Spirit Animal

We’d like to think blues-rock icon Jack White would be flattered there’s an insane dance move named in his honor. According to New York funksters Spirit Animal, ‘The Black Jack White’ requires throwing your fists in the air, doing a little two-step and shaking your hands like they’ve gone to sleep.

It seems ridiculous (and it is), but just try to listen to this Nic Hard remix without getting it stuck in your noggin. It’s also not a stretch that this tune could become a late-summer club sensation. The digital gurgles, combined with singer Steve Cooper’s howl, sound like the Rapture and Daft Punk had a baby that could pop and lock right out of the womb.

“Nic’s a good friend and we’ve been talking about working together for a while now,” Spirit Animal tells Diffuser.fm. “With this remix, we wanted to tap into that electro-pop element and turn ‘The Black Jack White’ into a whole new kind of dance
song.”

“We love the stuff he did with Ghost Beach, so when we decided to put out the remix EP it was a no-brainer that we wanted Nic involved,” the group adds.

Spirit Animal’s ‘Kingdom Phylum EP’ drops Oct. 1 on all online retailers. - Diffuser.FM

We’d like to think blues-rock icon Jack White would be flattered there’s an insane dance move named in his honor. According to New York funksters Spirit Animal, ‘The Black Jack White’ requires throwing your fists in the air, doing a little two-step and shaking your hands like they’ve gone to sleep.

It seems ridiculous (and it is), but just try to listen to this Nic Hard remix without getting it stuck in your noggin. It’s also not a stretch that this tune could become a late-summer club sensation. The digital gurgles, combined with singer Steve Cooper’s howl, sound like the Rapture and Daft Punk had a baby that could pop and lock right out of the womb.

“Nic’s a good friend and we’ve been talking about working together for a while now,” Spirit Animal tells Diffuser.fm. “With this remix, we wanted to tap into that electro-pop element and turn ‘The Black Jack White’ into a whole new kind of dance
song.”

“We love the stuff he did with Ghost Beach, so when we decided to put out the remix EP it was a no-brainer that we wanted Nic involved,” the group adds.

Spirit Animal’s ‘Kingdom Phylum EP’ drops Oct. 1 on all online retailers. - Diffuser.FM

Welcome to another edition of WTF Wednesday, in which bands show us what the f**k they’re looking at online. This week, we caught up with Spirit Animal, who bestowed upon us a grab bag of amazing Internet goodness.

The Brooklyn band dropped by OMA HQ to chat about their favorite viral oddities and ended up spending more than 30 minutes dropping online knowledge — a new record! Check out the video below for a few gems. - MTV

Welcome to another edition of WTF Wednesday, in which bands show us what the f**k they’re looking at online. This week, we caught up with Spirit Animal, who bestowed upon us a grab bag of amazing Internet goodness.

The Brooklyn band dropped by OMA HQ to chat about their favorite viral oddities and ended up spending more than 30 minutes dropping online knowledge — a new record! Check out the video below for a few gems. - MTV

New, NYC-based, psych rock band Spirit Animal are releasing their EP This is a Test next month, with a full length on tap for next year. Frontman Steve Cooper has been generating buzz due to his swagger. Swagger, we said? Yes, swagger. If anyone can handle swagger, it's Amy Sciarretto in the space of a Take Aim column.

Put 'em up, Stevie!

If you weren't doing music, you'd be...

Sitting at a poker table in Atlantic City, a never-ending backyard bbq, or in front of a computer screen discovering bands. Wait, we already do those things.

Any non-musical skills/hobbies or talents?

We're all pretty well-versed in the food and drink thing. We've done "kitchen invasion" dinners at restaurants and peoples' homes in L.A. and D.C. and even one wedding brunch in Texas for two fans who got married to each other. That was probably the most awesome-slash-ultimate honor in terms of combining food and music. Paul has a sandwich named after him at a coffee shop in DC, too. The whole food thing has some of the same characteristics of a rock concert in that it brings people together and is always a kind of celebration (…that is nowadays heavily critiqued!).

Pick one song from your EP and give us an "inside" story about writing or recording. Something we'd only know because you told us.

Our guitarist, Cal, had been batting around the guitar riff for "Lead!" since 2006. We were the fourth band to take a stab at it, but the first to turn it into a spoken-word diatribe on the decline of magazines, leadership and lead pencils.

Twitter-sized bio - 140 words or characters (your choice) of everything we need to know about your band!

SpAn slings Prince-meets-RHCP party rock with an eye toward dragging Rock&Roll out of its funk and back onto the dance floor.

We know what the "rock" is, but what about the "roll?" Can you further define it?

