Awesome New Republic
Gig Seeker Pro

Awesome New Republic

Band R&B Punk

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Meet the New Republicans"

Check the gorgeous, radio-ready electro-pop of ¨Wheels, No Engines¨ from ANR So Far: Influential L.A. DJ Nic Harcourt has spun the album´s epic first single on his Morning Becomes Eclectic radio show and BBC Radio 1. Here, Hancock´s voice is at once tender, powerful, and immediate, his harmony with Robertson´s swooning keys rendering an unforgettable classic. Then flip on ¨Japanese Subtitles¨ from All Party Talks, the band´s translucent blue vinyl-only EP. The song´s Steely Dan-on-Afro-IDM glitch-funk is the twisted result of some 160 digital tracks braided into a tense, delicate ballad. Both tracks — and both releases — swell with the volatile creativity and wide-eyed ambition of truly visionary music. - Broward Palm Beach New Times


"Awesome New Republic Record Reviews"

South Florida, if you boil it down, is chock full of enough surrealist bizarr-o-ness that its inherent charms prove a bit much for outsiders. The kids raised in this subtropical environment are subjected to steady if at times disharmonious doses of hip-hop, disco, punk, metal, and jazz. It's difficult to imagine that one band could assimilate all of these different strands, but Awesome New Republic manages quite nicely on the full-length ANR So Far and the twelve-inch (vinyl only) four-tracker All Party Talks. The twelve-inch is solid funk with occasional horns and guitars accompanying the drums and synths of Brian Robertson and John Hancock. The full-length expands on that template, offering the thrash punk of "Kill South Beach Dead," the soulful balladry of "Going Down," and the dissonant space-age bachelor pad of "Dirge." The one-two punch of ANR So Far and All Party Talks makes a strong case that it's a new age for South Florida's music scene. -Abel Folgar December 8, 2005 - Miami New Times


"Freestyle Fellowship"

ANR has a voice that takes off into white-boy indie-soul glory. Hear Michael-John Hancock croon about falling off his bike and you'll know why Miami's best band is about to bring a new regime to the masses. While Hancock sings and drums, keys genius Brian Robertson weaves strands of lead, rhythm and electronic ambiance into a Day-Glo funk-rock freak flag. So Far waves it wide with noisy, diffuse abstraction and semi-structured trickery that coalesces every few tracks into an impossibly infectious number -- funny, poignant and totally absorbing. If there's one new band to leave room for on the iPod this year, it's ANR. (Check 'em out if you like Talking Heads, Prince, Beck.)- Jonathan Zwickel
December 8th, 2005 - Houston Free Press


"Review of "ANR so Far""

Wheels, No Engines” seems to begin much in the same way as a Fischerspponer track, but Awesome New Republic shows their sound to be much more complicative and inclusive than being describable by just a few acts. There are hints of Talking Heads, Radiohead, and Death Cab For Cutie strewn about this dreamy, electronic pop act. The professionality enjoyed by the band is perfect for the style of music that they create; what happens much too often with these largely-electronic based acts (that is, bands in which an electronic sound takes a large part) is that a certain technical perfection is achieved at the distinct disadvantage of losing some essential humanity in the transactions.

Awesome New Republic comes forth with the Bravery-like sound of “2K3012” with both their own brand of perfection and some added humanity to boot. What is endearing about Awesome New Republic is the fact that no one can forecast what is going to happen next on the disc; “Sneeky” has a backing beat that woulsd be perfect for practically any rap song out on the market, while there is a distinct atmosphere created here by the intersection of vocals and instrumentation. The strong vocal presence of a track like “Going Down” puts Awesome New Republic in some good company; the vocals seem to recall Erasure and all the great early-nineties dance act equally. “Kill South Beach Dead” is another seachange by Awesome New Republic; starting out in somewhat of a rap vein, the second half of the track really seems to move into newer Nine Inch Nails territory (or rather, a Nine Inch Nails type of instrumentation mixed with Justin from The Darkness’ vocals.)

