One of the hottest new bands in Los Angeles owes a lot to some
of the oldest.
Keith Slettedahl is the lead singer and songwriter of The 88,
who perform at noon today in Westwood Plaza. The band, consisting
of Slettedahl, keyboardist-producer Adam Merrin, bassist Carlos
Torres, drummer Mark Vasapolli, and guitarist-percussionist Brandon
Jay, are promoting their debut album “Kind of Light,”
which was released this March by independent label EMK Records.
“We think that playing at colleges is a great thing to
do,” said Slettedahl. “A lot of people get to see us
that wouldn’t normally.”
The 88, based in Los Angeles, have received critical acclaim for
their unique brand of 60s British Invasion-tinged power pop: they
won Best Pop/Rock Band at the 2003 L.A. Weekly Music Awards, and
have earned positive buzz from publications such as Rolling Stone
and the Los Angeles Times. Not bad for a band that has been
together for two years and, up until recently, managed itself.
“It hearkens back to a different era,” said
Slettedahl of the group’s style. “But it’s not
stuck in that era; it’s modern at the same time “¦ I
don’t think anyone else right now sounds like us.”
Slettedahl has drawn comparisons in his vocal stylings and
songwriting to Ray Davies of the Kinks, whom he cited as a major
influence, along with the Band, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and
the Beatles. “That’s my favorite stuff, the stuff that
made me want to play music,” said Slettedahl.
The group also borrows from the past in their attire ““
they perform sharply outfitted in suits, a la blues and jazz
artists from the 1920s.
“I’m a big fan of old blues and jazz, and I always
liked the way those guys looked,” Slettedahl explained.
“And we didn’t just want to be a “˜jeans and
T-shirt’ kind of band.”