Austinist Show Preview: Trans Am @ Mohawk

It's unfriggingbelievable that these guys are on tour with Tool right now. Seriously, it doesn't seem like it was that long ago, standing in crowded bar somewhere, listening to a song called "Ballbados", feeling like there must not be that many people in the world that want to hear instrumental, testosterone-driven synth-rock performed by some guys in weird outfits. Sebastian Thomson's incredible ability to sit behind both a drum kit comprised of traditional and electro components, mastering all of them flawlessly was thrilling, while Nathan Means and Philip Manley equally astounded: working from classic rock themes in the spirit of Fragile and Boston, combined with an unavoidable nod to the darker spirits of the electronic world (Kraftwerk, New Order), the trio exuded prowess both as musicians and as pioneers of genre. Seriously, it was a total mindfuck at the time.

My, how things have changed. Nowadays, we can't turn around without discovering a new, instrumental, testosterone-driven synth-rock band with guys in weird outfits. Do you think they've been following Trans Am's career? We certainly hope so. In 1996, the band's self-titled (and previously referenced) full-length, which is now out of print, instigated a shift in a scene that found itself torn somewhere between Rocket From the Crypt and Stereolab. Since then, they've continued pioneering through the murky waters of avant recording techniques and more traditional methodologies. Their latest full-length, Sex Change, incorporated inspiration from their version of Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies. Trans Am's Obscene Strategies included tips such as "Rip Off Black Musicians" and "Make It Sound Like Jackson Browne." We'll be needing that desktop widget, guys.

And, in another case of booking agents done good, they'll be joined by Austin's own instrumental powerhouse: My Education. The ME guys (and gal) have been playing shows (and doing a bit of touring) in support of their most recent release, a split with Dalek that covers "Spiegel im Spiegel", an experimental piece originally composed by Arvo Part.

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Trans Am Official
Trans Am MySpace
My Education MySpace