USELESS KEYS
Los Angeles, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"With a name like Useless Keys, one might be tempted to dismiss them as another one of those bands that isn't opening any new doors. This is not the case with Useless Keys, the new project of former Front frontman Michael Bauer with Rory Modica, Guylaine Vivarat (ex-Molecules) and Michael Regilio (ex-Green and Yellow TV). Discovering this upstart quartet is like discovering one of those really cool old-timey keys- you know, the really long ones with the two teeth-that you might hold on to because of a weird feeling that maybe it someday might unlock something mysterious. In just three songs, Useless Keys' self-titled debut EP showcases a short but sweet mish-mosh of sixties melodies and modern rhythms, droney guitars and sweet vocals and delivers a few unexpected surprises. The disc starts strong with a disturbed Ray Davies-style melody on "Down Threw" and "White Noise" manages to resurrect the power of 90's-style climbing guitar riffs in a way that actually works when mixed up with dark undercurrents that seem to be the band's signature. And--and this is something I hadn't thought possible-- the Floydian guitar solo in "It's All Made Up" actually doesn't sound cheesy. From the looks of things, Useless Keys are worth keeping around."-----Linda Rapka
- LA Record
Only a couple of years ago, Michael Bauer was making music to feed his twentysomething angst. Now, fronting the L.A. quartet Useless Keys, he’s making music that mirrors our unsettling times.
“John Lennon said art should be a reflection of the time period you live in, and I think what we’re doing now does,” Bauer says. “There’s an dark current of uncertainty everywhere. What we’re doing sounds foreboding, and I hope that the ominous quality captures what it’s like to be an American in 2009.”
* ||| Exclusive download: “White Noise”
The foursome’s debut EP, which will be out after the first of the year, is the stuff of late nights and distant horizons, taut and expansive and cinematic and not a little bit Floydian. Its title is “Is the Painting Changing?” — and no matter whether the metaphorical painting is, it’s certain that Bauer, who led the Fugazi-inspired trio the Front until the band broke up on Jan. 1, 2008, has. He calls it a “natural progression,” but it’s more a startling metamorphosis, one that Bauer attributes to the friendship and tutelage of guitarist Michael Regilio.
“The Front was the band where I drank whiskey, turned up my guitar real loud and shouted into the microphone,” he says. “In Useless Keys, I’m actually conscious of the whole package … It’s just maturing, I guess.”
Regilio was a driving force in the underrated L.A. power-pop band the Green and Yellow TV. After their respective former bands disintegrated in ’08, Bauer and Regilio would get together for lessons and jams sessions. “I saw Michael as someone I could learn a lot from — he went to Berklee, and he’s just a much better guitar player than I am,” Bauer says. “We started making demos in his bedroom, but we had no aspirations. He had something going on, I had something going on. … But then his project broke up, and I needed to plunge myself into something.”
The pair hooked up with drummer Rory Modica and bassist Guylaine Vivarat, and from their first show at Spaceland it was evident Useless Keys were a band to watch. Recent shows in New York, including one supporting the Rifles, went well, and they’ve been recording with producer Sheldon Gomberg (Rick Parker’s mix adds to the psychedelic vibe). The quartet is aiming high on its full-length album.
“Some people just record 12 songs and call it an album, but I’d like to do something more thought out,” Bauer says. “The albums I love are ones that have movement throughout, that are an experience from beginning to end. I like the kind of album you’d want to be listening to if you were driving down a two-lane road in the middle of the desert … New Mexico, 2 in the morning, with lightning-spiderwebs across the sky.”
“White Noise” is a good start.
||| Live: Useless Keys, supported by Samuel Stewart, Twinfight and Wrong Way Driver, plays Spaceland on Wednesday.
Photo by Laurie Scavo - Buzzbands.LA
With the Fugazi-inspired art-rock of his former trio the Front now in his rear-view mirror, singer-guitarist Michael Bauer has entered the vortex of psychedelic rock. In the new quartet Useless Keys, Bauer is joined by Rory Modica, Guylaine Vivarat (ex-Molecules) and Michael Regilio (ex-Green and Yellow TV). The foursome has only a few recordings under its belt, but its mix of ’60s fuzz, Nirvana angst and Floydian gravitas traps you in an arresting sonic cloud. “White Noise” is anything but; in fact, I can’t even count the colors.
