Sure, its easy to dismiss The Slants as a novelty act. Simon Young (formerly of the Stivs), formed the band by posting ads that called for Asian musicians in ethnic supermarkets across Portland. Once the lineup was completed, the band began playing gigs atwhere elseanime conventions. The approach earned them a devoted fanbase of Asians, Asiaphiles, and geeks galore. And its actually well deserved, given the quality of their music. The Slants create synthesizer-driven songs drenched in sexy beats, erratic guitar rifts, and the occasional plucking of a koto. Their 2007 demo album Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts reworked and re-released last year is a dark dance album comparable to records by electro-rock bands like The Faint and Depeche Mode. Many of the songs grapple with race relations, but even non-Asians can relate to their pain when they sing about loneliness and feeling like outsiders. With the New Up, Klover Jane. Photo courtesy ellenote.com.
Sun., June 7, 8 p.m., 2009