The way we look at the "roll" is as the party aspect. When you say you're a rock band, people don't necessarily assume that you're a death metal band with horror masks on, but it can conjure up images of something somewhat aggressive or at least entirely about dudes with huge guitars. We love the heavy aspect of rock, we thrive off of it, but we also love to have people dance and we find a universality in being able to make upbeat music you can party to using the rock instruments. Dance music doesn't have to be electronic or synthetic, and rock 'n roll doesn't have to mean not taking showers (though showers are very, VERY optional in this band). Rock n' roll was initially associated with guys like Chuck Berry, so I guess we're trying to bring a little bit of that back, not necessarily in the music but in regards to what's happening when our music's on.

Do you want to check out more of Spirit Animal? - Artist Direct

New, NYC-based, psych rock band Spirit Animal are releasing their EP This is a Test next month, with a full length on tap for next year. Frontman Steve Cooper has been generating buzz due to his swagger. Swagger, we said? Yes, swagger. If anyone can handle swagger, it's Amy Sciarretto in the space of a Take Aim column.

Put 'em up, Stevie!

If you weren't doing music, you'd be...

Sitting at a poker table in Atlantic City, a never-ending backyard bbq, or in front of a computer screen discovering bands. Wait, we already do those things.

Any non-musical skills/hobbies or talents?

We're all pretty well-versed in the food and drink thing. We've done "kitchen invasion" dinners at restaurants and peoples' homes in L.A. and D.C. and even one wedding brunch in Texas for two fans who got married to each other. That was probably the most awesome-slash-ultimate honor in terms of combining food and music. Paul has a sandwich named after him at a coffee shop in DC, too. The whole food thing has some of the same characteristics of a rock concert in that it brings people together and is always a kind of celebration (…that is nowadays heavily critiqued!).

Pick one song from your EP and give us an "inside" story about writing or recording. Something we'd only know because you told us.

Our guitarist, Cal, had been batting around the guitar riff for "Lead!" since 2006. We were the fourth band to take a stab at it, but the first to turn it into a spoken-word diatribe on the decline of magazines, leadership and lead pencils.

Twitter-sized bio - 140 words or characters (your choice) of everything we need to know about your band!

SpAn slings Prince-meets-RHCP party rock with an eye toward dragging Rock&Roll out of its funk and back onto the dance floor.

We know what the "rock" is, but what about the "roll?" Can you further define it?

The way we look at the "roll" is as the party aspect. When you say you're a rock band, people don't necessarily assume that you're a death metal band with horror masks on, but it can conjure up images of something somewhat aggressive or at least entirely about dudes with huge guitars. We love the heavy aspect of rock, we thrive off of it, but we also love to have people dance and we find a universality in being able to make upbeat music you can party to using the rock instruments. Dance music doesn't have to be electronic or synthetic, and rock 'n roll doesn't have to mean not taking showers (though showers are very, VERY optional in this band). Rock n' roll was initially associated with guys like Chuck Berry, so I guess we're trying to bring a little bit of that back, not necessarily in the music but in regards to what's happening when our music's on.

Do you want to check out more of Spirit Animal? - Artist Direct

Jon Chattman
Jon Chattman

Published Author, asidesmusic.com founder and host, Blogger, Dad
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A-Sides with Jon Chattman: "Origins" of Ionia And Releasing Your Inner Spirit Animal
Posted: 03/04/2013 12:46 pm
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Video , Blaise Beyhan , A-Sides , A-Sides Music , Ionia Acoustic , Ionia Band , Ionia Origins Acoustic , Music Conservatory Of Westchester , Spirit Animal , Spirit Animal Love Crime , Entertainment News

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In my late teens, I frequented the North Avenue bars by Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Those watering holes usually served us Coors Light, Black Haus shots, and whatever our young hearts desired even though we were all under 21 by a few years. But those once-hot spots have long closed down, and have absolutely nothing to do with the band featured on A-Sides today. I only bring up my self-fulfilling piece of nostalgia because A) I love non sequiturs and B) the band Ionia made me think of Iona College. (To others, I'm sure a geographical place comes to mind.) But, lame wordplay aside, let's get to the NYC band featured on A-Sides today. They're as hard-rocking and hard-working as anyone around.

Ionia is a five-piece act fronted by Blaise Beyhan who writes and sings songs that actually say and mean something (say that five-times fast) about the world at large. At a session filmed at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains two weeks ago, Blaise and his bandmates (Freddy Epps, Curt Callazo, Ome Wald and Kyle Walters) performed two of those socially-conscious tracks ("Origins," "False Prophet") and discussed it with this guy (I'm pointing to myself). Watch the performance of "Origins" and the interview below and check out "False Prophet" on asidesmusic.com.

