SPYMOB

John Ostby, lead vocals, keyboards
Eric Fawcett, drums, vocals
Brent Paschke, guitar, vocals
Christian Twigg, bass

How do you describe a year in which your band toured the world, played on a gold-selling record, performed on "The Late Show with David Letterman," scored radio and MTV airplay, garnered critical acclaim, shared stages with everyone from David Bowie to Jay-Z and recorded its debut album?

"I call that a really good year," says vocalist John Ostby, whose group Spymob hit it big in 2002 as the backing band for Neptunes side project N.E.R.D. For the average artist, such achievements usually mark the summation of an entire career -- if they're lucky. Spymob, however, is just getting started.

Their eagerly awaited debut album Sitting Around Keeping Score glows with the absorbed influences of Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Jellyfish and Split Enz. It's also the first rock album released on Star Trak, the new Arista subsidiary founded by the Neptunes.

About the Neptunes/N.E.R.D. collaboration, Ostby says, "It changed our world. One day we were playing hole-in-the-wall gigs in our hometown of Minneapolis and the next we're touring Europe and performing on BBC's 'Top of the Pops.' It's the kind of stuff you dream about from the day you learn to play, but not something you can plan."

Pharrell Williams, however, had it all mapped out. The visionary Neptunes producer foresaw endless possibilities after hearing Spymob's much-buzzed-about demo. "They reminded me of the music I grew up with," he says. "Their songs sounded like Steely Dan crossed with the Meters and Prince and it just blew me away." Williams sang Spymob's praises to his attorney, who, unbeknownst to him, already represented the band. Meetings ensued, ideas were exchanged and excitement built as Williams told Spymob drummer Eric Fawcett, "I'm gonna blow Spymob up. Everyone is gonna know who you are."

After asking Ostby to lend backing vocals to the Neptunes-produced Kelis track "Mr. UFO Man," talk of a more serious collaboration began. It all came together in June of 2001, when Williams and partner Chad Hugo decided to re-cut N.E.R.D.'s debut In Search Of... using live instrumentation. The two-man hit factory, whose multi-platinum producing credits include Nelly, Mary J. Blige, Kid Rock and dozens more, had their pick of star power and A-list session players. They chose Spymob. "Those guys were integral to the making of the album," says Williams.

Rolling Stone agreed, praising In Search Of... by writing, "Credit has got to go to (Spymob bassist) Christian Twigg and Eric Fawcett for supplying Search with dexterous, downright joyful bass and drums." Entertainment Weekly applauded the Neptunes' decision as well, writing, "...the gamble paid off. In Search Of... has a crackling vigor missing from the first stab, and its melange of genres makes for music unlike anything else around."

Anything up until now, that is. Spymob raises the ante with Sitting Around Keeping Score, a boundary-busting album that swings and sways with seductive flair. Nine of Sitting Around Keeping Score's 12 cuts were produced by Stephen Lironi (Black Grape, Hanson), while Minneapolis-based Alex Oana produced the title track and "Walking Under Green Leaves." Appropriately, the band produced and recorded the spare and compelling "I Still Live at Home" at their home studio.

When someone suggested that the Neptunes re-mix one of the album's tracks, Williams laughed. "Chad and I are usually brought in to fix all kinds of things on records," he said. "We didn't want to touch this one at all." Adds Hugo, "Pharrell and I were inspired to form the Neptunes because of our love for old soul, jazz and rock records. I get that same feeling of excitement and energy when I listen to Spymob."

"Their attitude toward music is refreshing," says Ostby. "There are plenty of producers out there who just want to put their stamp on records, but Pharrell and Chad are mature enough to know that if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Though Spymob's sound evokes classic rock and soul-music icons, they keep their grooves current by incorporating loops and samples into songs built on vintage instruments. Says Fawcett, "John has an old Rhodes piano, our guitarist Brent uses a vintage Fender Strat, our bassist Twigg plays a Fender Precision Bass and I play old Ludwig drums. Those vintage instruments have a warm sound, which makes the songs sound really rich."

