Biography
Awkward Bodies. The name itself feels so instantly relatable, expressing how most of us feel about ourselves. It’s confrontational, yet comforting. The Minneapolis four-piece have been called shoegazers, soul stompers, dream-poppers and heart stoppers. None of these descriptions are wrong, but they don’t fully encapsulate the sound of the group as heard live or on tape.
So what’s so special about Awkward Bodies? Maybe it’s the way the influences and aesthetics the individual members bring to the band assemble to be something wholly different… something the Minneapolis scene has missed for a long time. Maybe it’s in the screeching, almost searing guitar attack that both repels and attracts like a siren (the mythical Greek and speeding ambulance types.) It very well could be the solid groove (assuming groove isn’t a bad word in 2012) of the rhythm section. It could even be the way all of these elements swirl around the burly frontman with a voice that moves effortlessly between sticky sweet and shyly abrasive, often within the same song. The simple answer would be: all of the above. Awkward Bodies pull together the ear-blistering sonics of the loudest whatever-gaze bands without compromising their aggressively honed pop sensibilities.
Have we said nothing without saying anything at all? Perhaps you’re just looking for the facts. We respect that and will try to curb the poetic waxing from here on out. Since forming in early 2012, Awkward Bodies have played tirelessly around the Twin Cities and quickly gaining a following of tape traders, hip shakers and toe-gazers alike (okay, so we made that last one up , but it has a nice ring to it, no?) Each show has been host to a mixtape exchange between the band and its fans. As new songs have been written and arranged, the band has slowly doled them out, one by one, on a C60 cassette showcasing each band member’s favorite songs, musical discoveries and guilty pleasures. The series has become so popular that the band no longer finds themselves with a small surplus at the end of the night. Word has gotten around; most tapes have already been traded with fans before the band even hits the stage. The band have invested in their own multi-tape duplicator to keep pace with the demand!
It’s in this spirit that the band has decided to release their debut EP, recorded in early summer by John Miller (Night Moves, Gay Beast) and mastered by Derek Almstead (E6, Destroyer, Vic Chesnutt) on cassette initially. Digital distribution and a Kickstarter for hip, warm and luxurious vinyl will follow. In the meantime, you’ll be able to find Awkward Bodies playing near you soon with a box full of lovingly handmade tapes and a familiar sound that’s still all their own.
Personnel:
Mason Butler - Vocals/Guitar
Jeannette Kjos - Bass/Vocals
Jesse Miller - Guitar/Vocals
Nick Vittum - Drums/Vocals
www.facebook.com/awkwardbodies
awkwardbodies.bandcamp.com
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