Trans Am's quirky synth-driven rock has led to album after critically acclaimed album. Their success began with their self-titled debut in 1996 and has continued with their most recent release, Sex Change, which hit stores in February. Sex Change, which bassist Nathan Means described by saying "a good time always involves a little bit of confusion," was reviewed by my colleague Will Williams who happened to mention a neat little tidbit in his review: Trans Am will be coming to Charlottesville's Satellite Ballroom April 11.
Trans Am has built a dedicated following through energetic live shows and frenetic touring. After returning from Europe, band members Nathan Means and Phil Manley took some time to answer a few questions for tableau about their music and tour.
"It [Europe] was insane. Lots of long drives in a slow van," Manley said. "Some equipment was stolen and some health issues in Ljubljana. Tires slashed in Marsailles. Great shows in London, Paris, Berlin, Switzerland and Diksmuide, Belgium."
The band played 29 shows during its 29 days in Europe and the U.S. tour is equally demanding: The band plans on 24 shows in 25 days, and the tour spans from D.C. April 10 to Edmonton, Alberta April 25 to the East Coast in early May.
"We tour in a Chevy 20 cargo van. Our only crew is our soundman, Paul," Manley said.
Out of curiosity, I Googled Chevy 20 cargo van and found a stylin' 1990 model on sale for $562. Good to know that if the van breaks down areplacement is cheap.
When I asked what it would be like to tour with Trans Am, Means demonstrated impressive clairvoyance seeing through my pathetic attempt at an Almost Famous-type wet dream of tagging along on tour.
"Are you fishing for an invite?" Means asked. "Fortunately for you our last berth has been taken -- it's pretty grueling." Means went on to describe touring as a "cult-like activity, but a cult that just drives around on highways endlessly."
In describing the Trans Am sound, Means pulled out this gem for all those Limp Bizkit fans out there who aren't too ashamed to admit it (and, I suppose, for those who rightly are too ashamed).
"Sam Rivers, the bassist from Limp Bizkit, showed up at our show in Barcelona and left a signed note for us at the bar. That really got me thinking. I didn't really know those guys were into us -- I would call them '90's rape-rock, while we are more like 80's rape-rock."
What could rape-rock possibly entail?
"We don't really have a credo -- well except 'schnell und sauber' [fast and clean] and 'strength and honor,'" Means added. "We are ultimately a pretty reactionary band -- we like lots of music -- Manowar, New Order, Mahavishnu, The Eagles -- but our sound is as much about what we don't like as what we like."
Trans Am's approach developed as a reaction to the grunge movement.
"We hated Pearl Jam and insisted on playing hard rock without an emotive vocalist getting in the way," Manley said. "The keyboards came out of a love of Kraftwerk and other newer electronic music that was surfacing in 1993 like Aphex Twin and Plasticman."
Vocoders and noodley keyboards result in something that might be described as robots with sweet moves mating on the dance floor, but look for the band's human side at the Satellite Ballroom.
"We are humans, actually. Sometimes we hide behind the vocoder as a way of masking our emotions, but sometimes it's good to just be human and sing, damn it."
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