"Origins"

Ionia Interview

Spirit Animal, like Ionia, hail from "The Big Apple," and by that, I mean NYC. Alas, there is no apple that's big enough for anyone to live in. Believe me, I've tried. OK, I haven't tried. Let's try it together. How, you ask? I'll stop. Keeping with this highly unnecessary analogical theme, the fruits of this band's labor - an EP called This Is a Test - was just released and it's a highly enjoyable blend of pop, rock funk and soul. The band, fronted by D.C.-based musician Steve Cooper, has rightfully earned praise for their infectious EP and energetic live performances. Last week, however, Cooper and his bandmates Paul Michel, Cal Stamp, and Ronen Evron stripped it all down at an A-Sides session, also filmed at the Conservatory, with a raw performance of "Love Crime." Watch the foursome perform, and talk about it below. Watch. Listen. Love. - Huffington Post

Jon Chattman
Jon Chattman

Published Author, asidesmusic.com founder and host, Blogger, Dad
GET UPDATES FROM Jon Chattman

Like
83
A-Sides with Jon Chattman: "Origins" of Ionia And Releasing Your Inner Spirit Animal
Posted: 03/04/2013 12:46 pm
Follow
Video , Blaise Beyhan , A-Sides , A-Sides Music , Ionia Acoustic , Ionia Band , Ionia Origins Acoustic , Music Conservatory Of Westchester , Spirit Animal , Spirit Animal Love Crime , Entertainment News

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In my late teens, I frequented the North Avenue bars by Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Those watering holes usually served us Coors Light, Black Haus shots, and whatever our young hearts desired even though we were all under 21 by a few years. But those once-hot spots have long closed down, and have absolutely nothing to do with the band featured on A-Sides today. I only bring up my self-fulfilling piece of nostalgia because A) I love non sequiturs and B) the band Ionia made me think of Iona College. (To others, I'm sure a geographical place comes to mind.) But, lame wordplay aside, let's get to the NYC band featured on A-Sides today. They're as hard-rocking and hard-working as anyone around.

Ionia is a five-piece act fronted by Blaise Beyhan who writes and sings songs that actually say and mean something (say that five-times fast) about the world at large. At a session filmed at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains two weeks ago, Blaise and his bandmates (Freddy Epps, Curt Callazo, Ome Wald and Kyle Walters) performed two of those socially-conscious tracks ("Origins," "False Prophet") and discussed it with this guy (I'm pointing to myself). Watch the performance of "Origins" and the interview below and check out "False Prophet" on asidesmusic.com.

"Origins"

Ionia Interview

Spirit Animal, like Ionia, hail from "The Big Apple," and by that, I mean NYC. Alas, there is no apple that's big enough for anyone to live in. Believe me, I've tried. OK, I haven't tried. Let's try it together. How, you ask? I'll stop. Keeping with this highly unnecessary analogical theme, the fruits of this band's labor - an EP called This Is a Test - was just released and it's a highly enjoyable blend of pop, rock funk and soul. The band, fronted by D.C.-based musician Steve Cooper, has rightfully earned praise for their infectious EP and energetic live performances. Last week, however, Cooper and his bandmates Paul Michel, Cal Stamp, and Ronen Evron stripped it all down at an A-Sides session, also filmed at the Conservatory, with a raw performance of "Love Crime." Watch the foursome perform, and talk about it below. Watch. Listen. Love. - Huffington Post

Hands-down our favorite rock ‘n roll discovery of 2012, Spirit Animal sat down for an inteview after rocking Santos Party House at the September edition of the Last.fm Live in NYC concert series. Topic #1 was the upcoming release of their debut full-length album Spiritia Animalia, due out in 2013. Songs from that album featured prominently in the band’s set at Santos, including excellent versions of “Crocodile Skins,” “Love Crime” and the outrageous, soon-to-be-a-worldwide-dance-sensation known as the “Black Jack White.”

Listen to the band’s brand-new EP This Is A Test right now at spiritanimal.us, on Spotify or Soundcloud. - Last.FM

Hands-down our favorite rock ‘n roll discovery of 2012, Spirit Animal sat down for an inteview after rocking Santos Party House at the September edition of the Last.fm Live in NYC concert series. Topic #1 was the upcoming release of their debut full-length album Spiritia Animalia, due out in 2013. Songs from that album featured prominently in the band’s set at Santos, including excellent versions of “Crocodile Skins,” “Love Crime” and the outrageous, soon-to-be-a-worldwide-dance-sensation known as the “Black Jack White.”

Listen to the band’s brand-new EP This Is A Test right now at spiritanimal.us, on Spotify or Soundcloud. - Last.FM

Psych rocking New York group Spirit Animal found themselves a hit when they delivered their track "The Black Jack White" to the masses. It's hard hitting synths, chopped up beats, and frantic energy surges throughout the whole song. So with the wave still crashing on the shores, the group decided to keep it going and have the track remixed. Each remix on the EP distinctly brings out an idea, a sound, and a vibe that is different from each other. They're all dance-centric and compliments the original. But regardless of the interpretation, the original's fierce attitude still surfaces.

