The Ettes
Gig Seeker Pro

The Ettes

Bayonne, New Jersey, United States | MAJOR

Bayonne, New Jersey, United States | MAJOR
Band Rock Alternative

Calendar

Music

Press


"The Ettes LP ‘Wicked, Will’"

The Ettes are something-old and something-new in one fabulous package of a tough-as-nails power-trio. The group, currently based out of Nashville, delivers a powerful beat-punk record with a 60’s pop twist on their fourth studio album Wicked Will. Produced by Liam Watson (The Kills, White Stripes) and available August 2, 2011 the group immediately sets out on an extensive tour in support of the new album including a Livestream from The Knitting Factory on August 3.
Coco Hames (vocals, guitar), Jem Cohen (bass) and Poni Silver (drums) have found a voice in Nashville in the last three years, and returning to Liam Watson as a producer was just the thing to give these seasoned musicians a voice, and boy what a voice indeed. Comfortable in their own skin and willing to tell it like it is, Wicked Will is a glimpse into the hard heart of a woman who as been wronged, and who has done wrong. “Excuse” is the first single off the album and leads out with a fuzzy bass rhythm that doesn’t let up, full on rage is bursting from the seams and gives the listener an idea of what to expect from the next 13 tracks. Coco’s voice is reminiscent of a 60’s girl group lead, one could imagine her singing for the Ronettes.
Part of the charm of this group is the gritty and true-to-life lyrics that tell the tale of some old souls. “Teeth” is a standout, with a slow easy rhythm and honky-tonk feel the story is one we’d expect to hear in a dark bar, and after too many beers. on’t be surprised if this song gets picked up for a Tarantino flick with dark imagery and catchy hook it would certainly be at home.
“My Heart” is a jangling number, country in roots but made modern with Coco’s clever lyrics and sharp delivery, reminiscent of Wanda Jackson’s “you do what I say” attitude and she’s not delivering a warning but making a statement that makes clear she’s aware of what’s happening…. “I mean what do I expect/To put a rope around your neck/And just declare you property/Well babe you know it isn’t me” Poni Silver and Jem Cohen knock it out of the park on this track, the solid percussion and bass create a stage for Coco’s voice, and she uses it to full advantage. Lee Hazleton’s “My Baby Cried All Night Long” gets reworked and delivered without apology. This smartly covered number ties the album together, and suddenly it’s clear that the album is delivering the tale of a tumultuous love.
“The Worst There Is” closes the album and ends the half-hour ride with an overwhelming sense of realization. “When you’re the worst there is/there is nothing to fear/that’s why you and I are here.” Again, the country vibe is strong but the cutting lyrics and clean delivery make this song stand out in a modern way. Delivering with an air of finality it’s seems a shame that the album ends at all, however there could be no better ending. In truth this album is good, very good and deserves a listen. The Ettes have found a sound that perfectly showcases their playing talent and makes for a sexy and hard-hitting live show.
By Meredith Underhill - Our Vinyl.Com


"Ettes Wicked Will"

Following the career of the Ettes has always been a pure pleasure - the Nashville trio has consistently moved from strength to strength, with each LP being better than the last. Wicked Will doesn't feel like the quantum leap between Look at Life Again Soon and the frankly amazing Do You Want Power, but that doesn't mean it's a weak record. Far from it, in fact - the album teems with strong songs and performances.

Leader Coco sounds as assured handling buzzing pop tunes like "Trouble With You" and "My Heart" as she does snarling pounders like "You Never Say" and "Excuse." The threesome indulges in a little folk rock ("Teeth"), a spot of Spaghetti western acid balladry ("The Worst There Is"), a throbbing tribal groove ("One By One") and some savory psychedelia ("You Were There"). This isn't dilettantism - the band has such a firm grasp on its craft that not only does it handle every stylistic variation with aplomb, but it imprints its own distinctive, tuneful personality on every track.

Moving back to the quick-and-dirty presentation of their early work (a by-product of Coco's busbabe's holiday in the Parting Gifts with the Reigning Sound's Greg Cartwright, perhaps; the album also finds them reunited with British producer Liam Watson) the Ettes keep Wicked Will simple and memorable, no matter which of their musical facets they choose to flash. - Blurt.com


"The Ettes on Virgin Mobile Live"

We caught up with Coco, Poni and Jem of The Ettes hot on the heels of their epic new album release Wicked Will, recorded at the fantabulous and historical Toerag Studios in London. It was also the eve of their North American tour, and you can just hear it in their voices that they are amped to get cracking on the road. Nothing was off topic, and if you’d like to know who THEIR favorite “-ettes” band is, give a listen. Keep on top of their live dates here, and be sure to snap up one of their new vinyl 7-inches from Sympathy for the Record Industry when they drop! There are 3 in the series – each bandmember got to choose the artwork and the b-side to the single for “Excuse”. Now that’s teamwork. - Virgin Mobile.Com


"The Ettes on the Evolution of Their Sound"

Lindsay “Coco” Hames and Maria “Poni” Silver, two thirds of the rock trio The Ettes, talk with WSJ’s Jim Fusilli about their distinctive sound and their new album “Wicked Will.” - Wall Street Journal.Com


"Ettes Wicked Will"

Nashville rock trio Ettes has some rage issues—and the band is not afraid to take them out on you. Led by the slight Southern drawl of Lindsay “Coco” Hames, Ettes’ fourth LP since forming in 2004 is upfront and edgy, each lyric prickling with unbridled honesty.


