Album Notes

A fiercely unique young band that breaks down the pieces of New York Rock and resurrects them as a new, dangerous creature, Action Painters slay dragons with their soaring melodies, slinky grooves, and undeniable soul. They are from New York City.

In early 2006, Tom Haslow (guitar/vox) left NYC synth-pop darlings Unisex Salon to start Action Painters. After finding Amit Wehle (drums) and Allison Zatarain (keys) in the Casual Encounters section of Craigslist (wait, you play guitar too?), they began rehearsing in a frigid Brooklyn basement before moving to the Chelsea gallery district of Manhattan. Later, Joe Hankin (guitar) and Nic Daughtry (bass) joined, each adding incredible musical bravado to the proceedings. Over countless subterranean nights, they forged a sound that's part Live-at-Leeds mod swagger and part T-heads new wave shimmy, shaken and stirred with a bit of Memphis soul by way of Manchester.

The result: blistering, irresistible pop tunes carried by Haslow's confident, full, Verlainian tenor. Skin-tight musicianship, cheeky lyrics, and deadly hooks. It's indie pop with a heart of gold and the eye of a tiger.

In their first year, the AP brought the fury to NYC hotspots such as Tiswas 2.0 at Annex, Galapagos, and Pianos, as well as Universities and towns throughout the Northeast. They were selected for the 2006 CMJ Music Festival after playing only three shows on the merit of their memorable tunes, explosive live show, and the fellatio skills of their drummer.

In the fall of 2006, the AP began work on their sprawling, 7-song debut, Chubby Dancer, with indie producer Ron A. Shaffer (Ambulance Ltd., Tricky). Slated for release in Spring 2007, the record is a sparkling document of the first year of the group's young life. It showcases the band's gift for melody on songs like Sooner or Later and Cold Dead Corner, and its groove-punk soul on the addictive Absolutely Clear and the fiery, shout-along anthem Chasing Pixies. The album reflects the tough and the tender, the agony and ecstasy, the sounds and substance of life in New York City. It will be available on iTunes, Amazon, at shows, and at your mom's house.