Steve Cooper, the band's lead singer explained the idea of having their track remixed:

"We consider most of the new songs we're writing to be 'music you can dance to,' but "The Black Jack White" is literally a dance so putting together an electronic remix EP was a must. Since the dance steps are just everyday actions ("shake your hand like it's gone to sleep") you can interpret them how you like. With the remixes, there's an added layer of interpretation. These producers are interpreting the dance with their beats, which means you, the dancer, might have to take a second look at how you're shaking your shit depending which version comes on."
- Prefix

Psych rocking New York group Spirit Animal found themselves a hit when they delivered their track "The Black Jack White" to the masses. It's hard hitting synths, chopped up beats, and frantic energy surges throughout the whole song. So with the wave still crashing on the shores, the group decided to keep it going and have the track remixed. Each remix on the EP distinctly brings out an idea, a sound, and a vibe that is different from each other. They're all dance-centric and compliments the original. But regardless of the interpretation, the original's fierce attitude still surfaces.

Steve Cooper, the band's lead singer explained the idea of having their track remixed:

"We consider most of the new songs we're writing to be 'music you can dance to,' but "The Black Jack White" is literally a dance so putting together an electronic remix EP was a must. Since the dance steps are just everyday actions ("shake your hand like it's gone to sleep") you can interpret them how you like. With the remixes, there's an added layer of interpretation. These producers are interpreting the dance with their beats, which means you, the dancer, might have to take a second look at how you're shaking your shit depending which version comes on."
- Prefix

It took moving to California and hanging out with a couple Oakland bands to truly understand the word swagger, but I can now inform you New York Ciy-based Spirit Animal is dripping with swag. They have to be to pull off sounding like a mix of The Talking Heads, White Denim, and Muse (in a good way). They are typically billed as psychedelic-funk-rock, and I'm not going to disagree. Spirit Animal is fighting for our right to party. Steve Cooper gave me the dish from The City That Never Sleeps on the band's spirit animal, the Honesty Revolution, and of course a few little ditties about their illustrious live show. But first, Spirit Animal has a new EP out, This is a Test, which you can download for free from their website.

Most of the time the nuances of a live performance don't make it onto a recording. It's hard to capture an energy that feeds off of chance. This is a Test makes the listener forget all that. There's so much on this EP, both musically and lyrically, you're find a new surprise with every listen. Just when I think I've got a song figured out, horns enter, then the hand claps, and is that a tambourine shaking over the guitar? All of that aside, when I began to mentally strip away all of the carefully calculated effects I landed on the vocals and the core instruments. The lyrics are quick on the uptake and backed by melodies rooted in classic rock 'n' roll and funk.

Speaking of the show, I asked Cooper why everyone has a serious FOMO (fear of missing out) when it comes to seeing Spirit Animal live and in person. Between knowing chuckles he let on that "there will be leg kicks, seemingly accidental synchronized dancing, opportunities for crowd participation, which in a way turns into something that feels like a duty." I've also been told there's a lot of sweat emanating from the stage, but I'm not sure that gives us anything but an indication of how hard these guys work to bring us a little rock 'n' roll. "I think that the 'roll' is that whole fun, party aspect. The 'rock' is more of an attitude. They are both equally valuable philosophies."

With timely lyrics in songs like "Age of Advice," "WTF," and even "Crocodile Skins," I get the sense that Spirit Animal is calling for something beyond the party. I asked Cooper if they considered their music part of a revolution of sorts. To which he responded, "The honesty revolution. The idea behind a lot of the songs is about being direct and not kidding yourself. Realizing what's going on around you. It's not political, in terms of a revolution, in that way it's not against a particular evil." The core of it all goes back to rock 'n' roll for Cooper, however, "It's about dancing. You have to do it in front of people, which is a brutally honest thing to do. It can be a challenging moment for both the audience and us. If we can't get the person next to you to dance, you're not going to dance. So it's like that with the lyrics, it's honest, and about making a broader point." Note to self: get the guy and gal next to me to dance no matter what it takes.

This is a Test is a real EP in that it will be followed by a full-length album from the band this summer. The EP is a space for the band to spread their musical wings. Each song is different from the one before, not in a disjointed way, but rather to provide a sampling of the divergent paths the full length could take. There's no doubt in my mind we'll be pleasantly surprised by Spirit Animal this summer. Cooper took it in stride when I asked him what the band's spirit animal was, "Humpback Whammal -- part whale and part camel. It might be changing, we're having an executive board meeting about it. Whammal ram is now on the table." I hope they have had that meeting by the time they get to San Francisco on Friday because I'm dying to know if the animal has evolved.

You can read the full interview with Steve Cooper here.

