Album Notes

The Action Is. Maybe the critics say it best:

"Sonically charged songs."
"Tersely economical melodies."
"Crackling energy."
"Nothing short of inspired."

How do you work up to that?

The band started in Austin, Texas, as Hotwheels Jr.1 Their debut CD, Head Driver, produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, ...Trail of Dead, Sixteen Deluxe), was very well-received at college radio, charting in the top twenty on several college stations throughout the country.

But there is a downside to that kind of national attention, and after a miserably one-sided conversation with the lawyers from Mattel they were forced to surrender the name that you can still hear mentioned around Austin when people start playing the "Whatever happened to...?" game. Don't worry, kiddies, the Wheels are back - and yes, they brought the thunder with them.

After a little soul-searching and a great deal of songwriting, the band re-emerged as The Action Is. New name, new songs, new sonic overload, new attitude. They then recorded their latest release, Blackbelt, at the Bubble with Steven Hall and Chris Smith (Sixteen Deluxe, Young Heart Attack). A regional tour followed, and the album went on to chart on CMJ for six consecutive weeks.

Their style has been described as crafty and intelligent, with influences reminiscent of early Sonic Youth and The Pixies. Their new music takes their songwriting to another level by adding elements of The Stones, MC5, and The Who. Their incendiary live shows continue to add to their reputation and loyal following whenever they play.

The band is currently recording demo tracks for a new album and performing regularly. Their latest video for "The Furthest Distance Between Here and There," featured on the AS Records indie compilation, Ear Candy, compilation 1, debuted in the top ten on the Austin Music Network and stayed there for five weeks. The track is also getting good airplay on both Austin indie stations 101X and 107.7 The End. The band was recently signed to Fifth Column, an Austin-based artist development company, who have promised to make the band famous - and rich beyond their imagination.

The Action Is: Mark Bradley (guitars), Adam Farina (vocals and guitar), Kristina Recla (bass, vocals), Jake Perlman (drums)





1Hot Wheels is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc. It is used here strictly for informational purposes, and its use does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by Mattel, Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries. There - you vultures happy?