Music
Press
“As their name may suggest, The Autonomics have a primal, involuntary sound of banging beats and grinding guitars. There is some well placed feedback jerking about, and vocals that can climb from deep and smooth up to tweaking punk. A signal of dooming bass then pulses about to hold it all steady. It is like a controlled chaos of dark classic rock and happy jam band…” 10/11/12, Brandy Crow, The Deli - The Deli
"They’re sort of an amalgam that rocks harder than most, but in a way that’s charmingly raw and disarmingly catchy. Think Modest Mouse dancing to Kings of Leon songs on Led Zeppelin’s grave, and call it controlled chaos. The guys don’t mind; they’re trying to walk the fine line between keeping the chaos, but also improving their chops." Ben Salmon, GO! Magazine - GO! Magazine
"They’re sort of an amalgam that rocks harder than most, but in a way that’s charmingly raw and disarmingly catchy. Think Modest Mouse dancing to Kings of Leon songs on Led Zeppelin’s grave, and call it controlled chaos. The guys don’t mind; they’re trying to walk the fine line between keeping the chaos, but also improving their chops." Ben Salmon, GO! Magazine - GO! Magazine
"Good Luck and Medicine [The Autonomic's new 5-track EP] is indicative of a band that..has created songs that are advanced in structure and lyrical content for any band of any age in this region. ….. these guys have definitely “done something”—they’ve recorded an impressive EP that, as oddly as it may seem, might be the most original local indie rock record of the past couple of years. On the record’s opener, “Beautiful Robot Daughters,” the band is in a full-on jump-kick-to-the-face indie-rock attack, but then “Goodbye Caroline” showcases a catchiness that seems to have been built into Pantenburg’s voice." 6/24/10, Mike Bookey, The Source - The Source
"Pantenburg spits fire and his guitar is a hissing ball of distorted fury, while the Leikams provide an powerful and propulsive rhythm section. Collectively, they sound like they’re channeling the wild-eyed punk swagger of the Replacements, The Strokes, Buzzcocks, White Stripes and Wolfmother. It’s that good. " Ben Salmon, GO! Magazine 6/7/11 - GO! Magazine
“Pantenburg and the Leikams may not yet be of legal drinking age, but they’re well-versed in music history; one listen to the new EP reveals threads of Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and the White Stripes, plus all their bluesy and punky forefathers. Power trios are best when they’re cranked up to 11 and rocking out, and in that respect, The Autonomics don’t disappoint.” 7/2/10, Ben Salmon, Bend Bulletin - Ben Salmon, Bend Bulletin
"These guys assault your senses, taking you from a dancey bliss to a headbanging, body slamming frenzy. Taking indie rock, pop punk, and dance rock and tying them up into a pretty package. The Autonomics create a sound that is not only catchy, but full of raw punk energy. If you mix The Strokes and The Ramones you’d have a pretty good idea of The Autonomics, but this kind of indie punk has to be heard to really be appreciated.” 9/24/12, Dave @ hypetree.com - Dave @ hypetree.com
"Their music seems to harness just that sort of unconscious magic, a visceral and raw energy that infectiously and swiftly transfers from band to listeners…..In total, Trust Your Instincts is an absolute treasure. The Autonomics have released what I would argue is one of, if not the best, debut album I’ve had the pleasure of listening to" 6/4/13, Sarah Creedican, PDXPick - Sarah Creedican, PDXPick
"There is power, see, in guitar-based rock 'n' roll, and The Autonomics harness it nicely. Pantenburg's guitar is a buzzsaw much of the time (“You Had Me At Surf Punk"), pretty when he wants it to be (“Wade") and occasionally laced with traces of rootsy twang (“Gimme a Call"). The Leikams, meanwhile, are the band's reliable engine; Evan's drums are an urgent, unwavering presence in these songs, while Vaughn ably uses his bass as both an anchor and another melodic piece of the puzzle." - Ben Salmon, Bend Bulletin
Discography
Trust Your Instincts LP - 2013 (DRD Records)
Hot Doom EP - 2011
Good Luck and Medicine EP - 2010
Photos
Bio
Hailing from Bend, OR and having roots in the blues but drawing influence from a wild mix of the greats such as Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, White Stripes and The Strokes, the Autonomics are Dan Pantenburg (vocals and guitar) and longtime friends, twin brothers Vaughn Leikam (bass) and Evan Leikam (drums). Forming in 2008 and recognizing their effortless chemistry when songwriting and performing, the band appropriately took its name from the human autonomic system, which is responsible for controlling the automatic functions in our bodies such as breathing, blinking, and heartbeat. By 2010, the band had garnered a loyal local following, playing its trademark high energy shows to packed venues in their hometown. While honing their chops on the stage, the band also spent time in the studio recording tracks for their first EP, Good Luck and Medicine, an impressively-crafted 5-song treasure of catchy riffs and hooky melodies that belied the band’s young age at the time.
In 2011, the band moved to Portland to gain more exposure and it didn’t take long for the Autonomics to become one of the city’s most beloved bands. That same year, the move paid off when the band won Portland’s highly competitive Battle of the Bands Smackdown. The victory resulted in a record deal with DRD Records and the band was soon recording their their debut album in the renowned Supernatural Sound Studios. Trust Your Instincts was released in April, 2013 to fan and critical acclaim and provides a generous sampling of the band’s many talents. Hard-hitting rock is dosed with just the right amount of blues, punk, garage, and pop to create a sound that is uniquely their own, appeals to a wide audience, and is just plain good…insanely good.
The Autonomics just came off a national tour in support of Trust Your Instincts and they are currently preparing for another blitz of the West Coast with a focus on the Southern California area in September. Catch them now while they’re still in the smaller venues!
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