All press is good press, right? That’s true for Ypsilanti band The Boys Themselves, who was voted “The Most Controversial Band Site/Blog” by the Ann Arbor Current.
As soon as I read this, I thought, “Awesome, these will be some fun guys.” Riddled with swearing, sexual innuendos and lots and lots of caps locks, their webpage kept me entertained for quite some time.
The self-proclaimed “fuzzpop power trio” consists of Christian Anderson on the guitar and vox, Caleb Dillon on the bass and vox and John Fossum on the drums and vox. Since performing their first show in July of 2010, they’ve played multiple venues in the area, including the Blind Pig, Woodruff’s, The Upland House and Paycheck’s. They also played Mittenfest this past January.
Anderson, Dillon and Fossum are also the guys that make up Starling Electric, another band from the Ypsilanti area. “The Starling Electric is a little bit fruity,” said Anderson, laughing. “We wanted to do something louder.”
They’d organized “a benefit show to heal the world and make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race” on March 16 at 9 p.m.
The Boys Themselves played at the Whole Planet Foundation Benefit Show at Woodruff’s, along with Lord Centipede and Dave Boutette. “We haven’t played a show since New Year’s,” said Anderson, “So we figured this would be a good time.”
While browsing their website, there seemed to be a bit of a lull from the constant updating that was going on within the past year. Come to find out, aside
from the benefit show, The Boys Themselves are working on their first full-length album. They’re recording it at Anderson’s house and want the album to have a live, raw feel.
“If we put too much time into it, we’re missing the point,” said Anderson.
Though they don’t have any of their work online for listeners, the YouTuber TheAndyYpsilanti has uploaded some live performances of theirs, along with many other local bands, like The High Strung and Black Jake and the Carnies. Their entire performance at the Blind Pig last June is available to watch.
They did a fantastic cover of “I’m a Boy” by The Who at YpsiFest in 2010. They’re hoping to have an album done by the summer and hope to go on a summer or fall tour.
For not even having an official album released yet, The Boys Themselves have their stage presence down. It’s rare for up and coming bands to already be comfortable on stage and get a crowd going. I’ve been to many shows that have a local band opening for them, and I can’t help but feel sorry for the guys onstage receiving blank stares from the few people on the floor watching.
The Boys Themselves don’t seem to have this problem.
Some of the original songs that are up on YouTube definitely sound interesting and I’ll be checking them out when they release them officially. It’s fun stuff. Seeing as how I was listening to it in the Student Center, I couldn’t get up and dance, but if I was at a bar and The Boys Themselves were performing, you can bet I’d be on the dance floor. From what they’ve released, I get a bit of a Weezer vibe from them. They’re chill and their performance seems effortless.
All three of us are very big dreamers,” said Anderson. “So it’s time to stop dreaming and step up. This’ll be our summer.”
The music they’ve released has some real substance to it and it’s undeniable that the guys have talent. “You don’t have to write good music if you have lots of friends in Ypsilanti” says their website. That may be true, The Boys Themselves seem to have everything on lock. I’m excited for their release.
Check out their official website at www.theboysthemselves.com.
