minor sensation Ryan Purucker powers the drum kit while guitarist Colin Clark and bassman Dylan Maunder play off one another on their instruments and split lead and back-up vocal duties. The secret to Cooker’s developing sound is teamwork.

cooker13.com

Tommy Gimler

PLAYA DEL REY --- Tommy Gimler’s debut comedy album Hairy Nipples tries to touch on the essentials in life -- being horny, screwing, shitting, and the fat female psyche. “Midgets Are People Too” will likely be Gimler’s breakthrough song, but underground single “Porn Star Girlfriend” is big with Gimler’s home-away-from hometown crowd at the Odd Wednesdays affair down in PDR.

This album features a total of 13 lovely ballads of hilarity and horniness (and shitting). There’s also an educational tune on STDs, and the deep message of “The Hypocrite.” So check out the Tommy Gimler Mobile Marketing Experience the next time he rolls into your town, cuz I’m told he’s already got an inspirational new tune about another human essential -- boogers.

tommygimler@hotmail.com

Jessie Deluxe

LOS ANGELES --- Jessie Deluxe is a three-piece woman band from L.A. who have put out a finely produced five-song EP. I presume they are real big already in England since they have played shows in London. Lead singer Jessie D’s cool hair may be part of the appeal for the discerning British public, but more important factors in many peoples’ eyes (and ears) would be the energetic music, rocking riffs, and memorable melodies that this band creates.

Admittedly, there is some debate over exactly how good Jessie Deluxe really is. Even in a room of only seventeen people, they can put on a strong performance. Especially the drums are really exciting and driving, and Jessie D’s voice seems very pleasant in most every song.

The really great, anthemic leadoff track “I Know” may be the best tune on this record, but the rest of the EP is no slouch. If you like your albums to have “fast ones” and “slow ones,” this has both.

On record, the vocals are often doubled and otherwise effected in special ways, and the drums and bass aren’t as loud and raucous as in the live version of the band. Jessie Deluxe is off to a good start.

Jessie Deluxe

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