We got an email yesterday from the desk of Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney:
"Hey [Smoking Section],
One of my current favorite bands is playing new york december 2 at mercury and december 5 at the cake shop. they are called strange boys and are releasing their debut in february on in the red. they are the shit."
So, last night we went down to the Mercury Lounge and, sure enough, the Strange Boys were the shit!!!
Led by singer and guitarist Ryan Sambol -- a superstar in the making -- the quartet hails from Austin, Texas, and their sound hearkens back to Nuggets-esque 60s garage rock.
The kids released an EP in '05 called States Newest Noise Makers, and they've come a long way in the last three years.
We implore you to click here now to check out new tracks on their Myspace. (Start with newer stuff like "Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up"). And, like Pat said, their full-length debut is out in early '09.
And all of you in the East and Southeast -- in Boston, Philly, Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, Baton Rouge and Austin -- check their tour dates. The Strange Boys will be playing in town over the next two weeks.
Those of you in NYC, we'll see y'all Friday at Cake Shop.
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Don | November 19, 2009 8:09 PM
It doesn't really matter if they were fucking millionaires. They're music is amazing.
Also Iv Read that the lead singer was the only kid at his high school not to graduate.
Ronny | August 14, 2009 3:50 PM
Well That May or may Not Be True
Iv Heard That They are From Dallas
It Doesn't really Matter if they have money or not. Because They make Good Music.
and some of the greatest bands and Minds come out of the suburbs.
Anonymous | July 24, 2009 7:45 AM
Funny that I read someone saying they are from denton, austin, fort worth, whatever. i notice that in interviews they always lie about where they are from.
just to clarify, they are from one of the richest cities in the united states, highland park, texas. that's one of the richest suburbs in the entire country.
McLean Jones | July 13, 2009 12:18 PM
I met these guys in Lubbock, TX before and after they rocked the stage. They still sound young but they are on the right track. It sounded like a mix between The Beatles, Kings of Leon, and Bob Dylan...who can say no to that up and comming combo.
Thomas Harney | June 15, 2009 11:41 AM
Their New Album is Quite Possibly The Best Album To Come Out Of Texas in the past decade.
It also may be The Best Album To Come out in 2009.
These Guys Have an amazing vision. And Whats Impressive is that they have such command over their Sound and they're still so young.
The Lyrics are an amazing breed between Lou Reed and Bob Dylan.
The Strange Boys Are Where It's At. Period
jf whiteside | April 17, 2009 11:01 PM
i played a show at the stork club in oakland with these lil' bastard's three years ago cos' gris-gris-greg asked me to. we had no idea who they were and there were like 15 people in attendance. when they went on, they just... fucking killed it. they were so good in fact, that they have a tendency to put other people on their instruments (literally giving their instruments to people in the audience), and still get people begging for more- without skipping a beat. we smoked them out right in front of the venue and realized that the show was still going on. at that point we learned two things: the first being that only one of them (at the time) was of legal drinking age, so they had to hang out in their van outside of the bar for the whole night, and secondly, the whole deal about being able to walk offstage, and still have the music going on, wasn't the first time it had happened- and i'm pretty sure it won't be the last. our set went pretty well, and theirs was amazing. in all it was one of the best nights of music i've ever experienced, and it totally restored my faith in actually playing music- just simple back to basics r&b, no pretense. DON'T FUCK WITH THESE GUYS- they've earned it (whatever "it" is). if your band plays a show with them, make sure you go on first (like we did) or they'll blow your ass off the stage... oh yeah, one more thing. between both bands (strange boys + convertible), we only made five bucks that night. total.
Austinite | March 23, 2009 11:50 PM
As an avid Austin music fan I can say these guys are very solid. They put on a great show and their music really is catchy. I obviously wouldn't say they're anything groundbreaking, but what they do, they do well.
I would however say that they are not authentic. They have "read the book" if you know what I mean. They show up drunk, are brats, and think that they are the shit.
Again, solid band. But they put on a show in more ways than one.
Devlin | March 4, 2009 11:05 PM
Great Lake Swimmers are one of the worst bands I have ever heard. The Strange Boys aren't for pretentious little hipsters who get their music opinion from Pitchfork. They're one of the best bands I've heard in a long while so I would recommend them to anyone.
yeprock | February 6, 2009 9:14 AM
I just tried listening to Strange Boys again. I have to wonder what it is you are "smoking" in the Smoking Section that enables you to enjoy this band. Let me tell you all something: Just sounding like crap doesn't make you orginal, or fresh, or hip. People think just because The Velvet Underground and Captain Beefheart had low-fi detuned sounds that you can just pick up any old turd and throw it against the wall and it will stick.
