For the past month and a half, Earth may have been unaware of the presence of space invaders under its music radar. The Frontier Brothers identify strongly with their “space rock” genre, reaching quixotic and literal levels. Launched from Austin, Texas, this intergalactic band have been greeting fans as “earthlings” and “invading” sites all over the nation. On the last leg of their expedition, The Frontier Brothers shuttled through the SoCal stretch, landing at The Three Clubs in Hollywood, The Prospector in Long Beach, and The Good Hurt in Los Angeles.
A metaturnal species, the futuristic four, Marshall “Galactic” (vocals/guitar), Brett Moses (keys/vocals/harmonica), Travis Newman (drums), and newly abducted Matt Hudson (bass/vocals), irradiated a few dimly lit California clubs. At the Future Sounds Radio Rumble at The Three Aces, The Frontier Brothers’ appearance was framed by Simon Says No from Norway and LA’s eccentric Rademacher. Long Beach’s The Prospector with its own frontier flair welcomed the Brothers as they rocketed through a rambunctious set. A third encounter of the rock ‘n roll kind occurred at The Good Hurt in West Los Angeles where The Frontier Brothers beamed down in a flood of glowing multicolored stage lights and were cornered into a crop-circle formation for interrogation. Giving up their shiny spandex suits in recent times, the band and Marshall Galactic, now donned in his signature business suit, maintain their uplifting gravity and energetic pull even without the skintight get-up. An animated keyboardist, vocalist, and harmonicist, Brett Moses, who hops and bops about two miles a show, is invigorated by Travis Newman’s precise and peppy percussion and supported by Matt Hudson’s steadfast bass lines.
Transporting their extraterrestrial energy to the ears of Earth’s inhabitants, The Frontier Brothers elicit a thrust of cheer from their Lone Star residence with stellar selections from their full-length album Space Punk Starlet. Making contact with audiences with bluesy and swinging “Starry Globes and Stereos,” cadenced “Kickstand Woman,” and “Take It For Love,” TFB’s balladic, piano-synth-driven pop tune, unearth roots that cross time and space. Title track “Space Punk Starlet” opens with a rush of unhinged instrumental explosion and highlights the band’s penchant for science fiction imagery, elaborated by Galactic’s shuttering vocal technique. The bright and bouncy synthesizer patterns of “The Future Is” set Moses into action, while the band attempts to answer “How Do You Make Movies When You’re Under the Sea,” “a question that The Frontier Brothers have been pondering for a long time now." Although there is no short and sweet answer, the tune is nothing short of sweet. Frantic and explosive guitars unleash “Get Up Go,” and spastic rhythms conjure an exciting space travel soundtrack. Beginning with solo vocals and guitar melodies played in parallel, “Everyone’s a Neutron Bomb” expands its happy harmonies with sparkling synth jingles and keyboard countermelodies. A not-yet-released track “Don’t Try and Take My Guns” perpetuates the band’s quirky themes and tongue-in cheek panache. Whether live or recorded, “Jump Blues” from Space Punk Starlet, is a stellar track, seizing listeners with synthesizer glissandos and robotic rhythms that culminate in a chorus of “Hey’s!” The spirited calls demand an audience shout-along and spawn an other-worldly music video. Those who want to join the Brother's mission should jump on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/2925475
An uncommon band with a universally uplifting infectiousness driven by a polished patchwork of psychedelia, punk, and pop, The Frontier Brothers’ wide-ranging repertoire of styles reflects their interplanetary imagination, travels, and inspirations. Back at their home base, Austin’s friendly alien rockers have lined up several projects for May. While the rest of the solar system awaits another sighting, anxious planetary fans can track The Frontier Brothers in cyberspace at www.myspace.com/thefrontierbrothers and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/frontierbrother, and purchase Space Punk Starlet on iTunes.
