Dutch band Voicst hopes to make some noise in US
A few details about the Dutch band Voicst may be difficult to grasp, or pronounce, at first. The trio's moniker, for example, which comes from South African slang that, loosely translated, means ``manic energy." Then there are the names of the three friends who banded together as high school students growing up in Amsterdam: Tjeerd Bomhof (guitars, vocals), Sven Woodside (bass, vocals), and Joppe Molenaar (drums, samples).
What's far easier to understand is the exuberant, brightly lacquered guitar pop of Voicst's full-length debut, ``11-11," which has just been picked up and given a US release on the New York indie label Intrigue Music. The band, which co produced the album with Girls Against Boys bassist Eli Janney , initially put the disc out on its own Duurtlang Records imprint. Both the album's sound -- yes, the phrase ``manic energy" nails it -- and its title had a lot to do with the recording sessions with Janney in New York, Bomhof says.
``We started every morning at 11 and finished every night at 11," says Bomhof over the phone from Amsterdam, where he's getting ready for a US tour that brings the band to Great Scott on Monday. ``At the time we didn't have a label, we didn't have management, but we wanted to do the record, and we also wanted to be free to do it our way. We just did what felt right." That meant capturing the unhinged energy of Voicst's live show while also emphasizing the sharp hooks and careening pop melodies of the material that fast earned the band slots opening for the Bravery, Bettie Serveert , Nada Surf, and Tenacious D. The trio had gotten a glowing recommendation about Janney's production work from the New York noise-rock outfit Enon.
``They sent me some demos and I loved it immediately," says Janney, who has also worked with the Rapture and Secret Machines. ``Then we talked and they sounded like nice, easygoing people , and that was it. We were going to make a record together."
After two weeks of recording, Bomhof and Woodside put in a round-the-clock session to finish the album in time to get it to the pressing plant. ``We had been working all night , and when we left the studio we were completely wasted and didn't even have a title for the record," Bomhof says. ``That's when Sven says we had just gone from `11 to 11' -- 24 hours of work. I looked at him and said, `That's the title for the record.' "
There are no signs of fatigue anywhere on ``11-11." On the contrary. The high-energy opener, ``Whatever You Want From Life," immediately sets an addictive sugar-rush buzz, and sharp shocks such as ``Dazzled Kids," ``Acts of Fire," and ``Sgt. Gonzo" bring to mind the noisier side of folks like Fountains of Wayne, Brendan Benson, and Imperial Teen.
``Energy, energy, energy," is how Janney sums up Voicst's primary strength as a band. ``We wanted the [album] to have a very live feel, but with strong sounds that could go to radio without hesitation," Janney says. ``Live, they are crazy, but Tjeerd's writing is also diverse , so we didn't just want a record of their live performance, we wanted to stretch the album to accommodate his deeper writing ideas."
Although outside of Amsterdam Voicst is considered a brand new band, its three members have played together , off and on, since high school. Bomhof, 27, has been hooked on the guitar since he was 8 years old. ``People around me were a little worried because I didn't say much of anything and was a little bit quiet, and my dad said, ` This kid has to do something , ' so he got me a guitar. It gave me a feeling that I never had until then, a rush." Writing and playing music, he adds, ``is the one thing that I definitely know I want to do. All of the other things, I'm not sure."
BITS & PIECES. Tonight Lots to choose from around town: Throwing Muses are at the Middle East Downstairs, with Muses singer Kristin Hersh's 50 Foot Wave opening. The New Year is at the Middle East Upstairs. Paramore and Hit the Lights are at Axis. Emergency Music is at P.A.'s Lounge. Ad Frank and the Fast Easy Women are at the Abbey Lounge. Blues rocker James Montgomery is at Johnny D's. Reverse is at Bill's Bar. The Ray Mason Band is at the Tir Na Nog. The indie-rock burlesque troupe the Easy Tease is at the All Asia Cafe (and at the Lily Pad on Thursday). For a change of pace, you can catch the KNOWmovement Orchestra performing an original score to the silent film ``Battleship Potemkin," starting at 8 p.m. at the Union Square Plaza in Somerville.
Tomorrow Grant-Lee Phillips headlines T.T. the Bear's with the Douglas Fir's Jay Walsh and the Details' Dave Aaronoff opening. The Dangerous Brothers ( Jimmy Ryan and Christian McNeill) are at Atwood's Tavern. Ryan Montbleau is at Club Passim. 18 Wheels of Justice are at the Middle East Upstairs. Sleepy LaBeef is at Johnny D's. Luther ``Guitar Junior" Johnson headlines the first ``Blues on the Bay" festival at the WaterWorks nightclub in Quincy. Tuesday The Ramblin' Souls are at Harpers Ferry. CO3, featuring the Twinemen's Dana Colley, Bourbon Princess' Monique Ortiz, and Binary System's Larry Dersch, is at Toad. Okay Thursday continues its Abbey Lounge residency with Cassavetes, Frank Smith, and the Shills. Broken River Prophet is at P.A.'s Lounge.
Wednesday Bill Janovitz and Crown Victoria are at Toad every Wednesday this month. Orange Nichole continues its Abbey Pub Stage residency, with guests the Weisstronauts. Thursday Session Americana is at the Lizard Lounge. The Konks headline Great Scott with the Collisions, Dents, and Super 400. Eileen Rose is at Toad. Ramona Silver headlines the Abbey Lounge with Mishima, Casey Desmond, and Phil Aiken. The Trews are at Harpers Ferry.