Go and listen to some Great Lake Swimmers and then tell me which is a real band and which is a bunch of hacks.
yeprock | February 5, 2009 6:52 PM
listened to enough to know they suck...
Anonymous | January 26, 2009 9:08 PM
"These strange boys will end up in the same category as the strokes, kings of leon, franz ferdinand, arctic monkeys: a great fucking band."
Hah.
r.hays | January 20, 2009 2:56 PM
They are a good new band, I have seen them twice in Dallas. True they may live in Austin now but they are from Denton I believe. I heard that they left a previous label because the powers that be wanted to change teir lo-fi sound, that is how you take the power back. I like them for that story alone.
Nancy | January 18, 2009 12:08 PM
A great band that doesn't care about commercialism. Instead, they prefer to play what they believe. Probably one of the most authentic bands out there right now.
Anonymous | January 16, 2009 10:53 AM
The only thing these guys have in common with the strokes is that they're rich kids floated by their parents, except they're from Dallas, not NYC.
I mean, at least the strokes carried time and had a little variation.
Tom | January 16, 2009 10:47 AM
Agreed w Jeffer.
Boring knock off. How do these guys not fall asleep during their sets?
Doucher | January 10, 2009 5:26 PM
Met these guys at a show and let me into the show for free on the guestlist. nicest dudes who got a great new sound compared the the garbage out now. Jeffer can go eat his pretentious self and start his own garage band
Jeffer | January 2, 2009 6:28 PM
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. these guys have pretty much copied (ehhem, ripped off) 60's grunge rock and the strokes, combined it with piss-poor singing and are passing it off as talent? Our society really is out of touch with true musical talent if this can be described as "good" by anyone.
Lisa Matthews | December 22, 2008 4:27 PM
Hi guys - awesome stuff. Your dad is in the office working with me on Jonathan's Place issues - this is awesome stuff. I will forward to my sons Joey and Phillip - bet you have run into both of them in Dallas and/or awesome.
Cook stuff guys - I'm so proud of you. I want a front row seat when you are in Dallas....or better yet, come to Panama and play - you have a place to stay.
Lisa Matthews,
Jonathan's Place
lmatthews@kidnet.org
RMike | December 5, 2008 6:09 PM
They are the shit, indeed. I invited them to Fort Wayne on Thanksgiving, and they delighted everyone who saw them. Very nice kids, also. I wish them all the best.
NaTe | December 5, 2008 12:19 AM
Just got back from seeing them. Very Good! Got a $5 cd from the band that has 7 tracks from the new album. Pretty good stuff!!!
Thanks for the recommendation Smoking Section!
Judi | December 4, 2008 6:58 PM
It's about time y'all found out about these guys! They've been the SHIT in Texas for YEARS!!!!! Can't wait to see you at Emo's XOXO
Bob | December 4, 2008 5:39 PM
I think they are the next coming of THE KINKS! I'm 54 and i haven't heard anything this good in a while.
anonimo | December 4, 2008 12:06 PM
These strange boys will end up in the same category as the strokes, kings of leon, franz ferdinand, arctic monkeys: a great fucking band.
TBE | December 4, 2008 10:27 AM
These guys are great. Definatly a new but old sound. I plan on checking them out soon.
cmn | December 4, 2008 9:05 AM
These guys are great, saw them earlier this year and they put on a great show....agree with Carney's opinion...they are the shit.
Anonymous | December 4, 2008 8:31 AM
black keys are a band, but....come on
Anonymous | December 3, 2008 5:45 PM
get a new wife then, but don't take ur marital frustrations out on the strange boys. they're pretty damn good.
NaTe | December 3, 2008 3:58 PM
Like the sound. I'll check them out at Johnny Brendas in Philly tomorrow. For those that don't know...Johnny Brendas is a GREAT venue. If you are in Philly check it out.
dan.shamrock | December 3, 2008 3:39 PM
wow...that's really NOT good...i wasted my time listening to them yell and whine, i get enuff of that at home from my wife