Das Llamas
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Das Llamas

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"KEXP"

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Morning Show host John Richards, is “Wood On Bone” by Das Llamas, which comes from their forthcoming album World War on Aviation Records.

Das Llamas - Wood On Bone (MP3)

Das Llamas put the post- back in punk. Often compared to Mission of Burma and even Devo (?), the Seattle four-piece edge closer to the angular grooves of British post-punkers Television, The Fall, and Gang of Four. Das Llamas add their own dark intensity, though, thanks especially to Kerry Zettel deep vocals, even moodier than Interpol’s Paul Banks, and with more bite. Guitarists Shawn Kock and newly added Aaron Everett build a squall over the punching rhythms provided by Zettel and drummer Thomas Burke. As of yet, Das Llamas have released two EPs, but their debut World War is due to explode in June. - KEXP.org


"A bunch of reviews"

KEXP
Das Llamas put the post- back in punk. Often compared to Mission of Burma and even Devo (?), the Seattle four-piece edge closer to the angular grooves of British post-punkers Television, The Fall, and Gang of Four. Das Llamas add their own dark intensity, though, thanks especially to Kerry Zettel deep vocals, even moodier than Interpol’s Paul Banks, and with more bite. Guitarists Shawn Kock and newly added Aaron Everett build a squall over the punching rhythms provided by Zettel and drummer Thomas Burke. As of yet, Das Llamas have released two EPs, but their debut World War is due to explode in June.

KEXP Song of the Day: Das Llamas - Wood On Bone
Friday, May 18th, 2007

SEATTLE WEEKLY
The throbbing tension of Das Llamas evokes the gritty, angular work of Television, only a bit darker and shadowy. The bass and synth pulsate while metallic guitars clang away and the yelping vocals leap from the back of singer Kerry Zettel's throat. However, there's a warmer quality to the band, something suitable for those nights when you lock yourself in your apartment with a stack of vinyl and a 12-pack of beer and get nostalgic for N.Y.C. in the late '70s. And while comparing them to Television and alluding to Lester Bangs drunkenly flying solo in his flat may make them seem a bit chilly, give one listen to their song "Reasoning With Sharks" to see they have an emotional side the ever-icy Verlaine & Co. lacked. BRIAN J. BARR
Extra Info
* Tonight’s Das Llamas show, celebrating their highly anticipated full-length release World War (Aviation Records, 2007) has me thinking a lot about band envy. When a band can all play the holy fuck out of their respective instruments, receive this much good press, get so many choice bookings, and garner as much adoration from the ladies as the boys in DL, you’d expect other bands to twinge with just a smidgen of jealousy. Imagine my surprise to read the following comment on Myspace, not posted by a fan or critic but another band. “You know how Sam had that weird thing for Frodo and you could feel the awkward, pants-ripping boner tension between them?...that’s how I feel about you boys...” Wow! That’s high praise indeed. MA’CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Out There Monthly
DAS LLAMAS World War (Aviation)
There's not been a Seattle band this exciting in quite awhile. In their previous life as Stabmasterarson, they were of note, plugging away in a scene full of like-minded bands, drawing well and doin' just fine. After the switch to Das Llamas, things got better, WAY better, and with this latest release, they set out to prove their talent layer by layer, unearthing a band with some heftily enviable musical chops. Think the most classic of the '80s pop-punkers, bring it into the mix of the post-punk revivalists, add to it originality, talent, and frontman Kerry Zettel's arresting vocals, and you'll be somewhere in the ballpark of just how f-ing good this is. Das Llamas should be headed to Spokane in June, so keep an eye out to see when and where. You won't want to miss being a part of this.

