Harlem

Led by two vocalists who alternate between guitarist and drummer roles, indie rock trio Harlem play spirited, rickety garage rock with a heartfelt passion and a knowing smirk. Sharing a mutual admiration for Darby Crash’s troglodyte on-stage antics, Tucson, AZ buddies Curtis O’Mara and Michael Coomers started making purposely sloppy punk music in high school. They performed sets under several names, including Smart Pussy, Coomers Explosion, and Pink Extreme, before graduating and going their separate ways. O’Mara moved to Nashville and Coomers found his way to the Bay Area. Discouraged by the monotony of day jobs, the two picked up again in Nashville and set out to play their way back home. Sleeping on floors and rotating bass players along the way, they eventually landed in Austin, TX, where they were picked to be included on a compilation of local indie hopefuls that was released by Matador Records in January 2010. Soon after Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010 hit store shelves, Matador signed the band and Harlem’s debut, Hippies, was released only three months later. ~ Jason Lymangrover, Rovi