Invincible

What comes to mind when you see a treadmill? Running, tracksuits or maybe even a gym? Or do you think of four men, dressed in floral wallpaper print suits, running around frantically, while performing over-the-top dance moves? No? Well then, you must not be familiar with the ridiculous world of all that is OK Go.

OK Go and treadmills have become one of the same. Thanks to the release of their 2006 YouTube video, choreographed to their hit single 'Here it Goes Again' which was performed on eight, in-synch treadmills, OK Go has become a world-wide music phenomenon. Rather than go the expected route in the music industry and release professionally made videos through their management, this band created some of the most refreshing and entertaining homemade videos to ever raid the World Wide Web. Within days of posting their treadmill video, the most popular of all their viral releases, OK Go shot to the top of the charts and gained unimaginable recognition.

When OK Go entered my life I was unfamiliar with their work. True to my nature of going to any show presented to me, I showed up at the concert not knowing what to expect. As soon as the first note was stuck I knew the trip to the city had been well worth my time. With feel good distortion and electro pop tendencies OK Go knows how to rave. They were able to get the crowd moving and laughing with their feel good riffs, charismatic jokes, and ridiculous stage antics. They were able to put their unique personalities into their performance and bring the stage to life. It became instantly apparent that this band had no problem with being true to themselves, and had even less of a problem enjoying all that had been presented to them. OK Go instantly became one of the bands that I turn to when I need to smile, need to escape to a world of careless fun and energized dance moves. To be able to enjoy life the way they do, and to be able to present such a happy go lucky attitude while on stage, is something to truly aspire to. Not to mention they have mad, amazing musical abilities.

The Masterminds that make up this over the top Chicago based band consist of Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka, and Andy Ross. While Tim, Dan, and Andy Duncan, a member who was later replaced by Andy Ross, played in the Chicago band Stanley's Joyful Noise, Damian was attending Brown University where he took part in several musical side projects. Once Damien moved to Chicago he joined forces with Stanley's Joyful Noise to create the eccentric OK Go. With heavy influence from the Washington D.C punk scene, post-hardcore and indie rock OK Go released their first feel good album, self-titled OK Go, in 2002. In 2005 they released their second and more known album, Oh No.

To promote the release of their second album the band released their viral music videos, including several filmed in one of the members yard. Damien's sister Trish choreographed all of the dances performed and without the consent of their Capital Record's management OK Go released their videos. Surprisingly, in their videos Damian, the lead singer, is not the one who lip synchs their devious lyrics. Tim steals the spot light and takes over for Damian. There are many rumors as to why this occurs but it is still unknown. OK Go is not only able to step beyond the commonalities of today's music but they are also one of the few bands that keep some mystique surrounding their popularity, a wonderfully delightful rarity in today's mass-produced industry.

Since the release of their second album and incredibly amusing videos OK Go has rapidly developed and established their place in today's music industry. With a new album, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, in the works OK Go is standing their ground. Leading the way in originality and much needed joy this band will continue to be a worldwide success. I will be one of the first in line to purchase their new album when it hits stands on January 12, 2010 and I recommend that you be there rocking out by my side to the wonderful enthusiasm that makes OK Go so loveable.

As Published by The Prospectus www.prospectusnews.com

Happy In Her Own Little World

With successful rage and undeniable innocents this week's musician will become a staple in your play list. Not only is Kate Nash royalty when it comes to the British music scene, but she also makes for an interesting mix of sweetened individuality sprinkled with tainted awkwardness. Kate is a musician that is able to make any indie pop lover yearn for her unique taste.

When Kate Nash entered my life I was instantly enamored. I first saw her music video for Mouthwash on the British MTV2, a station that provided me with many amazing British musicians. Unfortunately, I tuned in just in time to miss the artist and song title. Kate Nash had impressed me to such an extent with just the last few notes of her song that I devoted an entire day to waiting for the video to come on again. Twelve hours on the couch and an angry mother later the video aired and once again a musician stole my heart. Her strange take on average issues and everyday dilemmas fit in perfectly with my mentality. Kate shared her perspective on life that felt uncommon in today's popular music industry. Although Musicians commonly wow me, few have developed a permanent place on my play list the way the captivating Kate Nash has.

Born in Dublin, yet a native to London, Kate Nash is a UK musical genius ready to take the world by storm. Kate originally wanted act, but she changed her focus to music after being rejected from the Bristol Old Vic Theater School and after being forced to be on bed rest due to a broken foot. This decision to change to music worked well for her as she soon discovered an impeccable talent for song writing with an edge that is not easily recreated. With the release of her 2007 album, Made of Bricks, Kate quickly topped the UK charts. While her child-like persona came with a surprising rage that caught even the most prepared listeners off guard, Kate Nash was acknowledged as one of Brittan's most exceptional indie pop musicians.

