Le Diamant Brut: Rupa & The April Fishes & The Steps

THE STEPS

What’s the Deal: They’re about a step from wide rock and roll popularity and leaving Austin behind. You may not know the band’s name because they’ve been relatively incognito in Austin, going almost unnoticed locally but drumming up a sizable following elsewhere in the country and abroad, far abroad, like Japan abroad. But luckily, Austin will be getting a good dose of the band over the next two months with plenty of local shows at The Parish, the Continental Club and elsewhere.

One of the more undeniable songs the local boys have constructed is “Dagger” off their self-titled album released this year. It’s bloated with a catchy, stomping beat and a strong and jangly guitar riff that sounds very familiar and grabs you by the lapel to slap you around a little bit. It’s the same caliber of rock song that you’d hear pumping from a Strokes album or The Killers. A few more of these, and it becomes fairly obvious why these guys are building a buzz.

Something Interesting: If they’re lucky, The Steps will be as popular as that now-defunct British pop band of the same name, only a lot less cheesy.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Pull the Cord” and “Give It Up”

The Steps Official
The Steps MySpace

Image from MySpace

RUPA & THE APRIL FISHES

What’s the Deal: In honor of the International Accordion Festival this weekend in San Antonio, San Francisco’s folk eclectic group Rupa & The April Fishes makes this week’s Le Diamant. Aside from Rupa, however, there are several other acts, all accordion based, that are also worthy of note at the fest. The music ranges from international to domestic, from polka to gypsy to creole.

Rupa & The April Fishes have a sound that’s a composite from several different cultures and languages. Indian music, French chanson and tango are all styles they marry together to get their accordion-charged tunes. The group also uses a multitude of languages to get their story across like English, Spanish, Hindi and French. It’s not just the accordion that moves listeners to follow along with the catchy French chorus on “Une Americaine a Paris.” Stand-up bass, percussion, cello, trumpet and singer/guitarist Rupa Marya all pull more than their own weight as well.

Something Interesting: Kal, another band performing at the International Accordion Festival, is playing at the Cactus Café on UT campus Monday. If you can’t make it to San Antonio to check out Rupa, the Balkan sound of Belgrade-based Kal is enough to soothe and inspire you to make the trip next year.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Maintenant” and “Wishful Thinking”

Rupa & The April Fishes Official
Rupa & The April Fishes MySpace