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Update! February 2, 2005 Interview with Courtney!

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Future 86 - "After Party" CD

On any given Saturday Night, there are thousands of bands slotted to rock the stages of thousands of cities around the country.  If you pick up the Village Voice in New York City, the Metro Times in Detroit, or the Phoenix in Boston, there are hundreds upon hundreds of ads for nightclubs, bars, and underground clubs packed with new bands waiting for their shot in the spotlight.  So what does it take in order for a band to rise above its competition and begin to stand out?  What is the difference between music that's okay and music that's good, between a band that's good and a band that's great?  These kinds of bands don't come along very often, and when you find one it's like finding a diamond・

Right now in the city of New York, I believe there is such a band.  They play with a passion and a love for what they do that is rare these days: In an era where singers don't really sing and everything is bought, sold and packaged based on a formula, Future 86 has set themselves apart simply by being themselves, by having fun and encouraging others to do the same.   Their energy and excitement is infectious ・I don't know that you can be at one of their live shows and not feel their energy.  They create an environment that's totally their own, totally unique and totally alive.

Their new album, appropriately titled "After Party" combines all the essential elements of Rock, Pop, and Punk, with crunchy power chords, bold choruses, and unforgettable melodies, topped off with a layer of commercial sheen.  It is addictive, filled with songs that stick with you for days, even on the first listen.  They are like Cheap Trick, the Ramones and No Doubt on speed, Letters to Cleo on a Motley Crue kick.  And, unlike most albums on the market today, "After Party" really doesn't have any filler・It's great to have a new disc in my collection that is good from start to finish.

For a little of who's who in Future 86: Larry Nimmo, on bass, is the "band leader".  He is the main songwriter and has an amazing knack for coming up with incredibly catchy, to the point songs that you can't get out of your head.  Armand, on drums, is the band's party animal・if there's not already a party in the works, he'll start one, and will make sure it isn't over until someone is passed out in the bathtub.  Vache, on guitar, is the most relaxed of the bunch・the word "chill" describes him to a T.  Last, but not least, there's Courtney out front, the girl next door with a wild side.  Totally cool, she rocks like no one I've seen, but pulls it off with blonde hair and an amazing smile.  Together, they come off like a gang.  Inseparable, you can tell they belong together, that this was what they were born to do.

In an era where most bands are writing songs about their misfortune, whining about their lot in life and how miserable they are, this band is a breath of fresh air.  They embody rock 'n roll as it was meant to be- rebellious, youthful, alive.  My advice is to catch one of their live shows- if you've been wondering what has been happening in the music scene today, wondering where the world's next generation of great performers have been hiding out, check out this band.  They are what you've been waiting for.

-Lindsey Scott

(Via VegasBuzzz.com)