At the heart of the band's sound is Ostby, whose supple voice, unique phrasings and reflective meditations lend depth and color. In his lyrics, he reveals a singular perspective full of irony, optimism and reverie. In "It Gets Me Going," Ostby turns the seemingly mundane life of a family dog into a deliciously ironic tale set to a rollicking pop song colored by buoyant piano lines, bold Hammond riffs, soulful guitar fills and subtle electronic nuances. The perked-up "Thinking of Someone Else" begins with a broken toe before its protagonist wanders into a dreamy remembrance of childhood and his mother's nurturing. In "2040," Ostby imagines domesticity in a not-so-surreal future. Belying its effervescence, "National Holidays" is a poignant and heartbreaking look at a divorced couple's custody of their only daughter. The sleek "German Test Drive" transports listeners from their late-model Corollas and Civics to the cockpit of a sports car on the Autobahn. He also imagines the life of a NFL legend in the final track, "Joe Namath." "Our job is to take John's quirky witticisms and observations about the world and wrap them in music you can move your ass to," says Fawcett.

Spymob's story begins nine months after Fawcett and Ostby's graduation from Minnesota's St. Olaf College, where the two roomed and played in a band together. Ostby was contemplating a career in film scoring in Los Angeles, while Fawcett had been accepted into a PhD program in the history of science at the University of Wisconsin.

"I didn't think I was going to form another band," Ostby says. "But that's where my heart was." He called Fawcett, played him some recently written songs, and the two agreed to return to Minneapolis and form a new band. "We were on a Blues Brothers mission from God," laughs Fawcett.

Once home, they met up with Brent Paschke, the guitarist who would help bring their developing sound to fruition. Ostby says, "I was coming from a background of pop music centered on the piano-stuff like the Beatles and Burt Bacharach, and also soul stuff like Stevie Wonder, Gamble and Huff and the Philly sound. Brent came in with a rock and funk feel, sort of like (Red Hot Chili Peppers axeman) John Frusciante. I think the fusion of piano-pop with the more aggressive, unorthodox guitar was key to forming our sound." A longtime friend and former classmate of Paschke's, bassist Christian Twigg, cements the group's lineup with his driving bottom-end groove.

What's the secret to the band's across-the-board appeal?
Says Fawcett, "We're willing to go to weird places musically to find inspiration, that's who we are

Artist - Song
1 SmokeyBogart - Cities Live Intro
2 Copasetic - MoJo
3 Nate Stevens - Make Your Light Shine
4 NiteRail - Live Hidin'
5 The Blues Benders - Twenty Flight Rock
6 The Julie Puppets - She
7 Wolves & Ravens - The Newspaper
8 White Iron Band - Devil's Sweet Revenge
9 DJ John - Whispers
10 KONFLICT THE INKREDIBLE HULK MC - Coast 2 Coast
11 Smokey Bogart - City Life
12 Quietdrive - Time After Time
13 Vertigo Joe - Center
14 PILLA - biggest mistake
15 Jacob Martin - Gone to Stay
16 Brakelazy - Tricks
17 Captain Standish - Slippin Away
18 7th Seal - Genocide
19 American Head Charge - Dirty
20 Pair Of Sevens - Blood Drive
21 Wrecking Day - No Prayer
22 Niobium - Yang Tze
23 Black Flood Diesel - Lust Hunt Kill
24 American Head Charge - To Be Me
25 Gingerjake - Get It Off
26 NUMM - SKY (DE)
27 13th Step - Jekyl and Hyde
28 Samsahra - Chance

Thanks everyone for tuning in tonight it was a blast!
Jer

American Head Charge will be making the final stop of their "Can't Stop The Machine" tour in their hometown of Minneapolis and Cities Live will be there to welcome them home. Even if you can't be there in person, you can join us by tuning in to our LIVE broadcast from The Rock Nightclub in Maplewood on Friday, July 6th. The doors open to the public at 7PM. Contact The Rock for tickets, get them quick as this will sell out fast.
This is an 18+ event, tickets $12.00 in advance or $15.00 day of show. Or you can just tune in to the Cities Live show for a chance to win tickets! Here is a link to get your tickets --http://www.therocknightclub.com
Cities Live! will be broadcasting the whole concert in its entirety, we will be on the air LIVE at 7PM when the doors open!