Not only is Kate Nash a born star, but she is also unusually accessible to her audience. While listening to her music there becomes a connection that is highly unexpected. Kate sings about the common themes of boys, friends, and self-image in ways that feel real and relatable. Not once does Kate stray from her down to earth lyrics into the world of the rich and famous. She also utilizes this pristine accessibility in concert.

I was lucky enough to see her on her Made of Bricks tour at the Melkweg, my favorite concert hall located in Amsterdam. As I walked into the concert hall not quite sure what to expect, I was instantly surprised at how perfect the set suited my image of her. Her set consisted of a chaos of items, plastic geese, garden gnomes, a field's worth of large white flowers, vines that twisted their way up the walls, and a hot pink neon sign saying Kate Nash suspended in front of a backdrop of clouds. The second Kate walked on stage with her band (Jay, Elliottt from that film E.T, Meg-King Wong, Brett Alaimo, and Jon Jackson) the audience fell deeply into a trance. Drinking a cup of tea with not two, but three sugars, Kate grasped the audience's attention and held their focus the entire show with her amazing collection of songs and enchanting personality.

Although not currently on tour, Kate Nash is a musician I highly recommend investing in. As a 2010 album is rumored to be in the works a new era looms ahead for Kate. She is a musician that will not disappoint and will continuously surprise her fans with incredibly individual and obscure lyrics about content they can almost all relate to. Kate Nash is an incredibly endearing, sweet, and dreamy musician who is not afraid to express her unique mindset through alluring lyrics and undeniably catchy beats.

To get a free download of Kate Nash's brand new remix of the song Caroline's a Victim and a video to her first single Foundations go to her website www.katenash.co.uk.

As Published in the Prospectus www.prospectusnews.com

Undeniably the most obscure thrash metal band out there, GWAR is an overload of the senses. Founded in 1984 in Richmond, Virginia the band is currently composed of Oderus Urungus, Flattus Maximus, Balsac: the Jaws of Death, Beefcake the Mighty, Jizmak Da Gusha, Sleazy P. Martini, several destructo side members and multiple kidnapped and mutilated human slaves. As all but one of the original members have survived the lengthy battle against Earth, GWAR pays tribute to its thirty-three retired members who have blessed the legend that has been created over the past 25 years. With twelve studio albums, three live albums, two compilation albums, and two Grammy Award nominations, GWAR is here to rock.

GWAR first ripped an inter-dimensional portal into my soul two years ago when a few friends of mine went to one of their shows at the Canopy Club. Not quite sure what to expect, they entered a world of extra-terrestrial madness, defiant, ravenous, chaos-warriors, and the never-ending battle to destroy the human race. My friends returned from the show in awe. After seeing the pictures of them covered in fake blood, I started to research the band. Within moments of listening to their "Beyond Hell" album it became apparent that GWAR is not your average metal group. This band is not one to listen to in the solitude of your own home, but they are a band to indulge in live.

More known for their epic stage performances than for their studio recordings, this band makes for an amazing theatrical night out. GWAR's characters are created from costumes consisting of Styrofoam, rubber, foam-latex, and a creative use of makeup to accentuate their bodies natural features. Seeing these striking costumes is not the only breathtaking part of their live performance, as they also make certain to have plenty of on and off stage entertainment. GWAR drenches their live audience in various fluids such a carrageenan (a type of seaweed extract), water, and powdered food coloring to make horrifyingly realistic blood and gore.

When contemplating if you should enter the realm of cosmic inspired metal by attending a GWAR show, it is important to understand the band's mythos as well as the inspiration behind their music. Ultimately created by the Master, a horrifyingly ugly creature who was said to be the size of a planet, the vast universe was made for entertainment. The Master created GWAR as an army to destroy all that he had created; however as most creation stories go, the army of GWAR rebelled against the Master. Furious, the Master banished GWAR to Earth where they created the human race-a race they quickly learned to despise.

After years of barbarous and epic battles against the human race, the Master returned to imprison GWAR to Antarctica where they continued to plot the destruction of human kind for millions of years. Their savior from this icy tomb came from the overuse of hairspray that 80's hair metal bands indulged in. Metal and a man named Sleazy P. Martini released GWAR into the United States of America where they learned how to play thrash metal and have continued to ever since.

If you would like to join the madness of all that is GWAR you are in luck. On December 7 GWAR will be ruling the stage at the House of Blues in Chicago. Although unconventional in every way, this band is guaranteed to be one of the best live shows of your life. GWAR is a band worth knowing, especially as Halloween looms ever closer.

To learn more about their mythos, music, tour dates, and stage act visit www.gwar.net.

Photo rights approved by GWAR.
Article as seen on www.prospectusnews.com