I recently got wind that UK’s The Ting Tings were stopping by The Bluebird on July 31 and a slow smile crept across my face. Although they are the current web hype band post-Vampire Weekend, their extremely listenable blend of indie-electro-pop is currently one of my favorite guilty pleasures. It was also a surprising announcement, considering that most “buzz” bands don’t make it to St. Louis, even the Midwest and by the time they do, they are already old news.
But something that really distinguishes them from other “buzz” bands is that they are the first mainstream musical act to come out of Manchester, England’s emerging creative powerhouse Islington Mill. Islington Mill was a decrepit cotton mill from the Industrial Revolution that has been turned into a sanctuary for emerging artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians. It is in this environment in which The Tings Tings came about and had many of their first underground shows.
Another unique aspect is the actual creation of the band. Katie White (vocals, guitar and bass drum) and Jules De Martino (vocals, drums and electronics) had been soured by the major label experience in the past with their previous short-lived band, Dear Eskimo, and decided to start writing music that they liked and enjoyed without worrying about it’s marketability or how many cd’s they would sell. They began playing underground parties at Islington Mill, house parties and smaller venues, with early crowds being minimal.
Word of mouth spread, crowds grew and people were talking about their exceptional live shows. The Ting Tings released their debut album, We Started Nothing, on June 3 and hit #1 on the U.K charts. With an intensive international summer touring schedule including appearances at such staples as Glastonbury Festival, McCarren Park Pool parties in Brooklyn and Lollapalooza with almost constant touring in between festivals, it looks like the buzz about The Ting Tings is only going to get bigger.
With only 12 U.S dates this summer and most of them on the East Coast (including a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom on the 18th), this should be a great show. I am pleased to see that the duo decided to play 2 dates in Missouri (KC and STL) before heading to Lollapalooza. Cheers to The Bluebird for continued solid booking as well.
Listen to The Ting Tings HERE
Read the L.A Times review of a Ting Tings show HERE
Check out the upcoming shows at The Bluebird HERE