Spirit Animal plays Bottom of the Hill on Friday, March 29 with Super Adventure Club, supported by Planet Booty. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., for tickets and more information visit bottomofthehill.com. - NPR (KQED)

It took moving to California and hanging out with a couple Oakland bands to truly understand the word swagger, but I can now inform you New York Ciy-based Spirit Animal is dripping with swag. They have to be to pull off sounding like a mix of The Talking Heads, White Denim, and Muse (in a good way). They are typically billed as psychedelic-funk-rock, and I'm not going to disagree. Spirit Animal is fighting for our right to party. Steve Cooper gave me the dish from The City That Never Sleeps on the band's spirit animal, the Honesty Revolution, and of course a few little ditties about their illustrious live show. But first, Spirit Animal has a new EP out, This is a Test, which you can download for free from their website.

Most of the time the nuances of a live performance don't make it onto a recording. It's hard to capture an energy that feeds off of chance. This is a Test makes the listener forget all that. There's so much on this EP, both musically and lyrically, you're find a new surprise with every listen. Just when I think I've got a song figured out, horns enter, then the hand claps, and is that a tambourine shaking over the guitar? All of that aside, when I began to mentally strip away all of the carefully calculated effects I landed on the vocals and the core instruments. The lyrics are quick on the uptake and backed by melodies rooted in classic rock 'n' roll and funk.

Speaking of the show, I asked Cooper why everyone has a serious FOMO (fear of missing out) when it comes to seeing Spirit Animal live and in person. Between knowing chuckles he let on that "there will be leg kicks, seemingly accidental synchronized dancing, opportunities for crowd participation, which in a way turns into something that feels like a duty." I've also been told there's a lot of sweat emanating from the stage, but I'm not sure that gives us anything but an indication of how hard these guys work to bring us a little rock 'n' roll. "I think that the 'roll' is that whole fun, party aspect. The 'rock' is more of an attitude. They are both equally valuable philosophies."

With timely lyrics in songs like "Age of Advice," "WTF," and even "Crocodile Skins," I get the sense that Spirit Animal is calling for something beyond the party. I asked Cooper if they considered their music part of a revolution of sorts. To which he responded, "The honesty revolution. The idea behind a lot of the songs is about being direct and not kidding yourself. Realizing what's going on around you. It's not political, in terms of a revolution, in that way it's not against a particular evil." The core of it all goes back to rock 'n' roll for Cooper, however, "It's about dancing. You have to do it in front of people, which is a brutally honest thing to do. It can be a challenging moment for both the audience and us. If we can't get the person next to you to dance, you're not going to dance. So it's like that with the lyrics, it's honest, and about making a broader point." Note to self: get the guy and gal next to me to dance no matter what it takes.

This is a Test is a real EP in that it will be followed by a full-length album from the band this summer. The EP is a space for the band to spread their musical wings. Each song is different from the one before, not in a disjointed way, but rather to provide a sampling of the divergent paths the full length could take. There's no doubt in my mind we'll be pleasantly surprised by Spirit Animal this summer. Cooper took it in stride when I asked him what the band's spirit animal was, "Humpback Whammal -- part whale and part camel. It might be changing, we're having an executive board meeting about it. Whammal ram is now on the table." I hope they have had that meeting by the time they get to San Francisco on Friday because I'm dying to know if the animal has evolved.

You can read the full interview with Steve Cooper here.

Spirit Animal plays Bottom of the Hill on Friday, March 29 with Super Adventure Club, supported by Planet Booty. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., for tickets and more information visit bottomofthehill.com. - NPR (KQED)

NYC’s psych-pop band Spirit Animal premieres their new The Black Jack White Remix EP, featuring the group’s buzzworthy single revamped and reworked by various producers and DJs. Listen to the full EP stream below and be sure the catch the guys as they tour across the U.S. this summer. - Vibe

NYC’s psych-pop band Spirit Animal premieres their new The Black Jack White Remix EP, featuring the group’s buzzworthy single revamped and reworked by various producers and DJs. Listen to the full EP stream below and be sure the catch the guys as they tour across the U.S. this summer. - Vibe

NY band Spirit Animal are out with a wild rumpus of a new video for their tune “The Black Jack White” as in The Black Jack White-Dance. Part blues, part rock and part hip hop this is definitely a party track and a dance that is sure to get interesting as the night winds on. - MTV

NY band Spirit Animal are out with a wild rumpus of a new video for their tune “The Black Jack White” as in The Black Jack White-Dance. Part blues, part rock and part hip hop this is definitely a party track and a dance that is sure to get interesting as the night winds on. - MTV

It took moving to California and hanging out with a couple Oakland bands to truly understand the word swagger, but I can now inform you New York Ciy-based Spirit Animal is dripping with swag. They have to be to pull off sounding like a mix of The Talking Heads, White Denim, and Muse (in a good way). They are typically billed as psychedelic-funk-rock, and I'm not going to disagree. Spirit Animal is fighting for our right to party. Steve Cooper gave me the dish from The City That Never Sleeps on the band's spirit animal, the Honesty Revolution, and of course a few little ditties about their illustrious live show. But first, Spirit Animal has a new EP out, This is a Test, which you can download for free from their website.

