Splitting briefly at the end of the 90s, the original six-piece reformed in 2001 and started to work on what would be their breakthrough album “Fire”.Ģ003 was the year of Electric Six the single “Danger! High Voltage” (which may or may not contain the backing vocals of a certain Jack White) became their signature tune.
Performing around the Detroit area for much of the late 90s, the band was forced to change their name when threatened with legal action form a Bristol trip-hop collective of the same name. Starting at the beginning, Electric Six began life in 1996 as The Wildbunch. I had the chance to have a chat with lead singer Tyler Spencer, better known by his stage moniker Dick Valentine, about the band’s forthcoming Irish date. Unfortunately, what most people don’t realise is this wasn’t the end of the Electric Six in the past eight years they have released eight studio albums and continue to tour almost constantly. There's enough here to more than satisfy E6s followers and more than enough to grab some new recruits.When someone mentions Electric Six most people would immediately think of the 2003 hits “Danger! High Voltage” and “Gay Bar”, you may also think of their accompanying iconic videos. There are plenty of good songs here some to get you dancing (if that's what you do), some to make you laugh and all to enjoy. In contrast, though delivered with the same competence, is the pop song 'Love Song for Myself' and the quieter story-telling of 'Table and Chairs'. This diversity can be seen with their cover of 'The Rubberband Man' which is done remarkably well.
They are multi-dimensional and can deliver some great tunes whilst not being pinned down. The sneering lyrics and attitude are often delivered over an upbeat and loud party of sound. I particularly enjoyed the affected vocal chorus backing which reminded me so much of Velvet Underground's 'Walk On The Wildside'. The album has some surprises, sometimes sounding like a mixture of glam rockers New York Dolls and the 'White Punks On Dope' era of The Tubes, sometimes with Zappa undertones, and quite a lot sounding like eighties pop fused with 70s glam rock. Here, the song begins harmlessly enough but there's a great refernce to Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street' sax riff along with a nod to the sax-accompanied moaning on Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' it all works so well and is all good. The track that highlights the highest number of different styles is 'Doom and Gloom and Doom and Gloom'. The album has many contrasts, the band drawing from numerous styles. This is a change of style and has undertones of heavy ska, though still with their unmistakable driving sound. The next track's name could be taken as definition of their music, 'American Cheese'. It drives along with strained, arrogant sounding vocals and some pounding drums. 'After Hours' opens the album in typical Electric Six style that sound can only be them. Blending rock with disco, garage, new wave, punk and some eighties cheese, they have put together their seventh album, 'Zodiac' which is another large dose of tongue in cheek, lusty irony.
Detroit six-piece 'superstars', Electric Six burst onto the scene with their hits 'Danger! High Voltage' and (who can forget) 'Gay Bar' back in 2003.