The Seattle Times
KEXP DJ and local star-maker John Richards has picked another winner to champion: Das Llamas, a Seattle quartet that channels Nick Cave and no-wave, with a dash or two of Interpol.
Tom Scanlon

The Wig Fits All Heads
Band of the week
We're pretty jaded when it comes to bands that are supposed to get us dancing. We're of the mind to let a toe tap, but seldom can we muster the strength for a full on sway, let alone anything further. But the day the latest release from locals Das Llamas, World War, crossed our stereo and ear, well, some things changed. We barely noticed the effect it had as our body started a-swayin' at our desk. Next thing we knew, things had progressed and we were shakin' ass on the way to the kitchen. Das Llamas is a little more electro-pop than we'd previously remembered, and we like it.

-Perfect Porridge-
The 4-color promotional picture sent to us by the label shows the three members of Das Llamas dressed in chicken and gorilla costumes with a “Oh crap, we’re busted!” look on their faces.
Would you trust your newborn son to these Seattle miscreants on a Friday night? Absolutely not. But would you trust your ears to them? We think you should.
Think of a three-ring circus sideshow featuring ’80s synth pop (lion taming), grating post-punk (clowns), grimy electro-rock (trapeze) and ringmaster Kerry Zettel leading the masquerade into a town near you.

The Stranger
* For a band that's evidently as studied as Das Llamas is in greats like Mission of Burma and Devo, this local trio has done just as much to carve out its own sound in the current sea of retro-rock regurgitation. Slinky bass lines, taut percussion, economical guitar, and gnarled vocals work toward a propulsive sound that doesn't borrow too heavily from any of Das Llamas'  influences. GRANT BRISSEY

* Stabmasterarson were always a local band worth rooting for. Bandleaders Kerry Ze - A bunch of publishers


"Three Imaginary Girls record review"

Three Imaginary Girls
Das Llamas —World War
{7.5}
On their third release, World War, Das Llamas mix hammering hooks, dub bass lines and propulsive percussion to craft gritty music that reflects post-punk and goth influences while incorporating elements of electroclash and no-wave. At times the instruments blend into a cacophonous blur of sound, but the music never veers into grating or atonal territory. Throughout the album, the band enigmatically manages to strike a balance between frenzied, speedy riffs and danceable melodies.
Lead singer Kerry Zettel’s voice combines high-octane intensity with full-bodied blues and his vocals are simultaneously velvety and venomous. He delivers a full range of screams and drones, but even at his most angst-ridden moments there is a melodic (albeit acerbic) tone to his voice.
His baleful bellow adds a shadowy undertone to “Whoa Oh Oh,” a playful and catchy collection of synthesizers and jagged guitars. Throbbing rhythms share center stage with Zettel’s vocals, and full-throttle drumming complements his frantic delivery on “Wood on Bone.” This song is the first cut on World War, and it introduces the listener to Das Llamas’ menacing guitars and malicious lyrics: “We took the money just for fun, but broke their legs so they won’t run.”
“The Wedding Song” begins sedately, and during the opening bars it’s easy to assume that the song may even be a ballad. But gloomy guitars and aching, angry vocals quickly make it clear that this is not a tune triumphing marital bliss. “The Others” is an eerie, but harmonic combination of the Das Llamas' quintessential sound, with spastic guitars, fat bass lines, and rich vocals.
Das Llamas’ music could never be described as joyful, but amidst all the growling, guttural savagery there is always a jocular levity that keeps you gleefully bopping to the beat while you barbarically bang your head.
-NYC Kelly D, August 23, 2007 - Three Imaginary Girls


"Ep Review"

DAS LLAMAS
Das Llamas
(Self-released)


The beauty of an EP, particularly when it's a band's first release, is that there isn't a whole lot of room for screwing around. With only six songs to get their point across, Das Llamas demonstrate exactly why they are one of Seattle's most promising up and comers. The obvious comparisons to Joy Division and Bauhaus make this band sound far gloomier than they actually are. Scratch a little deeper and you'll find a definite '70s pop punk influence (Wire, Gang of Four, and the Clash are all in there somewhere), particularly on tracks such as "The Fall of Saint Peter."

