Harlem And Matador
June 17th, 2009 at 12:26 pm by Gerard
(l-r, Coomers, Curtis, Jose. In the background – not sure, but hopefully he won’t sue)
It’s a poorly kept secret around the office and the band’s hometown but one we can finally confirm — Matador has signed the Austin, TX trio HARLEM to a multi-record, worldwide deal.
Led by dual vocalists Michael Coomers and Curtis O’Mara (the duo switch between guitar and drums, both onstage and off), Harlem started in Tucson, AZ before relocating to Austin where they’ve generated a mountain of attention, both with their fantastic live shows and their self-issued 2008 LP/CD ‘Free Drugs’ (Female Fantasy — currently available via Matador Direct)
Pitchfork’s Roque Strew has hailed Harlem as “a marvel of cartoonishly masculine, crudely analog brevity”, while Gorilla Vs. Bear considers ‘Free Drugs’ to be “super infectious, instantly endearing”, and kindly supplying a quote that we’ll gladly take out of context, the Austin Chronicle’s Audra Schroeder has fallen preil to the album’s “anxious, stuttering charm”. I know, that all sounds highly suspicious, but anyone who’s heard ‘Free Drugs’ or witnessed Harlem laying waste to any number of shoebox sized venues (some of which, were in fact, shoeboxes) can attest, the band’s casual virtuosity is only eclipsed by their otherworldly songwriting skills.
Recently joined by bassist Jose Boyer, Harlem will be recording their 2nd album this summer for release on Matador in 2010.
Harlem – MySpace
June 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Congratulations to all involved but why is the announcement accompanied by a still from O.C. and Stiggs?
June 17th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
(turbo’s identity hidden to protect the innocent)
June 17th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Haha, that’s Steve Terebecki in the background, member of the BPC and some band called White Denim.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
that’s the bassist of white denim in the background
June 17th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
thank you, but our legal dept. advises that I can neither confirm or deny Mr. Terebecki’s appearance in this photograph.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
spell tucson right
June 19th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I think pretty soon Matador will just be the only label I listen too, haha. You guys just keep snapping up all the good artists.
June 21st, 2009 at 12:14 am
holy shit thats awesome! finally
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am
Noice. Coomers talks a lot.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
OK, time to sign Black Shirts outa Austin too. Dayam!
July 10th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
whoa! congats guys.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Free Drugs is an awesome album, let’s hope there’s many more to come for Matador.
It’s featured in our favourite albums of the year so far as it only made its way to us this year.
Take a look for yourself: http://musicmule.co.uk/2009/05/31/half-time-music-mule-top-10-2009/
October 27th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Looking forward to hearing them in Chattanooga–just don’t piss on my pre-amps!
June 11th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
YaYuH.!
September 30th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Congrats on the label.
From your nemesis.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:40 am
This band is so good so good! Plus their videos are hilarious. Come to Philadelphia!