Artist description . The Concepts’ music is a mind-blowing spage-age amalgamation of many musical influences, including The Shaggs, Einsturzende Neubaten, Raffi, Desmond Dekker, Styx, The Erotic Drum Band, Aldo Nova, Olivia-Newton-John, Technotronic, and early Leo Sayer.

Music Style Mind-blowing spage-age amalgamation

Musical Influences The Shaggs, Einsturzende Neubaten, Raffi, Desmond Dekker, Styx, The Erotic Drum Band, Aldo Nova, Olivia-Newton-John, Technotronic, and early Leo Sayer

Artist History Seasonal Concepts began its rise to glory in early 2001, on the invitation of experimental music icon Emil Hagstrom (Cock ESP, Wrong, Sunship Sextet). After toiling in obscurity for years in a little-noticed Pacific Northwest community, known to some as “Seattle, Washington,” their star has begun to rise as they have started to make appearances in the bright lights and big cities of Midwestern America. They first made a national splash as part of the No Name Noise series at Minneapolis’ Soap Factory this past May. The aftershocks of that amazing performance are still being felt. With their latest CD “Activewear!,” The Concepts are ready to make a giant move - from underground cult legends to underground cult legends with a CD. Last spring, while seeking an alternative to the usual noise and performance art in which he traditionally reveled, Hagstrom mentally commissioned an attempt to destroy the forms of musical banality from within. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Seattle-based duo John Q. Law and Xuzee Pance (who until recently had been performing show tunes and select originals in chain coffeehouse bookstores as “John and Susie Sing Out!”) had already achieved such a feat. On a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest, Hagstrom ‘discovered’ them in indie-rock hotbed Olympia, Washington while checking out ‘open mike’ night at a local drinking establishment. He knew instantly: he was watching history unfold before him. He had to share this with the world. After accepting Emil’s offer to perform with other experimental music artists at No Name Noise in May, John and Xuzee quickly radicalized their image, in order to reach what they like to call ‘the kids of today.’ John and Xuzee spent a lot of hours studying ‘Target Market’ ads as an attempt to make their act more ‘hip.’ The results of their work are nothing short of genius, as this EP so beautifully demonstrates. In order to give their sound the proper edge, Emil connected the performers with maverick underground producer DJ Spanky, whose work has taken Seasonal Concepts to another level of sonic wonder. And oh, that sound. The Concepts’ music is a mind-blowing spage-age amalgamation of many musical influences, including The Shaggs, Einsturzende Neubaten, Raffi, Desmond Dekker, Styx, The Erotic Drum Band, Aldo Nova, Olivia-Newton-John, Technotronic, and early Leo Sayer. And the world is noticing. Andrew Druckenbrod, classical music critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, offered words that stand out among the many accolades the growing cult of Seasonal is receiving: “Nowhere is the decline of western civilization more evident than in the wretched collection of arhythmic tones and insipid poetry this group calls ‘music.’ This band redefines what it means to be untalented.” Prepare to be amazed. The Concepts have arrived.

Group Members John Q. Law (keys, guitar, vocals, rhythmic programming) is neither man nor beast, but rather a hybrid of corn byproduct and high-grade metal alloys. His hobbies include collecting weathervanes, living with salt, and excretion. His mission since inception has been to provide galaxies here and not here with acceptable tonal frequencies and silver-backed disc-type product. All thanks must go to the creators of “Theodorus Rex,” a celluloid fantasy starring Whoopi Goldberg as a tough-but-firm city cop who befriends a lonely, recently relocated young dinosaur. Favorite quote: “Drugs –the big lie.” Xuzee Pance (keys, vocals) - Reared in Olympia, Wa., Xuzee is a person who wears many hats: singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, sister, friend, cat-lover, and Aquarius! But above all, her favorite hat is: raging radical feminist bitch. Having made a name for herself with the feminist experimental musical group Kettlewynd, a groundbreaking venture into music produced solely through tea-kettles, apron strings and motor oil, Xuzee joined Seasonal Concepts in 1998 after hearing them rock the house at the Golden Puff Bear Bakery in Olympia. In addition to her collaboration with Seasonal Concepts, Xuzee heads a Self-Empowerment workshop called "Rug-Burn". She would like to thank John Q. Law for living the dream, DJ Spanky for making it all happen, and the Goddess for blessing her with the kind of special sensitivity and strength that allows her to sing in front of people after getting really, really trashed first. Favorite quote: “I know I’m special, because God don’t make no junk.” DJ Spanky (producer, vocals, guitar) has been producing maverick aural landscapes for the subterranean masses since his breakthrough seven-inch Scheitzen for Luxembourg's hottest underground punksters (The M)ind Police in '95. Jamaican-born and World-bred, Spank, as he is affectionately known, decided to freeze his ass off in order that he may thaw it with even more innovative sonic trailblazing by moving to Minneapolis, where he has freelanced to much critical acclaim. A recluse by nature and a master at Tantra Yoga, he hopes to achieve Nirvana in the midst of waxin' that ass. Favorite quote: “The earth is full of sounds. We are here to hear them.”

Instruments Keyboards, guitars, programming, vocals

Albums Activewear!, The Deuce

Press Reviews Andrew Druckenbrod, classical music critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, offered words that stand out among the many accolades the growing cult of Seasonal is receiving: “Nowhere is the decline of western civilization more evident than in the wretched collection of arhythmic tones and insipid poetry this group calls ‘music.’ This band redefines what it means to be untalented.”

Additional Info joetownusa@yahoo.com

Location Seattle, WA - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).