Smash Fahion Defined:
1. A talent or aptitude
2. Instinctive discernment
3. A distinctive elegance or style
4. A Los Angeles-based rock group known for their distinctive sense of style, infectious bittersweet songs and explosive stage show
Hello Kiddies...Curious about Smash Fahion are you? Well welcome!
Welcome to the world of Smash Fahion. A world of volume, flash, style & substance, a world that's sexy and absurd, the world according to Smash Fahion!.
"The Sex Pistols on acid", "Cheap Trick meets the Buzzcocks"...These are only a few comments on how people are reacting to this modern flash rock band. So pour a drink, light up a smoke, dim the lights & let me tell you the whole strange story......
Dandy Rock
There’s been lots of rumors and speculation of the origins of this band of rock and roll fancy lads. That they were once the house band at a private club owned by some of the worlds wealthiest decadents. Or the hushed whisper that Roger and Jami were born as Siamese twins separated at birth only to reunite 20 years later under a white Flying V guitar hanging on the wall at a local guitar store. While these tales of Smash Fahion folklore are neither confirmed nor denied by anyone close to the band it definitely makes for some great rock and roll mythology.
Smash Fahion's seeds were sewn when 2 kindred spirits found themselves sizing each other up at a Pleasure Club concert. “Id seen Roger around and he always looked and carried himself like a total star. He seemed like he didn’t give a shit,” recalls Jami. “I asked him if he was in a band. Of course he was, he was playing bass in a band but he wasn’t really that into it because he was a singer and wanted to sing again”. Realizing that they had similar tastes musically, these two Dandy’s got busy crafting what was to become the trademark Smash Fahion material. “Jami showed me some of his riffs, I was blown away” says Roger. “I been waiting all my life for him”.
With a set worth of great songs, Roger & Jami decided to take their music to the people and dress it up in a flamboyant Dandy Rock outfit dedicated to the delivery of pure entertainment, a direct response to the pretentious Silver Lake rock scene. "God how boring, everyone is so serious here" exclaimed Roger.
Now they needed the best rhythm section in L.A., an explosive rhythm section that could understand the dynamics of the material. Former Drummer Marc Contento had worked with Roger in a previous band and got a phone call. When he heard the early Smash Fahion songbook he eagerly signed on. “ I’ve always wanted to be in a flashy rock band with great songs. There’s enough variety in the set to always keep me excited” says Marc. His jazzy style was perfect. One down, one to go. The last to sign on was Screamin Lord Duff. “We knew we needed a Bass player that could carry the melody like old Motown or the great British bands. They all had great Bass players” says Jami. Fate intervenes when Roger runs into Bruce (aka S.L.F.)at a nightclub where the bass virtuoso was holding court while downing Martini after Martini after Martini. Many Martinis later and after long deep discussions on the state of rock music Bruce agreed to check out what Smash Fahion was all about. ‘After they got me down to rehearsal, they showed me a bunch of songs they put together. Needless to say I was impressed.” Bruce was in, the lineup complete. With his knowledge of theory and harmony as well as songwriting skills Bruce was the final element. They were Ready to Rock.
The Songs
And what a bunch of songs they are! Songs that arrive fully developed, some having a timeless “already a classic” feel. From balls out rockers to lush ballads, not many bands can cover as much ground, stylistically and emotionally as Smash Fahion. Punishing and Pugnacious on one moment, embracing Pop prettiness the next. Songs with surreal influenced lyrics, songs with Vaudeville flourishes and songs with go mental rave-ups. It’s all here! Then there’s the subject matter…Chasing rainbows, mile hight club, deviated septums, aging rock stars, sinful pigeons, waxing mustaches and ah yes…Bittersweet love songs. Influences can be heard (Beatles, Yardbirds, Sex Pistols, Cheap Trick, Faces, Big Star, Damned, Queen, Who, Bowie, Kinks, Brian Jones's Stones…, etc) yet unlike most of todays so-called Rock Acts, Smash Fahion are about inspiration instead of imitation. “Were not reinventing the wheel, were just putting new tires on it” states Roger.
The Rock Show
A Smash Fahion show is pure excitement. They are here to entertain you. The band onstage is an amalgamation of bright colors, bizarre shapes, scarves, sunglasses and cool guitars exuding attitude, humor and the utter confidence born of knowing your good. They take the stage like stars yet they have the right amount of self-depreciation irony. The visual match up of androgynous singer Roger with the equally androgynous gutarist Jami is a real sight for sore eyes. Are they brothers? lovers? One things for sure – a match up in the tradition of Tyler/Perry, Page/Plant, May/Mercury or Bowie/Ronson.
Roger, all snake hips, with rose in hand, singing his heart out about another lost love, is a master frontman. With his warm hearted stage demeanor, he hardly ever fails to connect with his audience.
Jami, resplendent in white form head to toe, ripping out sonic chunks of meat all so elegantly. Guitar histrionics are his forte, it is the essence of who he is.
Screamin Lord Duff to stage left rattling the fillings out of every sweet tooth in the house. Lord Duff leaves no note unplayed. His style is his own, impossible to duplicate. He truly is a sight to behold.
A working band that loves to play. Old fashioned showmanship with a solid work ethic. Smash Fahion have been paying an unending series of California club dates alongside such groups as Ian Hunter, Jet, The Flash Express, Tsar, Lo-Five, Arthur Lee and Love, The.88, The Zombies, Run Run Run, The Alarm, Missing Persons and countless other great bands. Smash Fahion boast an unshakeable and infectious belief on Rock and Roll. You want proof? Check ‘em out! The will rock you.
Smash Fahion have been in the studio with producers such as Dave Jerden (Janes Addiction, Stones), Warren Hewitt (Hot Hot Heat), and Jimmy Sloan (Fishbone, The Hangmen). The debut release called “The Gentlemen’s guide to Sophisticated Savagery” which will be out April 6th 2006. In the meantime please indulge yourself and step into the Dandifyed presence of Smash Fahion.
Rock On!
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