The Apes

There are multiple artists with this name. The Apes emerged from the wet, heavy jungle of Washington DC in 1999 to command the rock subculture. Their modus: uniting great warlords, absorbing rogue factions, and educating red-handed guerilla bands with a passionately wayward rock signal. Propelled by Erick Jackson's burning, fur-lined bass growls, Amanda Kleinman's horny and celestial banshee organ, and Jeff Schmid's iron-chest-of-cocaine drums, throat chieftain Breck Brunson (ably picking up where previous vocalists Paul Weil and Joe Halladay left off) channels the kaleidoscopic eye and children's black tears into the hearts of all. This overdriven rock assault drives forward as tales of conquest, social alienation, and a perverse spiritual kinship with the universe become trance-inducing incantations. Great armies of spectators prostrate themselves; the overcrowded brains of headphone astronauts are penetrated. Ultimately, a shared enthusiasm for the new aesthetic treasures of Ape magic and sound fury overtakes all. -- E.B. ----- Hot on the tail of their debut single ‘Seven’ late last year, Melbourne four-piece APES came to the attention of Triple J, and more recently some serious UK love from Radio BBC1. A mix of searing garage-rock and stamp-your-feet-shout-out-loud choruses are set to put APES firmly on the map both home and abroad. Led by vocalist and guitarist Benjamin Dowd the APES sound is one that owes as much to the indie punk bombast of the Hives as it does the moody atmospherics of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and to the halcyon years of Australia's illustrious rock'n'roll and garage/punk past. Combining an ear for scrappy, rough and ready melodies with strong hooks (and those can't forget 'em choruses) APES stamp the sound as their own. Having played shows around the country with likes of The Datsuns, Dune Rats and Yacht Club DJs, APES high energy driven live show landed them spots on 2013's Big Day Out and Groovin The Moo Festivals. The band’s debut EP, produced by Malcolm Besley (Northeast Party House, Millions, Snakadaktal), is set for release this June 2013. ------ The Apes music is raw, loud, and powerful. ------- The Apes are a ska outfit from Tampa, FL consisting of former members of Magadog. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.