The Walking Sticks

When was the last time you had the chance to be in a music video shoot at a concert? The Walking Sticks gave fans that opportunity at their show last Saturday at DC9, which doubled as the shoot for the group’s newest video, “One Sweet Thing.”

The D.C. trio treated the audience to a non-stop set of nine covers and original songs before the cameras started rolling. The group opened with “Bang,” and instantly filled the room with gentle synth sounds over a hip hop drumbeat reminiscent of ’90s pop. Chelsea Lee and twin brothers Max and Spencer Ernst then added a three-part vocal harmony that was as smooth as the vibe that began to spread throughout the intimate space.

The three musicians were accompanied on stage by three keyboards, one guitar, one bass, a dozen shining silver stars hanging above their heads and three styrofoam cutouts. Painted cotton candy pink, these large props spelled the words “ONE,” “SWEET” and “THING.” Purple and pink lights gleamed down on the stage, giving concertgoers the feeling of being in a bubble gum-themed sweet sixteen party. The set was fitting, considering the title of their five-track EP, Pop Dreams, which will be released on November 11.
As the first song ended, the audience made no hesitation to show its love, and the night was just beginning. The trio then picked up the pace with a cover of Justin Timberlake’s “Señorita,” followed by the tropical original “Send the Night.”

The beachy vibes continued with an untitled new song. Over a hip hop beat that contained plenty of high-hats, Lee showed off her range of vocal capabilities, flawlessly switching from a sensual, breathy voice to strong belting. The band bounced to the rhythm synchronously with the audience.

The non-stop set continued with more originals, like “Real Thing,” “Jungle” and “Had Enough,” which got the crowd snapping along on beat. At this point, it clearly wasn’t a secret that The Walking Sticks are masters of genre-blending—however, they really solidified it with the next song. “Come On Baby” began with vocals from Spencer Ernst that sounded Beatles-esque, as if he was channeling John Lennon’s vocals in “I Am the Walrus.” As Spencer continued singing the vintage-sounding hook, Lee joined in with more rock-styled vocals on top of it.


“If you weren’t dancing before, now you really have to dance,” Lee said as she introduced the last song of their set. The crowd couldn’t resist following her request during “Name On It.” The funky vibes had everyone in the room nodding along to the beat.

Finally, band and audience prepared for the main event, and the crowd was more than ready to show off its dance moves in front of the camera. Lee and the Ernst brothers demonstrated dance steps to “One Sweet Thing,” and the crowd joined in, swaying to the beat. Waving one finger in the air, everyone in the intimate venue sang along to the catchy hook “one sweet thing on my mind, got one sweet thing” over and over until the night ended. - Iana Kozelsky of D.C Music Download

Here's a nice little synth-pop jam to add to your must-listen playlist.

The Walking Sticks' new single, "Send The Night," is a refreshing and breezy ride into a care-free three minutes and 36 seconds of dream pop bliss. The rigid guitar dances atop the 80s synth while the twinkling keyboards add a perfect accent to the sexy and danceable beat. The female vocals lend a lovely feminine touch.

This single is taken from The Walking Sticks' Send The Night EP. Check it out! - Indie Shuffle by Christiana Bartolini

By Reese Higgins (Sept 26, 2013)

Standout Track: No. 1, "Send the Night," a mildly funky pop tune crafted by the Silver Spring twinsMax and Spencer Ernst, 23, and McLean vocalist Chelsea Lee, 22. A synthesized flute opens the track like the credit music of a spaghetti western. Somewhere behind these moody synths, a villain lurks: “Left me standing bare in the river/Took all my clothes, threw them to the summer,” Lee sings.

Musical Motivation: Lee wrote the lyrics based on a relationship that turned sour. She says the original chorus “was a little bit too dark,” so the band reworked it. “What’s the meaning of American life?” is now the song’s big question. With that addition, the tune “was no longer just about that friendship that went south,” Spencer says.

Santa Cause: The EP, which is available as a free download on Bandcamp, is a modest release for Lee and the Ernst brothers, who have already tangoed with the music industry. The Ernsts had a publishing contract until last year, and Lee was previously signed to Atlantic Records, which released her debut solo album, 18 and Alive, in 2011. But they all started out humbly enough. The brothers began writing music together at age 5, wanting to get on the good side of a neighborhood Santa. "We believed he was Santa," Spencer says. "And we thought, 'Shit, we gotta write him a good song.'" Lee, on the other hand, was just a shy kid who liked to sing in the shower, until one day, when her dad signed her up for surprise voice lessons. "And basically I wanted to throw up the whole day, I was so nervous," she says.
Listen to "Send the Night" after the jump. The band plays the Takoma Park Street Festival on Oct. 6.
- Washington City Paper