Useless Keys plays Dec. 3 at Spaceland. - Buzzbands (Kevin Bronson LA Times)
Useless Keys at the Echo
L.A. four-piece guitar band Useless Keys do the soft-loud-soft thing that the Pixies and Nirvana perfected nearly two decades ago: Start slow and low to create tension, build it gradually, then cascade into a jumbo distorted surprise that turns drenched feedback into a thing of beauty. It's a formula, yes, but in their hands, it's one that retains some shock. The hooks are there, the meandering post-second-chorus weirdo bridges, the big finishes. "White noise and repetition," they sing on "White Noise," which is an apt description of their philosophy. If they're a bit predictable — and they are — it doesn't diminish the impact of their gorgeous melodies and truly impressive fury. Also on the bill are Free Energy (see music pick for Tuesday) and Moon Over Moscow. (Randall Roberts) - LA Weekly
When Michael Bauer left Fugazi-inspired “The Front” on New Years Day of 2008, he didn’t anticipate finding a new band so quickly. But after a series of fortunate events, Bauer found himself collaborating with Guylaine Vivarat, Michael Regilio, and Rory Modica to create what is now known as the Useless Keys.
If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of their debut EP, Is the Painting Changing. It features four solid songs that are waiting to give your ears the sound they’ve been waiting for. Check out Useless Keys below in our BeatCrave Fav series and if you like their sound as much as we do, vote for them in Friday’s poll! - BeatCrave
Useless Keys asked for the house lights to be dimmed during their set in the already nebulous El Cid. If that doesn't tell you how dark they can go, what will? Their collective sound is a faint whisper harkening back to the Doors intricate musical scape exploration. They intergrate an intense, delicate, dark, and deep combination of rock, blues, soul, with a smidge of pschyedelia. Their music holds and cradles the audience, hypnotizing the room. Listen to "White Noise" to get a hint of their genius. This band is a must see because you really must expeirence their music in order to grasp the wonderment created with their symbiotic performance. Currently touring the Pacific Northwest, they play Spaceland June 26th. - Examiner
Everyone’s got useless keys. Nobody knows where they come from, but you don’t dare throw them away in case they turn out to be important. Much like the new L.A. band Useless Keys. They feature former members of the Front, Molecules and the Green & Yellow TV, but they don’t really sound like any of those bands. Hazy, weary vocals sing druggy lyrics like “Arizona state highway/don’t let it define you” and “More valium, please/It helps me fall asleep,” as post-punk guitars spiral toward the clouds. There’s a celestial, Pink Floyd spaciness to songs like “It’s All Made Up,” from the Keys’ upcoming debut album. Psychedelic flourishes and a shoegazer storminess creep between the beats, which are mostly midtempo or slower, leaving plenty of room for head-nodding and trying to decipher such lyrics as “My baby’s got a shotgun ... You never hide your hat the way I want you to.” (Falling James) - LA Weekly
By Joe Fielder
Los Angeles' favorite new spooky/dreamy pop/rock act Useless Keys play next Monday for free at The Echo with Castledoor (and then on Sunday, June 14th at The Viper Room). We felt like it was long past time to interview the band -- who have been getting better and better in the last year since they first formed -- so we chatted with them via IM mid-last week, right before they played a last minute show over at Spaceland.
Haven't heard Useless Keys yet? Go listen to tracks from their upcoming EP over on their myspace page and come back to read all about them.
Then figure out how to clear your schedule for Monday night...
UselessKeys (11:06:22 PM): Hey, there. This is Useless Keys.
RFSL (11:06:23 PM): Hey!
UselessKeys (11:06:31 PM): Where in the world are you?
RFSL (11:06:37 PM): I moved out to Boston for a job about six weeks back.
RFSL (11:06:44 PM): Everyone is there after or before practice?
UselessKeys (11:06:55 PM): We just got a last minute show at Spaceland and we just finished soundcheck.
