Tempo No Tempo

MySpace (listen to "Static," "A Different Weapon")
IMEEM site

Hometown: Berkeley
Next local show: 3/2, Oakland Metro
Recent release: The Get Down, 2006

Believe us, we'd be the first to say we're done with the whole dance-punk thing. On principle alone, we're just tired of it. Because face it, most of the bands suck. We get it: You discovered Gang of Four. You have a stylish haircut. You think it's cute to coerce indie rockers to dance. Done yet? Tempo No Tempo don't escape the latter trap, needlessly bragging on their MySpace page that they sound like "the first time you danced in public and felt okay about it." But what makes Tempo No Tempo different from the Rapture et al is that TNT are from Berkeley and obviously not interested in assimilating into the dying dance-punk masses. (more >>)

How do we know this? Because, for one thing, they have normal haircuts. This is very important. Also, of course, there's the music. Tempo No Tempo are equally familiar with Wire, Interpol, and the Strokes, crafting danceable rock music as opposed to exaggerated beats with pointy guitar parts. They also cite local post-rock heroes From Monument to Masses as an influence. This doesn't manifest ostensibly in their tunes, but certainly can't be a bad thing. It's also promising that they include an acoustic song on MySpace: proof that TNT are looking more to establish themselves as a legit rock group with strong songs than to merely associate with a subgenre that has attracted so many substanceless followers.

Tempo No Tempo is a young band, formed by four UC Berkeley students in 2004. The songs they've churned out so far are promising -- especially "Static," which comes from their debut EP, The Get Down, home-recorded and self-released last year. Sounding both youthfully exuberant and strikingly mature, the song could catapult the band to much bigger things if heard by the right person. Over the last year, TNT has earned the attention of Pitchfork and local music mag The Deli Magazine, as well as an opening slot for LA group Ima Robot.

CONCERT NO CONCERT
-Tempo No Tempo play tonight, that's right tonight, with fellow local groups Panda and Facing New York at the Metro in Oakland. More local bands should round off the bill. Only $10! Head over if you have the chance.
-For those of you who are busy tonight or outside of the East Bay, Tempo No Tempo has shows coming up at Epiphany's in Santa Rosa (4/6), the Boardwalk Bowl in Santa Cruz (4/13), and Streetlight Records in San Jose (4/14).