Artist description The East Bay's actionslacks seem perfectly content crafting their classic, John Hughes-inspired, jangly anthems amidst the millennial panic of what to do about rock. Some bands look to the past for answers, wholly ingesting the Stooges' Funhouse or the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Others migrate towards the cold, digital undercurrents of post-song Indie Rock (see Tortoise). The actionslacks' only acknowledgement that any dichotomy exists is an augmenting of the band's skinny-tie love of the Jam with strings and well-placed piano bits. To be sure, the result is subtler, more personal songcraft than their earlier efforts. But longtime 'slacks fans need not fret -- safely overdriven guitar angularities and white anti-grooves, as well as Scanlin's sandy croon and lyrical penchant for the Top-Sider tragedy remain dutifully intact. As long as the smell of slight is in the air (e.g. the dance after the high school football game), the actionslacks will be there to capture the moment.-Listen.com

Music Style Rock Band

Musical Influences The Jam, Cheap Trick, Husker Du, Elvis Costello, minutemen, Gang of Four, Wire, The Who, StraightJacket Fits

Artist History Formed: 1994 from the ashes of Pillbox, a NZ-influenced Berkeley trio. First 7" self-released in 1995 under the Permanent Records imprint. First LP (Too Bright...)released by Minneapolis' Skene! Records in 1996. Second album (One Word) released by Brooklyn's Arena Rock Recording Company in 1998. 1999: New lineup debuted, "The Scene's Out of Sight" produced and recorded by J. Robbins.

Group Members Tim Scanlin: vocals and guitar, Marty Kelly: drums, Chuck Lindo: guitar, keys, vocals, Ross Murray: bass

Albums Too Bright, Just Right, Goodnight; One Word; The Scene's Out of Sight; Never Never Shake, Baby (EP)

Press Reviews "Actionslacks...a San Francisco power-pop outfit with leanings toward XTC's nonpastoral side...it should be entertaining to watch them mystify the other bands' audience with arcane devices like hooks and choruses." (Franklin Bruno)

Location Oakland, CA - USA

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