RFSL (11:07:07 PM): Oh, excellent. Who are you playing with?
UselessKeys (11:07:39 PM): BM Linx from New York.
UselessKeys (11:08:05 PM): They seem like nice fellows so far.
RFSL (11:08:15 PM): Cool. Hope you guys have a good night.
RFSL (11:08:24 PM): Tell Mel and everyone I said hey.
UselessKeys (11:08:29 PM): I will.
UselessKeys (11:08:36 PM): She's working tonight, plus Sylvia at the back bar.
UselessKeys (11:08:45 PM): Solid Todd and Dia are djing.
RFSL (11:08:53 PM): Oh, cool. I miss Spaceland... And taco trucks. And a buncha other stuff.
RFSL (11:09:01 PM): So, you guys have been recording.
UselessKeys (11:09:15 PM): Yes, we just got back our six-song EP from mastering.
RFSL (11:09:21 PM): Excellent.
UselessKeys (11:09:25 PM): We put most of it up on the myspace already.
RFSL (11:09:32 PM): I really like what I've heard.
UselessKeys (11:09:37 PM): Thanks.
RFSL (11:09:37 PM): When is it coming out?
UselessKeys (11:09:46 PM): Probably within the next month or so.
UselessKeys (11:10:09 PM): We've been debating back and forth how to release it, what format, etc...
RFSL (11:10:15 PM): itunes?
UselessKeys (11:10:24 PM): i think we've all settled on definitely putting it out on vinyl.
UselessKeys (11:10:27 PM): And itunes.
RFSL (11:10:45 PM): Great. I'm all about itunes lately. And respect vinyl.
RFSL (11:11:00 PM): Did you guys record it yourselves? How did that come together?
UselessKeys (11:11:50 PM): Michael Regilio was in a band called The Green and Yellow TV and their last album "Sinister Barrier" was recorded by Sheldon Gomberg. Sheldon is the producer of our EP as well.
UselessKeys (11:12:09 PM): We recorded it at The Carriage House in Silver Lake.
RFSL (11:12:15 PM): Great. I liked The Green and Yellow TV.
RFSL (11:12:31 PM): You guys have an interesting background. You're all from good LA bands.
RFSL (11:12:52 PM): What's everyone's background? (So I don't fuck it up.)
UselessKeys (11:17:12 PM): I (Michael Bauer) am from St. Louis and moved out to Los Angeles in 2005, formed The Front and we disbanded in early 2008. I (Rory)/drums, moved here 2 years ago from Boston. I grew up playing in punk/hardcore bands blackflag type stuff and was looking to broaden my horizon. Michael Regilio is from Boston and was in The Green and Yellow TV and just played with Great Northern as their bass player for a couple tours. Guylaine is from France and used to be in various Silver Lake bands and did publicity for Brian Jonestown Massacre.
UselessKeys (11:17:29 PM): Sorry that took so long.....
RFSL (11:18:04 PM): It's hard to write a Reader's Digest version of a few years of each of your lives quickly.
RFSL (11:18:07 PM): No worries.
UselessKeys (11:18:16 PM): Totally.
RFSL (11:18:19 PM): So how did you guys end up together?
UselessKeys (11:18:54 PM): Michael Regilio and I started writing demos in 2007 just for fun.
UselessKeys (11:19:35 PM): We didn't have any aspirations for anything, my band The Front was still going and Michael Regilio was writing with other people so it was more or less just writing songs for the sake of it and for fun.
UselessKeys (11:20:35 PM): When The Front disbanded, Michael Regilio suggested bringing Rory to play drums, they met from a studio project.
UselessKeys (11:20:50 PM): We met Guylaine on craigslist.
UselessKeys (11:20:56 PM): Best find on craigslist ever.
RFSL (11:21:08 PM): I'm always amazed when that happens.
RFSL (11:21:18 PM): I think that's how The Happy Hollows met, too.
UselessKeys (11:21:40 PM): I was just telling Mel at Spaceland to put out an ad on craigslist for a drummer.
UselessKeys (11:21:44 PM): She's looking for one.
UselessKeys (11:22:03 PM): I told her for every fifty responses you get, there will be one worthwhile but it could work out, you never know.