Most of the time the nuances of a live performance don't make it onto a recording. It's hard to capture an energy that feeds off of chance. This is a Test makes the listener forget all that. There's so much on this EP, both musically and lyrically, you're find a new surprise with every listen. Just when I think I've got a song figured out, horns enter, then the hand claps, and is that a tambourine shaking over the guitar? All of that aside, when I began to mentally strip away all of the carefully calculated effects I landed on the vocals and the core instruments. The lyrics are quick on the uptake and backed by melodies rooted in classic rock 'n' roll and funk.

Speaking of the show, I asked Cooper why everyone has a serious FOMO (fear of missing out) when it comes to seeing Spirit Animal live and in person. Between knowing chuckles he let on that "there will be leg kicks, seemingly accidental synchronized dancing, opportunities for crowd participation, which in a way turns into something that feels like a duty." I've also been told there's a lot of sweat emanating from the stage, but I'm not sure that gives us anything but an indication of how hard these guys work to bring us a little rock 'n' roll. "I think that the 'roll' is that whole fun, party aspect. The 'rock' is more of an attitude. They are both equally valuable philosophies."

the sense that Spirit Animal is calling for something beyond the party. I asked Cooper if they considered their music part of a revolution of sorts. To which he responded, "The honesty revolution. The idea behind a lot of the songs is about being direct and not kidding yourself. Realizing what's going on around you. It's not political, in terms of a revolution, in that way it's not against a particular evil." The core of it all goes back to rock 'n' roll for Cooper, however, "It's about dancing. You have to do it in front of people, which is a brutally honest thing to do. It can be a challenging moment for both the audience and us. If we can't get the person next to you to dance, you're not going to dance. So it's like that with the lyrics, it's honest, and about making a broader point." Note to self: get the guy and gal next to me to dance no matter what it takes.

This is a Test is a real EP in that it will be followed by a full-length album from the band this summer. The EP is a space for the band to spread their musical wings. Each song is different from the one before, not in a disjointed way, but rather to provide a sampling of the divergent paths the full length could take. There's no doubt in my mind we'll be pleasantly surprised by Spirit Animal this summer. Cooper took it in stride when I asked him what the band's spirit animal was, "Humpback Whammal -- part whale and part camel. It might be changing, we're having an executive board meeting about it. Whammal ram is now on the table." I hope they have had that meeting by the time they get to San Francisco on Friday because I'm dying to know if the animal has evolved. - KQED (NPR)

In certain nature-worshiping cultures, a spirit animal is a totem that lends people strength, and whose traits filter down into their own personal characteristics. Our spirit animal, for example, is a really handsome bear in a pair of tight pants reading a New Yorker. The New York four-piece Spirit Animal, on the other hand, channel their power from the entire rock-and-roll forest on their new single, "The Black Jack White."

Listen to Spirit Animal's "The Black Jack White" after the jump.

On their most recent release, last fall's This Is A Test EP, the band galloped between the complicated funk arrangements of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the throwback blues swagger of The Black Keys, and the over-the-top showmanship of Electric Six (the band's frontman Steve Cooper is himself a sight to behold on stage). On "The Black Jack White," the rock spirit animal in question might seem obvious, given the title, but while there's a certain element of vintage rock tones and riffing on display here, the song, with its dirty slap bass, stripped-down drums, harmonized soloing, and spoken/shouted lyrics ends up being an animal all its own.

"Take a step to the left and right, the left and right," Cooper shouts, guiding us through the dance steps of the song. "Throw your hands straight up in the sky, like amusement ride. Next your head, you point it at your feet, and stick your arm to the side. And shake your hand like it's gone to sleep, and that's 'The Black Jack White.'"

Sounds pretty complicated, particularly if you're an uncoordinated klutz like us, but once you let the spirit flow through you, you'll be dancing in no time.

"Think of songs like 'The Electric Slide' or 'Teach Me How to Dougie' -- where the lyrics explain the dance," Cooper explains. "The catch here is that all of the 'dance steps' in 'The Black Jack White' are intended to be totally pedestrian physical movements that aren't dance moves at all. This way anybody can do the dance, most importantly people who 'can't dance.' When you walk through the steps you wind up leaning, bouncing, and playing a very, very swagged out air guitar. And that's 'The Black Jack White.'"

