Girls Like Cigarettes

GIRLS LIKE CIGARETTES.
The Story So Far...

New York-based, Baltimore transplants, Girls Like Cigarettes boast not only the type of infectiously catchy alternative rock one might've heard on 120 Minutes during the formidable early 1990's -- thus channeling groups like Husker Du/Sugar, Catherine Wheel, Pixies, Radiohead, Everclear, and Nirvana, all of whom loom large in the band's output -- but have the impressive ability to be supremely populist yet to truly sound like nobody else on the scene today. As a result, both fans and tastemakers alike have acknowledged the band’s unforgettable hooks and undeniable energy, leading national music magazines like SKOPE to hail the band as one of the hottest new bands on the alternative music scene and prompting multiple Grammy-Award winning producer John Seymour (U2, Alice in Chains, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bouncing Souls, Dave Matthews Band, Guided by Voices, Vertical Horizon) to say that listening to the band’s new online single “Whatever Happened?” made him feel the same way he felt when he first heard Nirvana’s “Nevermind” and Everclear’s “Santa Monica.” Christ, those are big shoes to fill, but maybe...just maybe...these guys from Baltimore CAN save rock and roll.

Sonically, the group pulls few punches, both in their songwriting and their incendiary and visually impressive live performance. Lead singer and bassist Joe Black writes songs so timeless in their subject matter and delivery that they transcend what’s “hot” or “not” in the music industry, leading Matt Perrine, music critic for Flyhighduluth.blogspot.com to note that the band’s first underground hit Combustible You “rides a Stuart Davis-esque wave of radio-ready pop, but, like that enigmatic singer/songwriter's works, the lyrics aren't typical Top 40 fare: 'For better or worse / You exploded first.'" These songs, dealing with issues of loss, love, hope, redemption, and hoping your ex gets sucked into the propeller of an airplane, are then wrapped in a decidedly catchy and melodic sheen, not unlike taking your napalm with a spoonful of sugar. The end product could’ve been released in the 80's, 90's, today, tomorrow, 20 years from now? Possibly this is the reason for the persistent comparisons to such legendary and timeless bands.

Also bolstering the comparisons to the "golden 90's" is Pat Fisher's obvious guitar virtuosity, which careens from pummeling rock n' roll heaviness to introspectively shimmering solos, and matches the sonic lushness and experimentation of Fisher’s own guitar heroes: Johnny Marr, The Edge, Joey Santiago, and is a welcome break from the current (and tired) slog of of metal-influenced “screamo,” and 7-String shredders. One listen to the solo in “Beautiful Death Machines” shows Fisher emulating the cascading sounds of machine guns, if bullets were musical notes; In “Whatever Happened,” Fisher merely pulls out all the stops and pummels his Gibson SG into the stratosphere between massive power chords, bluesy Black Flag-inspired bends and runs, and issues a guitar solo that would make Weezer green with envy. All of this shredding, has earned Fisher both accolades from Guitar Player Magazine Associate Editor Matt Blackett, who hailed the band's ridiculously thick guitar tones, and assisted GLC in scoring a prestigious equipment endorsement from boutique amplifier manufacturer BUDDA -- all before any major label record deals were signed. In the interests of spreading the love around, over at stage center, drummer Jeff Reed, who approaches his job like a seasoned studio vet -- and in fact has done session work with major label artists like Evan Taubenfeld -- produces a massive drum sound and meticulous rhythm. On top of all this, of course, are Joe Black's exquisitely depressing, yet possibly tongue-in-cheek, lyrics which are issued, at times, as if he is ripping his heart out onto the microphone. And who could ignore Black's massive, propulsive basslines, all bashed out Peter Hook-style through 2500 Watts directly into his artist endorsed 810 BASSON SOUND EQUIPMENT cabinet. Brutal.

In Summer 2007, the group recorded three songs at Baltimore's WRIGHTWAY STUDIOS with up-and-coming producer/engineer Stephen Wright (SR71, Jimmies Chicken Shack, Lake Trout, Evan Taubenfeld, Dru Hill, 2 Live Crew). Not surprisingly, after posting the songs on MYSPACE MUSIC, the band quickly exploded on the MYSPACE TOP ARTIST CHARTS, lingering in the TOP 100 NATIONAL CHARTS in the Indie, Alternative, and Powerpop categories while crashing the TOP TEN for NYC POWERPOP, TOP 20 INDIE/ALTERNATIVE. Their 7000+ friends and 250,000+ plays highlights the band’s growing legion of fans, a dedicated core of whom have pasted the mini-hits “COMBUSTIBLE YOU” and "WHATEVER HAPPENED" on their own players all across the world. Not a day goes by when someone new doesn't discover the group and connect with the message they’re sending. As a result, in December 2007, the group signed with FOLEY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, who