Music
Press
“The Arms Akimbo's Brit-infused style channels The Beatles, The Who and the Kinks, creating guilt-free pop gems.” - 89.3 The Current
“Kicking things off with “You Want To,” the infectious single from their debut EP, The Arms Akimbo’s music tore through a variety of genres. The songs were an airy, bouncy mixture wrapped up in a slick power pop exterior. Bassist Nick Schaser bit off his vocals with the snottiness of a young Elvis Costello and bantered playfully with the audience between songs.” – Jeff Gage, How Was The Show? - How Was The Show?
“The trio just issued a strong debut EP, "You Want To,"… Stylish, classic-sounding pop-rock” – Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune - The Star Tribune
“…sweaty British-invasion indebted rock… Singer/Bassist Nick Schaser comes by his Paul Weller-reminiscent mod-rock melodies honestly; he spent the better part of three years earlier in the decade fronting an honest to goodness British rock band while living in England. England's loss is Minnesota's gain as Schaser's moved back to his home state with plenty of bouncy rock melodies at his command. –Metro Mix, Twin Cities - Metro Mix
“…contagious, melodic power-pop, with excellent vocal harmonies and careful harmonic instrumentation. The quality of this band leaves us wanting to hear more, hopefully not a long delay in releasing an album with which to enjoy their music.” - Lito Music - Lito Music
“You Want To” on 89.3 The Current’s weekly Chart Show: 1/21/2010 - #13
1/28/2010 - #11
2/4/2010 - #9
2/11/2010 - #17 - 89.3 The Current
“One of the swankiest new local bands to emerge in 2009” – Mike Minehart, Borangutan - Borangutan
“The Arms Akimbo have established themselves among the tightest bunch of live performers in MN.” – Skelly, Borangutan - Borangutan
“…a mod rock triple scoop melting all over your mohair suit. The “You Want To” EP is like owning a Paul Weller imported 45. This Year I am going to be a Rude Boy.”
– Scott Herold, Rock The Cause
- Rock The Cause Newsletter
Discography
"You Want To" - EP: The Arms Akimbo's debut recording released November 27, 2009. The title track plays in heavy rotation on 89.3 The Current and has been in the top 20 on their weekly Chart Show for four weeks running.
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Bio
The Arms Akimbo was formally established in the spring of 2009. The beginnings, however, date to almost a decade beforehand when members, Nick (now, 26) and Ian (24) Schaser and Chris Dillon (26) played together throughout the Twin Cities, as The Serfs even though none of the boys would have been legally allowed in under normal circumstances. After the group disbanded in 2005, bassist and singer Nick moved to the UK, playing in London-based Brit pop band, Jack Maggs. After three years of living out of a backpack and crashing on couches, Nick returned to the US in 2009 and rejoined guitarist Chris and drummer Ian to form The Arms Akimbo.
Yet in their nascence, The Arms Akimbo are drawing both local and national attention. Their debut EP, "You Want To", released in November of 2009, is playing in heavy rotation 89.3 The Current and has been featured in national blogs such as Largehearted Boy and KEXP. With a full length release planned for the summer of 2010, The Arms Akimbo are primed to infuse the indie music scene with the vim and dynamism imbued both in their songs and their live performances.
The band draws its influences from both the British indie scene of the past few decades as well as present-day American indie groups. Their sound oscillates from The Jam and Elvis Costello to The Strokes and The Libertines, with a handful of stops in-between. This sound, mixed with their mutual proclivity for Motown, gives The Arms Akimbo a melodic edginess that harkens back to a long musical tradition while, at the same time, strongly resonates with contemporary audiences.
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