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Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Prima Donna * Pleasure Kills
Prima Donna - (Hollywood, CA) A five-man high-energy machine, Prima Donna have only been on the scene for three years, yet in that time have knocked out over 335 shows, nearly a third of which were overseas. In 2009 the band supported Green Day for two months in the U.K. and Europe in sold-out arenas. In 2010 Green Day brought back Prima Donna for two weeks in five countries in Asia. Their live show is a whirlwind of color, energy, bravado, volume and an avalanche of catchy, sing-along choruses. Clearly inspired by early punk groups such as X-Ray Spex, the Ramones, and the Sex Pistols as well as '70s glitter such as Mott the Hoople and David Bowie, the group's sharp n' concise songwriting sidesteps any notions of the group being "retro." How retro can a group be if their average age is 23?
All of this live excitement and excellence caught the eyes and ears of Acetate Records, who in the past have had the good taste to issue music by such artists as The Hangmen, Throw Rag, Jackson United, The Black Halos and Nine Pound Hammer. Prima Donna's Acetate debut, After Hours, is a ten-song collection of all-original, driving Rock n' Roll. Song's like "Soul Stripper" and "Demoted" openly defy you to sit still, arranged to cause maximum sonic damage. Combining thick, rhythm guitars with stinging lead lines, the sound is explosive, propelled by ceaseless forward motion, yet never is melody sacrificed. Solos never noodle or shred - whether taken by Kevin (of Green Day side project Foxboro Hot Tubs) on guitar or Aaron on sax and keyboards, they are as soulful and melodic as the songs they support. Up front and center, Kevin proves to be the man of the hour, singing in a strong tenor that is at once sultry and swaggering, clear and unaffected.
The group proved to be as at home in the studio as they are on the road. Co-producing the album with Messiaz (Eddie Spaghetti, Neila, Monique Powell, Ladykillers), the band's pure vision of what Rock n' Roll is permeates every track. Muscular riffs, to-the-point lyrics, killer licks, songs that get themselves over with in under three minutes - it ain't a formula if you're living it. These guys live it, all year 'round, on the road, in the studio, in the street.
***
Prima Donna has shared the stage with such notable acts as Green Day, Turbonegro, the Sonics, the Zeros, the Boys, the Weirdos, Angry Samoans, Backyard Babies, Steel Panther, the Skulls, Duane Peters, Eddie & the Hot Rods, Glen Matlock, the Vibrators, the Phenomenauts, the Joneses, Josie Cotton, Anti-Nowhere League, Texas Terri, the Undertones, the Muffs, the Stranglers, MU330, the Subhumans, Sham 69, UK Subs, Charged GBH, the Rezillos, TV Smith, the Avengers, the Business, 20/20, Chelsea, the Briefs, the Exploited, Toyah, 999, the Pointed Sticks, Demented Are Go, Stza Crack, the Polecats, the Electric Prunes, Nikki Corvette, Rikk Agnew, the Gears, Razor Dolls, Girl in a Coma, the Stitches, and the Bellrays.Pleasure Kills - (San Francisco)
Lydiot's vocals-how she can simultaneously channel great female pop divas of the past like Martha Davis of the Motels, Jill Kossoris of the Shivvers or even Debbie Harry without making it sound rehashed is what makes this stand out ... this is a winner all around.
- DiSCORDERIt seems I've discovered my favorite new band ... a must-have record for anyone who loves powerpop ... a la Josie Cotton circa Convertible Music ... Both songs are fantastic
- Now WaveThere's that something going on here that would've had Rodney on the Roq playing this on the radio for weeks on end back in his early 80's heyday
- Smashin' TransistorsThis is pop music at its finest ... pure of heart, getting stuck in your brain ... a refreshing alternative to the crowded and muddled music of the current American underground ... A definite must
- Seven Ten Twelveyou can't deny that this one is a hit ... Nikki Corvette-y ... All you neo-power-popsters out there should dig this
- Terminal Boredomeither tune here conceivably being a minor hit back when power pop wasn't retro
- Razorcakesounding a LOT like vintage Blondie ... This is the kind of song that you find yourself singing on the way to the train ... Awesomely catchy
- Lucid Cultureyou're attracted to the sheer fun of this power punk pop but there's something dangerous there of course, lurking under the surface
- Seven InchesThis is absolutely pure power pop goodness, complete with sticky sweet female vocals. This is what heaven is like, I am sure of it.
- Maximum Rock N RollAnyone who spends their days celebrating Blondie and their nights mourning the decline of Joan Jett, take heart
- Statesman Journal (Salem, OR)taut songs cracking and humming like a very live wire, with sparks flying everywhere. Their frontwoman Lydiot isn't doing Joan Jett or Debbie Harry or anyone for that matter—she's doing Lydiot, plain and simple.
- Portland MercuryThe Pleasure Kills won my Best of Show tonight ... rollicking hi-energy powerpop stick-in-your-head melodies & fun fun fun performance of the style that few bands play anymore
- Wig Wam BamLike Blondie, The Go-Go's and Joan Jett ... The Pleasure Kills deliver a pop-perfect combination of bubblegum hooks and punk grit
- Oklahoma GazetteWe're getting ready for the big 5 week national summer tour in support of our new album Bring Me A Match! The album will be released June 25 on both vinyl and CD, and we'll be starting the tour July 15 in Boise with Quintron And Miss Pussycat! While you wait for the album, you might want to pick up a copy of our new CDR single Dancing On My Bed b/w Touch Too Much. We did CDRs instead of vinyl this time because all our money is going toward the album. But, since the single is on CDR, that makes it easy for us to also include the tracks from the Mission Boy and sold out Smash Up The Radio singles on there for you!
In 2009, we hit the road for a full-on national tour in June and July (9700 miles!) with our friend Kepi Ghoulie! We got to play in big places like NYC, Boston, Chicago, and Austin, and not-so-big, but just-as-awesome places like Oxford, MS. And we had a great time playing Insubordination Fest in Baltimore! We also went up to Portland to play the Slabtown Bender festival again. It was just as excellent as 2008, and it was totally cool getting to open for Mudhoney and Pierced Arrows there.
Our big highlights from 2008 were playing the Wild Weekend powerpop festival (The Boys, Pointed Sticks, 20..20, Paul Collins Beat, Nikki Corvette, Gentleman Jesse, Black And Whites, Baby Shakes, etc.) in Austin in August, and the Slabtown Bender festival in Portland in February. Our two-week Southwest tour was a blast, and we got to play with a lot of great bands and make a bunch of new friends. We released the "Misson Boy" single, and were excited by all the good reviews and airplay!
We like KUSF, where all three of our singles have charted in the Top 30 most played!
And we always enjoy playing shows with good bands when they come to San Francisco! Here's some we've gotten to play with: Big Fun, Chixdiggit, The Cute Lepers, Davila 666, Kepi Ghoulie, Harlem, Head, Lords Of Altamont, Pure Country Gold, Jay Reatard, Riverboat Gamblers, Slow Club, The Tranzmitors, and Wax Museums.
Our "Smash Up The Radio" single is sold out, but some record stores might still have copies. We particularly like Goner Records. And we seem to have some fans in Japan! Both Dream On Records and Record Shop BASE are stocking our records.
Last Update Sunday 1 August, 2010