Each of the songs here is radio friendly even if the arrangements are new and challenging; this is perhaps the best way to bring the average listener into music that is complex while still having some sort of sheen to it. “Constant Surgery” is perhaps the strongest track on the disc not for any euphonic sound but for an always-challenging brand of arrangement that randomly throws in stutter-steps to a very approachable mix. The disc’s fifty-two minutes allow Awesome New Republic the chance to really experiment, as evidenced by the atmospheric creations during “Dirge”. This track furthers the bands sound as well as sounding great; by touching all of their bases and getting everyone involved, Awesome New Republic has created a solid album.

Top Tracks: Dirge, 2K3012 - NeuFutur


"Local Heroes - Awesome New Republic"

“There's no better way to decompress from the celebrity overload of VMA week than to spend a little time investigating South Florida's burgeoning indie scene. And out of all the bands that have emerged these past few years -- and there seem to be more every day -- none is currently hotter than Awesome New Republic.”
- Sam Chennault, Miami New Times, September 1, 2005 - Miami New Times


"Sweat Records Brings Some Indie To Miami's Glamorous Aura"

“ANR, about to embark on a month-long tour, played last, stirring the crowd into a frenzy with their chaotic soulful anthems. During "Tape They Don't Want You to See ," Hancock tossed a plastic dismembered hand into the audience, hitting a dazed girl squarely in the face. A nearby fan picked up the hand and raised it defiantly in the air, like the flag of a new movement, a declaration of creative independence.”
- Matt Gajewski, The Hurricane, September 9, 2005 - The Hurricane (UM)


"Local Heroes - Awesome New Republic"

“In recent months Awesome New Republic, affectionately known by its many admirers as ANR, has been gigging all over the place, from Wynwood District warehouses and Churchill's Pub to unnamed spots across the Southeast. What is it about this band, who combines your favorite sounds -- crazy skronk-jazz, weird IDM electro, and a dash of New Wave soul -- into an unpredictable yet danceable stew, that is making all the smart kids scream? Part of its charm is lead vocalist John Hancock, whose sweet falsetto adds necessary context to the band's rough, start-stop undulations and time changes. Plus, it's difficult not to like a band who lists Japanese cult director Takashi Miike as a primary artistic influence on its MySpace band page (www.myspace.com/awesomenewrepublic).
- Mosi Reeves, Miami New Times, April 15, 2005 - Miami New Times


"Awesome New Republic experiments at the Titanic"

“It's hard to predict what kind of music two young men decked in sweat pants and body paint will produce. But in recent months, Awesome New Republic, or ANR, has been playing shows all over South Florida and winning fans with their unique style and sound. The group fuses catchy R&B, southern soul and experimental rock via synthesizers and drums -- a little something different from the typical Miami fare.”
- Kira Wiznewski, The Miami Herald, August 18, 2005 - Miami Herald


"Duo Serious About Marching To Their Own Beat"

“If you see a couple of skinny guys in sweat pants running up the stairs of the public library -- fists pumping, children trailing, Eye of the Tiger (in stereo) blaring -- say hello to Miami's answer to Rocky Balboa, the fictional Philadelphia boxer of celluloid celebrity: John Hancock ANR and B Rob E Robertson, a duo of local musicians with the inspired moniker Awesome New Republic, don't want to pummel opponents in the ring; they want to move Miami to dance, to sing along, to get in the groove of their multilayered sounds.”
- Daniel Chang, The Miami Herald, August 26, 2005 - Miami Herald


Discography

"And Introducing..." CD (Self-released, 2003)

"Witness Now The Birth Of An Awesome New Republic" CD (Self-released, November 21, 2004)

"Courageous!" CD (Self-released, August, 2004)

"All Party Talks" 4-song 12" EP (Sutro/Stem Sell Recordings, September 2005)

"ANR So Far" CD (Sutro/Stem Sell Recordings, October 2005)
#176 on CMJ 200 Charts!
[combines the majority of the two self-released albums, remixed and remastered with two new tracks]

"Watering Hole" Digital EP (www.awesomenewrepublic.com , July 2006)

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

John Hancock and B Rob (ANR) met in music school in Miami four years back and began writing and recording immediately. They use lots of keyboards, effects pedals, and pay close attention to programmed beats and live drums. ANR combines the sonic qualities of over-produced pop and r&b records with haphazard lo-fi recording techniques to create something that straddles the line between naivete and study. They've released several CDs, an LP, and a limited DVD. They continue to work towards the future, hoping to contribute more than just music to the world...