DraculaZombieUSA

Artist Information

Biography

DraculaZombieUSA are a group of nice young people. Will Schachterle sings and uses a laptop to kick out unique skitters and breaks. Travis Harrison plays drums with the mercilessness of a methamphetamined puma. Versatile Andy Ross plays bass, guitar, and sings. Danielle Pickett helps out with the vocals and the getting-down. On the stage the group is augmented by Bryan, Tina, Gena, Daniella and Mary who bring the party-time. At drum and bass tempos (Aphex Twin, Lightning Bolt, Death From Above 1979), they play psychedelic party jams (Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, Talking Heads) with fancy and fetching lyrics. They sing about space travel, the frustrations of fecklessness, and leading a colony of bears against a gang of medieval monsters. At their hyper live shows, our heroes are out to get everyone shaking it. Ask for some moon-walking- Will will bring it.

DraculaZombieUSA is currently a two headed hydra, with an East Coast Franchise led by Travis with Tina, Gena, Bryan, Mary and Daniella ransacking NY stages, and a West Coast Franchise with Will and Danielle crafting San Fran party jams all the live long day. Future DZuSA franchises are in the works including a British Annex led by David Bowie and a Valley Annex led by retired security-store owner Walter Sobchak.

Instrumentation

Travis Harrison - drumset, iPod, vox
Will Schachterle - vox, music, dancing
Danielle Pickett - vox, dancing
Daniella Chiminelli - vox, dancing
Tina DaCosta - vox, dancing
Gena Bestoso - vox, dancing
Mary Phillips-Sandy - vox, dancing
Bryan Bruchman - vox, dancing, woodblock
Andy Ross - vox, bass, guitar

Discography

DraculaZombieUSA
DraculaZombieUSA (SBR06)

Official Website

http://draculazombieusa.com

Audio

Lyrics

• the summer jam

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• DZUSA on ScissorKick [+ Show ]
  

  Here at ScissorKick, we've stumbled into this niche where electronic and organic elements coexist ni...Here at ScissorKick, we've stumbled into this niche where electronic and organic elements coexist nicely within the same space. Sometimes however, that space can be more like a Lower East Side studio occupied by 25 partially shaved, semi-retarded orangutans in adult diapers dancing to Sheena Easton. That's just the image I get when I listened to these 4 tracks from DraculaZombieUSA who appear to be more human beings (barely) than retarded monkeys, but no less primordially moved by the electronic beats and guitar spasms. They seem not to take themselves too seriously, so hopefully I can do my daily good turn by posting these links which the band describes as "aphex twin + lightning bolt + lcd soundsystem." I'd like to think of them instead as the mutant baby of said threesome, which gives them some time to mature and refine and become a truly devastating 3-headed electro-rock hydra.

• Fluxblog's Matt Pertpetua on "Thomas Window Paine" [+ Show ]
  

  "If you spend more than a few seconds pondering DraculaZombieUSA's reasons for invoking the name of ..."If you spend more than a few seconds pondering DraculaZombieUSA's reasons for invoking the name of the radical 18th century deist pamphleteer Thomas Paine in this cheerful indie pop tune, you may find yourself either frustrated or confused. As far as I can tell, his name fits into these cryptic lyrics entirely because the name "Paine" and the word "pane" are homonyms. But nevermind all that; lyrical content is almost beside the point in a tune like this, with its giddy blend of twee electronica and mall-punk melody. As the song hits its peak on the chorus, the track feels like the silliest, most insanely fun moments of every bad teen movie ever made concentrated and shot through your nervous system."
  -Matthew Perpetua, Hit Refresh, ASAP

• The Deli DZUSA CD review [+ Show ]
  

  "Getting in touch with its inner Sprockets, members of transcending hipster rawk outfit Unsacred Hea..."Getting in touch with its inner Sprockets, members of transcending hipster rawk outfit Unsacred Hearts get high with a little help from their friends, comprising the uber-technofied dance project deliciously known as Dracula Zombie USA. Melding jagged Williamsburg dance rock, drum 'n bass folly, and a sense of unparalleled adventure, this seven-track excursion should be packaged with bags of drugs, a beach chair, and a note explaining why you've been away from work or school for the last five days. Whimsically whacked out of its skull, this self-titled disc is utter brain candy."
  -Mike SOS, The Deli Magazine

• Salt Shaker on DZUSA [+ Show ]
  

  "Cheerleader music has been on the rise as of late, and I for one wholeheartedly welcome it. Whether..."Cheerleader music has been on the rise as of late, and I for one wholeheartedly welcome it. Whether it's used more as a prop (i.e. Sufjan Stevens' entire band wearing matching "Illinois" sweaters and shouting cheers to introduce their songs) or as an entire ethos (i.e. The Go! Team), cheerleading in music gives everyone in the crowd the team spirit needed to sustain the band's energy and help the listener feel like part of the group.
  
  "Of course, I should clarify that if Sufjan is the sweet, sensitive cheerleader who also takes AP math classes and volunteers at the homeless shelter, and if the Go! Team is the squad that goes to nationals almost every year (and even won once!), then the members of DraculaZombieUSA are the rebellious biker cheerleaders, snorting lines of coke under the bleachers after the game and having unprotected sex at will with unsuspecting members of the chess team.
  
  "But perhaps that's not an entirely fair assessment. I mean, if DraculaZombieUSA were my daughter, heck, I'd be proud of her for seamlessly melding the playful electronics of Aphex Twin with the searing guitarscapes of Lightning Bolt, the instant danceability of !!! and the occasional lyrical poignancy of Modest Mouse.
  "True, I might scold her for getting a little bawdy on "Parallel Lives Perpendicular High Fives" ("I can't help but look at asses") or for going perhaps a bit too hard on the coke on "I Need I Need Money Money Money," but I would still praise her for the undeniably cool, intricate beats that start out "The Summer Jam" and "I Like the Snow," and for almost sounding accessible enough for "The O.C." on "Thomas Window Paine." Almost. You can still do a little better, DraculaZombieUSA. But don't worry, I still love you very very much. Now let's go out for some shakes!
  
  "Hmmm...now that I think about it, this review sounds an awful lot like it was written by my dad. Gooooooooooo team!"
  -Salt Shaker Magazine

• Time Out blurb [+ Show ]
  

  "DZUSA remind us of that catchy-as-shit song by Underworld from Trainspotting; DZUSA's techno-inflec..."DZUSA remind us of that catchy-as-shit song by Underworld from Trainspotting; DZUSA's techno-inflected pop captures the same sunny, sweaty ambience."
  -Time Out New York

Setlist

Intro->
The Summer Jam->
Tribal Interlude from "Walk In Perkins"->
Longshot->
I Like the Snow->
Bear Island->
Parallel Lives and Perperndicular Hi Fives->
I Need I Need Money Money Money->
Tennis Court Interlude from "Walk In Perkins"->
Beginning of the Universe Interlude->
Thomas Window Paine->
Bye Bye U-S-A! U-S-A!

Basic Requirements

Calendar