RFSL (11:22:14 PM): It's true.
RFSL (11:2 - www.radiofreesilverlake.com
A few hours earlier, I had walked into The Roxy as Useless Keys wrapped up their opening set. I have to admit, I wish I had showed up a bit earlier to catch this four piece who (judging by one song) meet somewhere between Silversun Pickups and Brand New with a dash of Autolux 83 minutes after popping a Valium. If I know one thing from our five glorious minutes together, it’s that I need to seek them out again. - www.concertconfessions.com
Discography
EP - 'Is The Painting Changing' - mixed by Rick Parker (Von Bondies, B.R.M.C.)
Released digitally worldwide, January 19, 2010.
Single, 'White Noise' has charted the specialty charts in 2010. Both 'White Noise" and 'Down Threw' from the EP are getting radio airplay.
Photos
Bio
Think of the things you love best. Whether its a type of food or a place or a piece of art, what makes it interesting is its disparity. Its the coming together of diverse elements that spawns something remarkable. This is true for music, as well. Useless Keys, a four-piece rock band from Los Angeles, epitomizes the idea of deviating parts coming together to form a cohesive, engaging whole.
The band, which formed almost accidentally in early 2008, brings together four very different musicians, with very different musical sensibilities. Bauer and Regilio, who were both in other bands at the time, met through a mutual friend and began spending time writing songs, almost as a hobby. They wrote upwards of thirty songs, and when their former bands broke up it was natural to explore the creation of a new venue for their songwriting. Modica, who had been in Regilios old band, was pulled into the mix, and Vivarat a friend of both was brought in to complete the new formation.
We had three bands and all broke up, all around the same time, Bauer explains. We were the different parts from different bands that reassembled. Our old bands were not stylistically similar at all, but something about us getting together after those groups disbanded made sense.
The foursome played their first show at Spaceland in June of 2008 and quickly gained momentum in Los Angeles. Their music was picked up by many several radio stations, including KROQ, who also sponsored several shows, and along with ASCAP sponsored their February 2010 residency at the Echo in Los Angeles. The band has headlined area shows and played with bands like Warpaint, The Rifles, Free Energy, Band of Skulls, and Living Things. They've recently made trips to New York, playing the Mercury Lounge and Glasslands and upon returning have toured from San Diego to San Francisco and will continue to journey along the west coast to promote their debut EP, "Is The Painting Changing".
"Is the Painting Changing", a four-song EP, comes directly from the band without a label behind them. Recorded with Sheldon Gomberg and Rick Parker (BRMC, Von Bondies) exemplifies the bands fuzzed out, layered indie rock songs that draws from a range of musical styles and focuses on skilled instrumentation and clear innovation. White Noise explores the bounds of songwriting, eschewing a traditional format in favor of moody experimentation and arching sonic landscapes while Down Threw proffers a charming melody that sparkles through complex gradations. The four tracks meld together seamlessly, but each embraces its own tone and aesthetic.
We all have such different backgrounds, Bauer says. I think thats what makes a band interesting. You dont want to sound like any band who came before. The combination of four people from different listening backgrounds all putting in their two cents creates something new."
We all have such different backgrounds, Bauer says. I think thats what makes a band interesting. You dont want to sound like any band who came before. The combination of four people from different listening backgrounds all putting in their two cents creates something new."
"L.A. four-piece guitar band Useless Keys do the soft-loud-soft thing that the Pixies and Nirvana perfected nearly two decades ago..." LA Weekly
The foursomes debut EP, which will be out after the first of the year, is the stuff of late nights and distant horizons, taut and expansive and cinematic and not a little bit Floydian." - Buzzbands.LA
"This four piece who meet somewhere between Silversun Pickups and Brand New with a dash of Autolux 83 minutes after popping a Valium. If I know one thing from our five glorious minutes together, its that I need to seek them out again." - concertconfessions.com
"They intergrate an intense, delicate, dark, and deep combination of rock, blues, soul, with a smidge of pschyedelia. Their music holds and cradles the audience, hypnotizing the room. Listen to "White Noise" to get a hint of their genius." - Examiner.com
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