Los Angeles – Music lovers in Los Angeles were treated to a unique genre mix at the Bootleg Theater. The venue is known for hosting an eclectic range of musicians, but rarely are two bands that are so different placed on the same lineup. This made for an interesting experience for all of those in attendance, as everyone was exposed to a style of music that would normally be well outside their wheelhouse.
Headlining the night was Los Angeles-by-way-of-Germany-by-way-of-Austria soul-pop trio Audiodamn! The band recently wrapped up their first U.S. tour, and even published a four-piece tour diary for Best New Bands this fall after visiting Chicago, Minneapolis, Davenport and Kansas City. Our Chicago writer, Sarah Hess, had a chance to sit down with the band for an interview. In the chat, they discuss topics such as the band’s recent move to the United States from Germany and their performance of their single, “Radar”, on the Today Show. Speaking of the Today Show, here is a video of their appearance.
Consisting of vocalist and guitarist Oliver “Oli” Wimmer, guitarist Ali Grumeth, and drummer Daniel “Mudi” Mudrack, Audiodamn! do not let the lack of a bass guitar in their lineup hamper their ability to create a grooving low end. Grumeth often served as a stand-in for bass guitar, pumping out rhythmic riffs on his six-string that perfectly complemented Wimmer’s beautiful vocals. For a kid that has lived most of his life in non-English-speaking countries, Wimmer’s accent while singing was non-existent – he sounds an awful lot like superstar singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5.
Between the songs though, all three of the band-member’s accents became much stronger, an interesting dichotomy that shows the group’s dedication to their music and vocal abilities. The majority of their set came from their recently released EP. One of the highlights of the night was the aforementioned “Radar,” for which a music video was recently shot. Opening with a simple guitar riff and Wimmer’s falsetto, it hits its stride when the trio of horn players chime in. “Lights Out” meanwhile, has a little bit more of a rock attitude, with gently palm muted guitar riffs in the verse that meanders into a chorus that is impossible to forget. The band finished off the night with a strong rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire.”
Opening the night was Rat Fist, a punk-rock super-group that is made up of Randy Randall (No Age), Sean McGuinness (Pissed Jeans), Michael J Sabolick (A Life Once Lost). Rat Fist offered a set for the punk-rock crowd, playing a straightforward and grimy take on hardcore punk. Mainly serving as a warm-up before the band hits the road for a West Coast tour, they were very thankful for the crowd that showed up to show these punk rock lifers (and new fathers!) some support.
Audiodamn! is taking a much-needed break from touring for the near future. They plan to finish up their debut full-length soon, so keep your ears open because this promising group of guys has big things ahead for them.
Photo by Matt Matasci for Best New Bands
Matt Matasci
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