Meet Thee Emergency, the band behind garage-rock track "Can You Dig It?" on the PSP Store.
Seattle based Thee Emergency have been storming the Northwest coast of America since February 2005. A cradle for Indie talent, making it big in the Emerald City requires a lot of work if you're going to stand out from the crowd. Packing 70 shows into one year, their energy and ambition is only outdone by their sound.
Dita Vox (singer), Sonic Smith (guitar), Nick Detroit (bass) and Tom T. Drummer (drums) make frenzied rock sound easy, but there is a maturity, an underlying calm to their music and performances, that sets them apart. Acclaimed by critics, Thee Emergency is rapidly becoming recognised as not only a breath of fresh air in garage-rock, but a group with the potential and drive to become rising stars.
Find out what they had to say about their music, the industry and desert island survival...
How would you describe Thee Emergency to someone who hasn't heard your music?
Thee Emergency delivers a high energy punch to your gut. Each recording is jam-packed with soul and the live performance will leave you with sweat dripping into your pores!
How did you get started as a band?
The band started as a four piece two years ago. We met playing in other local bands that conveniently broke up at the same time - after accidental motor vehicle-pedestrian injuries to band members, and paying for rehearsal space, Thee Emergency was born.
Who are your musical influences?
We're enlightened by many flavours, but to name a few
- Old school garage (MC5, The Stooges, and The Flaming Groovies)
- Motown and R&B (Ike & Tina Turner, The Supremes, Otis Redding, and Martha and the Vandellas)
- Neo-garage bands (The Mooney Suzuki, The Sights, The Mystery Girls, The Dirtbombs, The Black Lips, Sweatmaster, The Flaming Sideburns, The Makers, and even The White Stripes)
What were the first albums you brought as kids?
Led Zeppelin. That's all we can say.
Thee Emergency is a great name, how did you come up with it? What alternatives did you reject?
"The Emergency" was the spark of an idea; claimed it's existence throughout our first fiscal year; later replaced with a formal title, "Thee Emergency". It just rolls off the tongue more appropriately! Each member's pet peeve is phonetic speech. We wanted everybody to speak our name with ease.
Your music is available for download on PSP. Do you feel downloads are changing the face of the music industry?
The whole idea of a record company is evolving back to the way it was intended - distribution. The advent of internet downloading, inexpensive home recording and MySpace has eliminated much of the need for a band to be on a major label, spending a ghastly amount of money, all resulting in debt. Bands don't need artist development.
Are you touring this year? Will you be coming to Europe for any gigs or festivals?
Thee Emergency being conceived just over two short years ago, we're currently expanding our distribution chain overseas, the UK is #1 on our list. Though funds are small for a 2007 trip, it's clearly on the horizon with PlayStation on our side.
If you were stranded on an island, like in Lost, and between all of you, you could only save one instrument, what would be saved?
Nick Detroit: The Ripper!
Sonic Smith: My new custom satellite distress beacon/mandolin. Also Lost sucks.
Tom T: My 12" Thai gong. It will hang in the living room.
Dita Vox: Scalpel...
If Thee Emergency was a computer game, what would it be like?
Absolute Mayhem! Picture crazy psychedelic Pac-Man in 3D, with action-ninja-style fighting. Guitars and drumsticks would be an available weapon, not to mention the crazy afros for suffocation!
What is next for Thee Emergency?
We've got two releases under out belt. Our full length debut "Can You Dig It?", recorded and produced with Jim Diamond, and "Live at Chuck Norris' House", our Live EP produced by the Heavy Souls. Interest in self producing our Live EP's has become popular in our group; ya never know if your town will be next in Thee Emergency's live release repertoire.
Can You Dig It?, one of the cornerstones of their LP of the same name, is available for download from the PSP Store. More about Thee Emergency can be found at www.theeemergency.com.