Opener “Teeth” starts with Hames’ voice sounding innocent and childlike against the soothing yet suspenseful guitar melody. The vocals feel purposeful, like every word was selected to elicit the most menace with the least amount of effort, and the results are taunting without being condescending. There is a rough edge to Hames’ voice, but rather than being overemphasized, the growl is always just to the side—a not-so-gentle auditory middle finger reminding you not to be fooled by Hames’ otherwise pure voice. When she sings, “The funny thing about it is/I know you got what I need/When every time you smile/I can tell you’re just showing your teeth,” you can feel her refusal to resign to the situation and, more than that, you sense her perceptiveness. While the gentle drum rhythm is almost a lullaby and her tone would be suitable for such, the biting words show that she’s just playing a game with a temporary persona—no amount of sugarcoated niceties can hide her tough nature.


That feeling comes up time and time again throughout the album, and nowhere is it clearer than on single “The Pendulum.” Musically, the song is drastically different from “Teeth.” Its beat is far more danceable on the verses and feels as close to pop as this garage rock album ever gets. But when the guitars turn fuzzy on the chorus as Hames advises, “Don’t believe/Everything you hear/Gather all you cherish/And keep it quite near,” the connection between the tracks is instantly clear: Every drawn-out syllable is laced with a self-congratulatory snarl. And when Maria “Poni” Silver’s up-tempo drum rhythm comes back in for the next verse, Hames instantly reverts to a tone so falsely sweet that you can practically see her smirking through the line, “I can be your friend/Or I could just go and break you.”


Ettes juggles emotions on this album, covering a wide range over the course of these 13 tracks: There’s rage (“Excuse”), stoic heartbreak (“You Were There”), mocking (“My Heart”), frustrating impatience (“You Never Say”), rebellion (“Trouble With You”), reckless warning (“I Stayed Too Late”) and, finally, fearful uncertainty (“The Worst There Is”). Wicked Will offers a sprint through Ettes’ tumultuous world, and in the end, the whole ride lasts for little more than half an hour. Oddly, the one emotion that the band avoids—joy—is the one that it leaves you with in its wake.
- CMJ.Com


"Music Monday: The Ettes' Girlish Swagger"

I don't listen to very many female bands. I listen to female singers and pop stars but for some reason, my favorite bands are all fronted by men. That's a shame, really.

I need more lady rockers in my life, which is why I was pleased to discover the Ettes, a Nashville foursome with a female drummer and lead singer who play dirty garage rock with just as much howl and bite as anyone.

The group's fifth album, Wicked Will, came out earlier this month. It was produced by Liam Watson, who has also worked with the Kills and the White Stripes—two bands with whom the Ettes share a similar bleak, bluesy feel. Wicked Will is heavy on the guitar riffs and reverb, with singer Lindsay “Coco” Hames shifting her sweet, childlike voice into snarl whenever it suits her.

(LIST: All-TIME 100 Best Albums)

On the opening track, “Teeth," Hames affects a haunting twang as she offers up some pretty caustic lyrics. “Every time you smile," she sings, "I can tell you're just showing your teeth.” It's a stripped down, relatively quiet number that leaves you wanting more. The band quickly obliges with “Excuse” and “The Pendulum,” two songs so intense you might need to smoke a cigarette when they're over. Wicked Will also contains a cover of "My Baby Cried All Night Long," a Lee Hazelwood song that first appeared on Nancy Sinatra's 1966 album How Does That Grab You. But Nancy just cooed it—the Ettes run the song ragged.

The band hasn't released any music videos for Wicked Will yet. So instead, here's "Crown of Age," which appeared on the soundtrack for Drew Barrymore's movie, Whip It. You know, the one where Ellen Page joins a roller derby.

- Time.Com


"EXCLUSIVE: Patton Oswalt in Hilarious Ettes Video"

What if a director squandered an $81 million music video budget and all the band had left was a bunch of footage of themselves acting oddly in front of a CGI green screen? That's the scenario imagined in the hilarious new video from kickass Nashville trio, the Ettes, directed by The Best Show host Tom Scharpling and starring comedian Patton Oswalt -- as Tom Scharpling. It premieres below.

The clip for "Excuse," off the just-released Wicked Will, opens with Oswalt/Scharpling's "explanation" about what happened. "Boy, we had some big plans for this video," he deadpans. "We were going to knock your socks off, and make Avatar look like The Breakfast Club." After revealing that he blew the aforementioned $81 million -- "I'm a bad guy, with a lot of deep vices" -- he encourages viewers to use their imaginations to flesh out the video's unfinished action scenes. "That's when your brain is gonna kick in and create a wonderland that's gonna make Tim Burton throw himself under a bus."
The Ettes had long been fans of Scharpling, and his popular The Best Show broadcasts on listener-supported NYC-area radio station WFMU. They first discussed the possibility of collaborating on a video late last year, and the band rang up Scharpling as soon as their album was finished.

