The Savannah rock trio known as Cusses is generating a buzz for themselves the old fashioned way, without the assistance of a major label. Although it is fairly common nowadays for independent bands to rely solely on internet promotion and live performance, Cusses has managed to get their videos picked up by MTV.com. The video for “Don’t Give In” was added to rotation in January.
Their approach to music is strictly old-school. “We wanted a rock ’n’ roll record in the vein of yesteryear rock. No Bells And Whistles, just what you see is what you get,” says drummer Brian Lackey, who attended Savannah College of Art & Design in 1992 and moved back four years ago to join his old band mate Bryan Harder. “Lots of bands today are playing to click tracks and backing tracks. We wanted to make a yesteryear girl-fronted easy-play album. Not one song rules the whole record. Every song complements each other.” As a result, their self-titled debut has drawn comparisons to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the ‘80s era sound of Pat Benatar and Siouxsie & the Banshees.
The Cusses have created their own unique sound. Although heavy and emotional, it contains catchy hooks that still maintain the band’s depth of character. “When we were writing, we purposely didn’t listen to anybody else. We didn’t want it to influence our sound. Hopefully, we were writing really true to what we felt or grew up with, instead of what was present on today’s radio,” says Vocalist Angel Bond, who was at first apprehensive about joining her boyfriend (Lackey) and his band. “I fought it, but it clicked. We came up with like eight songs in 30 minutes.” Lackey and Harder, who played together in local bands while attending college, work so quickly they decided not to even add a bass player. “We tried it with a bass player and it didn’t work fast at all. We love to crank it out as fast as possible,” said Lackey. “We have a switch with a signal generator that lowers the signal of the guitar, so it mimics the bass sound. Bryan is pretty much a scientist when it comes to that stuff.” Lackey credits this innovation for the band’s sound. “(It) has a huge influence on the sound. He’s a melody maker. Then Angel has this melody over top that kind of changes it,” Lackey says.
All three band members contribute to each other’s parts, which Lackey says gives its material the stamp of the entire band, not just one primary writer and arranger. “I get to hear a lyric that I came up with that Angel sings, or Bryan hears a drumbeat he wants in one part,” he says.
You can check out the video for “Don’t Give In” on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSK_cfUFBIs
Directed by Joe Page, Angel Bond, Brian lackey
Their debut album is avalable on iTunes.Please also visit their website http://www.cussesmusic.com
Copyright HA! Records, Cusses Music llc 2012
Comments