Das Llamas avoid the clutter of too much input by paring things down to three band members (Kerry Zettel on vocals/bass, Shawn Kock on guitar/keyboards, and Robin Dupuy bashing out the drums). The simplicity stands out best on "The Legacy" one of the EP's standout tracks and a highlight of their live performance.

The last song on this self-titled release is perhaps the messiest and most uneven of the lot. "The Laughs Just Never Keep Coming" will leave you curiously engaged, sort of like an attractive but disheveled drunk reeling around a house party. It only seems appropriate that the song's unique sound comes, in part, from an amp made out of an old crate head and stereo speaker that Zettel found sitting by a dumpster. KERRI HARROP - The Stranger


"Show Review"

(Crocodile) For a band that's evidently as studied as Das Llamas is in greats like Mission of Burma and Devo, this local trio has done just as much to carve out its own sound in the current sea of retro-rock regurgitation. Slinky bass lines, taut percussion, economical guitar, and gnarled vocals work toward a propulsive sound that doesn't borrow too heavily from any of Das Llamas' influences. GRANT BRISSEY - The Stranger


"Throbbing Tension"

The throbbing tension of Das Llamas evokes the gritty, angular work of Television, only a bit darker and shadowy. The bass and synth pulsate while metallic guitars clang away and the yelping vocals leap from the back of singer Kerry Zettel's throat. However, there's a warmer quality to the band, something suitable for those nights when you lock yourself in your apartment with a stack of vinyl and a 12-pack of beer and get nostalgic for N.Y.C. in the late '70s. And while comparing them to Television and alluding to Lester Bangs drunkenly flying solo in his flat may make them seem a bit chilly, give one listen to their song "Reasoning With Sharks" to see they have an emotional side the ever-icy Verlaine & Co. lacked. BRIAN J. BARR - Seattle Weekly


"The Short List"

Search The Short List:
calendar
The Short List Wednesday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 8

Tonight’s Das Llamas show, celebrating their highly anticipated full-length release World War (Aviation Records, 2007) has me thinking a lot about band envy. When a band can all play the holy fuck out of their respective instruments, receive this much good press, get so many choice bookings, and garner as much adoration from the ladies as the boys in DL, you’d expect other bands to twinge with just a smidgen of jealousy. Imagine my surprise to read the following comment on Myspace, not posted by a fan or critic but another band. “You know how Sam had that weird thing for Frodo and you could feel the awkward, pants-ripping boner tension between them?...that’s how I feel about you boys...” Wow! That’s high praise indeed. - Seattle Weekly


"Band Of The Week"

We’re pretty jaded when it comes to bands that are supposed to get us dancing. We’re of the mind to let a toe tap, but seldom can we muster the strength for a full on sway, let alone anything further. But the day the latest release from locals Das Llamas, World War, crossed our stereo and ear, well, some things changed. We barely noticed the effect it had as our body started a-swayin’ at our desk. Next thing we knew, things had progressed and we were shakin’ ass on the way to the kitchen. Das Llamas is a little more electro-pop than we’d previously remembered, and we like it. If we weren’t going to be out of town this Saturday we’d surely be at their CD RELEASE SHOW at The Comet to celebrate their awesomeness. Next time. - The Wig Fits All Heads


"F.I.T.S."


Music

May 9, 2007

Music
Fucking in the Streets
Das Llamas

By Eric Grandy

Stabmasterarson were always a local band worth rooting for. Bandleaders Kerry Zettel and Shawn Kock seemed like good guys, and they demonstrated all the right influences—British postpunk, CB4. Still, they never quite hit what they were aiming at. In 2005, the band changed their name to Das Llamas, kept playing frequent bar shows, toured, and released a six-song EP. And they continued to be a good band that didn't live up to their potential.

