March 14, 2006
Austinist Artist Profile: ZYKOS
Mike Booher looks like a rock star until he smiles. Tall and lanky, shaggy black hair, smoking a cigarette outside his practice room, he is a throwback to the Ramones. Then he grins, waves, and he’s the friendly guy everyone loves. Who just happens to be the front man for Austin’s much-hyped Zykos.
Originally from Houston, Booher grew up on the same street as bassist Mike Roeder and keyboardist Catherine Davis, a petit blonde piano teacher. They didn’t come together as a band until after college, but their musical chemistry is undeniable. Along with recent additions Cully Symington on the drums and Alex Lyons on the guitar, Zykos is the kind of band that cannot be categorized. Booher’s favorite description is “New Order played by Mudhoney.”
Zykos has spent the last few months working on songs that will come together this summer as their third album. The current lineup mixes experience with a fresh perspective that has helped them grow beyond their two previous releases.
“We love where the band is going – this had to happen, it had to be,” Booher said. “The new stuff is slower, more classic, epic.”
Their passionate performance at Emo’s in February gave us a taste of these new creations, and we're already hooked. It is their best work yet, ambient but immediate, saturated with rock and indie influences but inventive.
“We don’t have a goal of sounding like anyone or anything, and unfortunately that puts us in a tough spot as far as the industry goes,” said Davis. “But as an artist you don’t want to sound like other people, because the only thing that distinguishes you is to make your own name and your own sound.”
They may not have a definitive niche, but their talent and unique sound have made them a mainstay of our music scene. Having toured with Explosions in the Sky and Okkervil River, Zykos benefits from local support and feel an affinity for other Austin musicians. But their appeal is bigger than Texas, and we can not wait for it to be recognized.
The official showcase is Wednesday following +/- at Friends. For everyone boycotting wristbands, they’ll be performing at a slew of day shows as well: SXSW Day Party at Emo’s on Mar. 15 at 2:15 p.m., Homeslice Pizza with Apollo Sunshine, Glass Family, and more on Mar. 16 at 4 p.m., Red Scoot Inn with John Vanderslice and Fiery Furnaces on Mar. 17 at 5 p.m., and the Beauty Bar on Mar. 18 at 8 p.m. For industry pros, this is the Austin band to bring home. For fans, they are the kids you’ll want to have stories about.
From: Austin, TX
Downloads:
[ "Above the Map"]
Links:
[Myspace]
[Official Website]
[SXSW Artist Page]
Showcase Information:
Mar. 15, 1 a.m., Friends
[Shadows Tags sxsw2006 zykos] (Check out the Official Shadows SXSW Tags)
* Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/julieanna/
|
Are you kidding me? He's a "throwback to the Ramones"? Because he is tall and wears his hair shaggy? For fuck's sake, here's a little SAT analogy section for you--
Zykos:Ramones::Fleetwood Mac:The Clash
Look, I own both Zykos albums (liked the first, hated the second, both had crap production to my ears) and think the band is relatively talented.
But musically, aesthetically, lyrically, and just about in every other way possible except for the damned singers height/weight/hair color and that they have guitars/drums/bass -- Zykos is not a throwback to anything Ramonesian.
Not close. At all.
I could be wrong, but I think she was strictly talking about Booher's physical appearance, not comparing the music of Zykos to that of the Ramones.
My dad also is tall, thin, and has dark shaggy hair. It doesn't make him a throwback to the Ramones.
Is Avril Lavigne a throwback to Sid Vicious because she has no talent and wears a studded belt?
That was my point.
She's more a Johnny Rotten, really. With the belt and all.
Yep.
yes, it was a purely physical comparison. because the first time i met the man months ago he was wearing a leather jacket or something and i remember thinking, wow, he looks like a punk kid, which he isn't. as far as dad goes, send a picture, i'll give you my expert ramonesque opinion.
johnny rotten, tc? i was thinking white snake or judy garland.