There are only so many musically impressive “indie” rock bands down here in South Florida. THE BIKES feature members with some history behind them. These guys are all veterans that have no need to cultivate false roots the way a lot of these wet behind the ears rank amateur cool kids do. The band consists of two guitars, bass and drums. Guitarist Robin Roslund doubles up on violin and mandolin as well. Having seen them at least 5 times onstage, I can attest that these guys are able to cut it live as well as in the studio. There is hardly a difference between the two mediums for THE BIKES. It’s just that for a change I can hear the vocals better through these here headphones. I can also control the volume of the entire group. Wow, what power! Now I can be that asshole sound guy that I’ve always aspired to be. I know that I’m starting to go off on a tangent. It’s got to be the weed. I just found a killer roach in the cushion of my chair from a bag I finished off like two months ago. Since then I’ve smoked the stuff maybe twice.

Anyways, this Rat Bastard (TO LIVE AND SHAVE IN LA, SCRAPING TEETH [who won Spin magazine’s “Worst Band Award” a while back], etc.) recorded Ant Lunch Musick disc gets hopping off to a laudable start with “Fly” and “Alma Theremin” that both have kind of a CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN meets MEAT PUPPETS motif going for them. The band forge on with the two guitar attack of “Nothing Left” slightly towards the middle of this 36 minute 10 song disc. Lead singer/guitarist Rick Ambrose stretches his vocal ability on “Booze Brothers”. It’s kind of too bad he does not do a little more of that more often. A couple tracks later towards the end“House Calls” has some Clint Connelly-like (MISSION OF BURMA) lead bass playing, courtesy of Dan Hosker who is a fun guy to smoke one with for sure. Being an instrumental with a happy go lucky feel it is hard not to think PELL MELL. “Get Stolen” closes with class on the balladry “Taj Mahal & the Toilet Bowl”. The only thing that I could really care less for is the song list on the back without the numbers. Now, that is one indie rock trapping that I could totally do without. ¤

- Herring

OFFICIAL SITE: www.myspace.com/bikesthe

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