Now they have. With their new record, World War (set to be released this summer on Zettel's own Aviation Records), Das Llamas have finally nailed the tense, moody postpunk they've been working toward for years. Its eight songs are airtight and dense with busy drumming, relentless bass, stabs of guitar, and ominous synth leads. It's a lot of sound for a four piece to produce, but Das Llamas are impressive multitaskers, with Kock simultaneously playing guitar and synth via foot pedals and Zettel juggling bass, vocals, and keys. Zettel's vocals are distant and reverberating, alternating between urgent shouts and low, almost droning singing. Thomas Burke, who joined the band last summer, and Aaron "Rusty" Everett, who just joined in March, keep all the activity manageable, laying down tight, sweat-soaked drumming and sharp blasts of guitar, respectively.

At a recent practice session, Zettel explains that the just-expanded lineup has been a turning point for the band. "It's good that we added another member, 'cause we have this theory that we write better songs the less we can move around in here." It's a handy theory, as the space is crowded with amps and gear, the floor a mess of cords and pedals, and even the walls cluttered with old show posters.

"There's an added depth now with Rusty," says Zettel, more seriously, "instead of just dropping parts in and out, running things through more or less effects, and ending up with these walls of noise." The nuance is somewhat lost in their practice space, where cramped quarters and high amplification make not only for walls of noise, but also a floor—and the suitcase I'm sitting on—perceptibly vibrating with the stuff.

On Saturday, May 5, at the Comet, the band had just slightly more room to move around—the place was pretty packed for their performance—but their songs didn't suffer any for it. Das Llamas' live set is intense, and the sound was better than I expected from the Comet (apparently they've recently upgraded their sound system). Zettel is an arresting frontman, requisitely dark and tattooed, steady on bass and injecting his vocals with some odd mixture of nervousness and disdain. Kock, who shows similar levels of ink, keeps busy shredding guitar and stomping his foot pedals, rocking in place like he was still in the cramped practice room. Burke, a flailing monster on drums, never misses a beat, and Rusty plays with a kind of quiet swagger.

After their set, I heard nothing but good things from people in the crowd—even from a couple people known to be incredibly curmudgeonly about bands—and even saw one woman ask Zettel to autograph her poster. Sometime in the last several months, Das Llamas have gone from merely likable to truly exciting. It's been a long time coming. - The Stranger


Discography

World War, Aviation Records 2007
Self Titled EP, self released 2005
Audio Demonstration, self released 2004

Photos

Bio

From the gray city of Seattle rises the torch that is Das Llamas. The four piece, whose influences range from dance to goth to punk to dub, have created a platypus of sound that is a new noise in a new era.
Kerry Zettel’s wild-throated melodies loom over a landscape of guitars and synthesizers ardently sewn together by Shawn Kock and Aaron Everett. Thomas Burke’s spastic percussion erupts against conspiring steadfast bass lines that create a grimy upbeat electro rock that drunkenly flirts with no-wave punk. Well studied in the use of multitasking, they do all the work of a five piece with a dynamic demeanor of six.
Das Llamas has moved heads and feet alike at numerous shows up and down the west coast, toured across the midwest to the east coast and back. They have recorded and released two eps, the full length World War and have another EP due for release this Fall.

"Das Llamas have finally nailed the tense, moody postpunk they've been working toward for years."
- Eric Grandy of the Stranger

"There are few bands in town that I am more excited about than this one."
-John Richards, KEXP

"For a band that's evidently as studied in the greats like Mission of Burma and Devo, Das Llamas have done just as much to carve out its own sound".
- Grant Brissey, The Stranger

“The throbbing tension of Das Llamas evokes the gritty, angular work
of Television, only a bit darker and shadowy.”
- Brian J. Barr, Seattle Weekly

"Das Llamas' music could never be described as joyful, but amidst all the growling, guttural savagery there is always a jocular levity that keeps you gleefully bopping to the beat while you barbarically bang your head."
-NYC Kelly D, Three Imaginary Girls