"I could not have been more excited because they are completely game for stuff and have a great sense of humor about themselves," Scharpling tells SPIN. Says the Ettes' Coco Hames: "Comedy and music are so related, and when Tom started doing music videos, we were super stoked."

Scharpling recruited Oswalt to participate -- "I'm such a fan of his other videos, so of course I said yes," the comedian says -- and worked with artist Zack Soto to create the faux storyboards used in the video to show the viewer what was supposed to happen, CGI-wise.

Now Scharpling -- who says he draws inspiration for his music video work from indie directors Phil Morrison and Peyton Reed, and early ABBA videos -- hopes someone will tap him to helm a project with a real-life big budget. "I'm still waiting for someone to let me shoot something like 'Space Lord' by Monster Magnet or 'Got the Life' by Korn," he says. "I'm not joking!" - Spin.com


"The Ettes on Last.FM"

The Ettes, the trio made up of Lindsay “Coco” Hames (vox/guitar), Maria “Poni” Silver (drums), and Jeremy “Jem” Cohen (bass), stopped by the Last.fm Discover studio on the day their 4th studio album, Wicked Will, was released. Recorded in London, England at Toe Rag Studios, and once again produced by Liam Watson, this album is out via the Krian Music Group in partnership with the band’s own imprint Fond Object. Their debut album Shake The Dust, released on September 12, 2006, along with Veruca Salt‘s IV album, was the last on the ultra-cool Sympathy For The Record Industry label. But lo and behold, if you are seeking the vinyl release of the new album, it is out on Sympathy For The Record Industry! Let’s kick off the session with the single, “Excuse.”

- Last.FM


Discography

"Wicked Will" 2011 Krian Music Group/Fond Object
"Do You Want Power" 2009 Ingrooves
"Look At Life Again Soon" 2008 Take Root Records
"Shake The Dust" 2006 Sympathy For The Record Industry
"Eat The Night" 2005 Self Released

Photos

Bio

NASHVILLE, TN: THE ETTES return with Wicked Will, the fourth LP from the rowdy and relentless beat-punk trio Coco Hames (vocals, guitar), Jem Cohen (bass) and Poni Silver (drums) and their first on their own imprint Fond Object, a joint venture with Krian Music Group. It reunites the band with analog guru/producer Liam Watson (Bobby Long, The Kills, White Stripes), who recorded their 2005 debut, Shake the Dust at his analog
Toe Rag Studios.

Its been a whirlwind two years since The Ettes last release, Do You Want Power, which landed the band on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and found them touring with Nashville cohorts The Greenhornes and the Dead Weather. They also made their first appearances at Lollapolooza and Austin City Limits.

Nashville has been the home of rockers THE ETTES for nearly three years now. The band started in L.A., when pals Coco and Poni were working a retail gig and decided to form a band. Inspired by the girl gang at the center of the 1975 film, The Switchblade Sisters, they created a sound that mirrored the films' stars: sexy and tough as nails. New Jersey native Jem Cohen joined on bass and the group spent time in New York, LA and London before finding a home in Nashvegas.

"Sometimes wanderlust can be a blessing," says Coco. "If we didn't constantly get the itch to keep moving, we wouldn't get as much done." And what they've done is quite impressive.

In 2005, THE ETTES self-financed a trip to London's Toe Rag studios, and recorded with analog extraordinaire Liam Watson (the White Stripes, the Kills) releasing 2006's Shake the Dust on Sympathy for the Record Industry. After extensive US and European touring, the band returned to Toe Rag for their sophomore LP Look At Life Again Soon (Take Root 2008), and, following that release, toured with the Black Keys, the Detroit Cobras, and Kings of Leon.

In 2009, after releasing a 7" and EP featuring tracks recorded with Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach, THE ETTES invited garage legend Greg Cartwright to produce Do You Want Power in their new hometown of Nashville. Following the release the band embarked on a busy two years of festival and tour dates, including stints with Juliette Lewis, the Dead Weather and the Greenhornes. The band has also landed high profile key synch placements in TV shows such as NCIS Los Angeles, Sons Of Tucson and Entourage, as well as the Drew Barrymore film Whip it.

In 2010, THE ETTES called it quits with their label, TAKE ROOT RECORDS, and started recording in London with Liam Watson. They also returned to their original rock trio formation, after touring as a four piece. The group is lean, mean and formidable, with Jem often playing lead on bass and Coco taking it to a new level on guitar.

The 14 tracks that would become Wicked Will (KRIAN MUSIC GROUP/FOND OBJECT) were recorded in late 2010 and early 2011 and reflect the bands growth as songwriters and performers. Its a timeless, classic rock and roll album that respects the past while remaining current and vital. And like all good rock and roll, these songs come from the gut and tickle your nether regions. THE ETTES wouldnt have it any other way.