+ Listen to Spirit Animal's "The Black Jack White." - MTV

"'Love Crime' is about a breakup a friend of mine went through where the other person lost interest abruptly and got with someone else very shortly after. That's the "crime" in this case," Spirit Animal's Steve Cooper explains to Rolling Stone. "That period where you ask yourself what went wrong is something everybody can obviously relate to, but we tried to make this sound triumphant, as if the accusation, the placing of blame on the other person, could somehow make you feel better even though it still hurts like hell."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/love-crime-by-spirit-animal-free-mp3-20120925#ixzz2AVC3E7sl
- Rolling Stone

"'I'm Around' is a song that we as a band have held on to and continued to rework because we were so excited about it's potential and wanted to make sure we did it justice. It all started to come together when we tracked Jenny O.'s string quartet and replaced the bridge with a guitar solo. Eventually, I floated it to Morgan [Kibby] (White Sea) to sing on the bridge instead of the guitar solo, and it finally all clicked. I think a dozen people we know have touched it, which is a good feeling." - AOL/Spinner

"'I'm Around' is a song that we as a band have held on to and continued to rework because we were so excited about it's potential and wanted to make sure we did it justice. It all started to come together when we tracked Jenny O.'s string quartet and replaced the bridge with a guitar solo. Eventually, I floated it to Morgan [Kibby] (White Sea) to sing on the bridge instead of the guitar solo, and it finally all clicked. I think a dozen people we know have touched it, which is a good feeling." - AOL/Spinner

Just got an email with this new track from Spirit Animal. It’s gentle and beautiful, but also has a really enjoyable beat. You can order the seven-inch at Spirit Animal’s web site, download the MP3 via the widget below and watch the video that accompanies it. - You Ain't No Picasso

My first show of the day was the unlikely combo of weirdo funk performed in the bar of a pretty nice hotel. The patrons at times looked a bit frightened, but mostly amused. The band was a force to be reckoned with, called Spirit Animal. The band, out of New York, is led by former Angeleno Steve Cooper and he is an unbelievable frontman, giving it his all for an audience that didn’t give nearly as much back. They’re a bit out there, but do what they do very well. (It’s reminiscent of early Red Hot Chili Peppers if you need a reference point). Furious energy and fierce musicianship. DJ Garth Trinidad is a fan, especially of their song “Making It Work“, and they recently released a new video for “Crocodile Skins”. - KCRW

My first show of the day was the unlikely combo of weirdo funk performed in the bar of a pretty nice hotel. The patrons at times looked a bit frightened, but mostly amused. The band was a force to be reckoned with, called Spirit Animal. The band, out of New York, is led by former Angeleno Steve Cooper and he is an unbelievable frontman, giving it his all for an audience that didn’t give nearly as much back. They’re a bit out there, but do what they do very well. (It’s reminiscent of early Red Hot Chili Peppers if you need a reference point). Furious energy and fierce musicianship. DJ Garth Trinidad is a fan, especially of their song “Making It Work“, and they recently released a new video for “Crocodile Skins”. - KCRW

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, some 2.7 million adults were incarcerated in U.S. federal and state prisons at year-end 2010 (that’s .7% of the whole population, FYI). New York psych-rock band Spirit Animal have found a likely solution to the prison system’s overcrowding in their music video for “Crocodile Skins”.

In the clip, frontman Steve Cooper plays a snow-breathing mutant Shaman who encounters the rest of the band, cast as escaped fugitives, and proceeds to incapacitate them with aforementioned snow breath. His solution to effective rehabilitation involves some neon paint, guitar solos, and a mess of crow’s blood. It’s a little messy, but it sure beats any more episodes of Lockdown. Watch the video below. - Consequence of Sound

New York's rock/indie/dance/funk group Spirit Animal have delivered their new music video for their second new single, "Lead!," and today, we get to premiere it for you.

Directed by Daniel Stessen, the clip features a slew of random images including Oil, Pirates, Evil Knevil, Regis & Kelly, Captain Planet, Tron and much more, to create a video that is easy to dance to, but difficult to look away from. The chaos of the clip fits the genre-bending tune almost too well.

Check out the video below and stream the track via Soundcloud after the jump.

Their sophomore effort, Spiritia Animalia, is scheduled for a 2012 release. - FILTER Magazine

New York's rock/indie/dance/funk group Spirit Animal have delivered their new music video for their second new single, "Lead!," and today, we get to premiere it for you.

Directed by Daniel Stessen, the clip features a slew of random images including Oil, Pirates, Evil Knevil, Regis & Kelly, Captain Planet, Tron and much more, to create a video that is easy to dance to, but difficult to look away from. The chaos of the clip fits the genre-bending tune almost too well.

Check out the video below and stream the track via Soundcloud after the jump.