Tune in to Cities Live! Radio

We strive to bring you the best talent the Twin Cities area has to offer.



TO LISTEN GO HERE!



Check out the Cities Live Guide for special programing.

We recommend Winamp to listen!
Download it HERE!

GINGERJAKE
BIO
Hailing from Minneapolis and formed in November of 2002, Amanda Harris (Vocals), Ian Severson (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Eric Rotter (Bass, Backing Vocals) and Joe Rotter (Drums) have created a unique style of aggressive rock that’s been described by numerous fans and critics alike as the “perfect blend of beauty and brutality.”
Prior to Gingerjake, Amanda was making a name for herself as a solo artist while Ian, Eric and Joe were members of the now defunct band Two Ton Crutch. When a mutual friend introduced them, the chemistry was instant. They’ve been writing and performing ever since.
In only their 7th show, they placed 2nd in the Twin Cities hard rock station's 93X Battle of The Bands. They then went on to play the station's annual 93X-Fest in Somerset, Wisconsin, sharing the stage with such bands as Sum 41, Taproot, CKY, and many more. Since then, they’ve embarked on a non-stop assault of the Minneapolis/St. Paul and greater Midwest club scene. To this day they continue to stretch deeper into the Midwest playing shows in Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Kentucky and beyond.
In late 2003, Gingerjake journeyed to Orange County, CA where they hooked up with Producer/Engineer Cameron Webb, who has engineered albums for 311 and Godsmack and produced So Cal punk legends Social Distortion. They returned with a blistering six song E.P. entitled Paralysis. Released independently in March 2004, the band kicked it off by packing The Quest Club in Minneapolis with over 950 fans. The single "Karats" quickly received airplay on 93X’s prime time audience judged "Cage Match" with Gingerjake being crowned “retired champions” as they beat out national acts for the entire week. Since its release, the E.P. has rapidly scanned over 3,500 copies and receives regular radio airplay on several Midwest stations.
In May 2004, Gingerjake returned to the 93X Battle Of The Bands and won, securing a coveted main stage slot at the 93X Riverfest concert along with Sevendust, Papa Roach, Cold and many more.
In September 2004, the Paralysis EP was nominated as “Best Hard Rock Recording” by the prestigious Minnesota Music Academy.
On October 10th 2004, the band returned to The Quest for the release of their highly anticipated live concert DVD, again packing the club with devout fans. On January 14th, 2005, Gingerjake's "Karats" was added to XM Radio's "Unsigned" show where it will continue to receive regular airplay.
A highlight for Gingerjake in 2005 was playing Summer Fest in Milwaukee, WI. Gingerjake were direct support for the Cardboard Vampyres, Jerry Cantrell’s (Alice In Chains) rock star line up cover band. Gingerjake played to a capacity crowd of over 5,000 fans and are invited back to play Summer Fest in July of 2006.
Most recently, Gingerjake released “Get It Get Off / Live”. The mostly live EP consists of a studio version of the single “Get It Get Off”, a multi-media video for “Get It Get Off”, as well as seven previously unreleased live tracks. It was released Friday, January 13th ’06 as a limited edition release which recently sold out of it’s only pressing.
Currently, Gingerjake is hard at work in the studio working on new music to potentially be released this spring. No release date has been set yet, but the new material is shaping up to be the strongest Gingerjake music to date. Stay tuned and look for Gingerjake in a city near you.