Their sophomore effort, Spiritia Animalia, is scheduled for a 2012 release. - FILTER Magazine

Brooklyn’s Spirit Animal is a band infused with a sentimentality for old-school rock and roll. Formed by Washington, DC transplants Steve Cooper and Paul Michel, the four-piece has been delivering raucous tunes with a touch of funk since their 2010 debut, The Cost of Living. Their enthusiasm for big hooks and brash arrangements has only intensified since then, as they’ll demonstrate with their new EP, World War IV, out October 30th via Wind-Up Records. Ahead of the release, the band has shared a new single called “Regular World”.

“There’s a delicate balance between always demanding more — from life, from friends, from your job — and being satisfied with what you’ve got,” the band tells Consequence of Sound. “This song is about walking that tightrope; about being able to want, want, want without having to need, need, need.”

Though the lyrics are about “walking a tightrope,” the music doesn’t feel so concerned with treading carefully. Opening with waves of cymbals crashing over furiously thumped bass, the track slinks down into a street strolling groove as Cooper channels his inner Anthony Kiedis to spit verses about normality: “Regular car/ Regular house/ Regular doubts/ Regular channel 5/ That’s just a regular life.” Every section of the song sweeps in with a big move that sees the band reveling in soaring choruses, explosive bridges, and dirty blues stomping solos.

Listen in below. - Consequence of Sound

Before the Fall Classic goes down on Saturday, October 10th at Union Market, we’ll be kicking the festivities off on Thursday, October 8th with a pre-party at U Street Music Hall with Spirit Animal and Lewis Del Mar. The first of those two bands just released a brand new single today — “Regular World” — and it is quite good. “Regular World” combines the band’s usual funk-fueled antics with some good ol’ fashioned Weezer-style power pop. This could be our favorite Spirit Animal track yet. Listen below and make sure to grab tickets to the festival and pre-party while you still can. - All Things Go

Spirit Animal is a rock band’s rock band. High energy hooks, driving bass lines and effortless guitar riffs make them a rare and refreshing breed these days. And that’s before you’ve ever seen the live set. Having had the pleasure, I can attest to the hype. Former LA native Steve Cooper is an entertainer, its that simple. He commands your attention and you willingly concede. You can’t look away, in fact, which is why i’ll be at their single release/homecoming show at The Roxy in LA tomorrow night in support of Say Lou Lou and Phoebe Ryan. The EP, rumored to be called World War IV, is due out on Wind-up Records Oct 30th. Did I mention the band has one of the most entertaining twitter accounts in the game? Follow along here. - Kick Kick Snare

Spirit Animal, by way of Brooklyn, New York, have released their latest single “Regular World.” The group was formed by Michael and Steve Cooper, who are originally from Washington DC. They have a love for funk and old-school rock n’ roll, which inspires the way they write tunes. In “Regular World,” Spirit Animal meditates on the way we live life as humans.

“This song is about walking that tightrope; about being able to want, want, want without having to need, need, need,” the band told Consequence of Sound. “Regular World” is a groovy track filled with catchy choruses, bridges, and solos, which are elements rarely heard in rock music produced my most bands today. Spirit Animals new EP, World War IV, is out October 30 via Wind-Up Records. - Earmilk

What do you get when you mix one part rock, one part blues, and one part rap? Spirit Animal! This Brooklyn outfit is does a bunch of things you’ve heard before but mixes them in ways that feel new. - Entertainment Weekly

Finding inspiration in everything from early '90s rap and trip-hop, such as Outkast and Tricky, to more classic songwriters like Tom Petty and the Talking Heads, New York-based quartet Spirit Animal creates a fusion of rock and pop, placing their strongest focus purely on energy. Following last year's This is a Test EP, next Friday, October 30, marks the release of their sophomore EP World War IV via Wind-up Records and here we're pleased to premiere the track "True Believer."

"The emotional premise of this song took some serious turns," frontman Steve Cooper explains. "When the verse was coming together, it felt like a straight-ahead tale of love crumbling...But when the chorus started to take shape things changed."

As Cooper continues, losing a lover doesn't always result from your own actions or insecurities. Rather, it can happen because of a change in your lover's life. "Think of a classic ‘it's not you, it's me' situation, but one where you actually believe them," he says. "The song flips into this idea of encouraging the other person to stay how they are, to remain the person you're in love with. It's inherently sad, but you're on the offensive this way, instead of the defensive."

Cooper, who sings and plays the Moog, is joined by Ronnen Evron on the drums, Paul Michel on bass, and Cal Stamp on guitar. Together, the men play energetic live shows and write music infused with each of their own personalities. " ‘True Believer' really shows the eight-sided dice that we typically roll to write," Cooper continues. For World War IV, in particular, the writing process was "A choose your own adventure of pop. It was exciting because we were discovering new ways Spirit Animal songs could work." - Interview Magazine