Say “tune.” Now add a British twist and say it with an accent.
If you weren’t too embarrassed to mutter tune under your breath with an English brogue, then you most likely ended up saying “choon.”
You’ve just been introduced to Madison’s very own spy rockers, The Choons.
Self described as the sonic equivalent of “James Bond in a robot suit in a stand off at High Noon versus John Wayne in a suit and tie,” the guys have been perfecting this delicate balance of indie rock cleverness with a healthy dose of quickness and wit since their debut onto Madison’s culture compass in 2008.
Modest in the same vein you would expect any group of burgeoning, talented musicians to be, The Choons have a nearly nerdy presence when you chat with them off stage. Before answering any question the four members collectively glance at one another, grinning slightly before divulging a response laden with hints of ironic humor.
Citing The Beatles, The Strokes and Vampire Weekend as their main influences, these agents of alternative rock embody the vintage cool soul of the British pantheons they frequently cover. Founding member and one of the band’s guitarists, John Sprangers, even dons a Paul McCartney-like head of locks – the Beatles personified indeed.
But unless you’re Lady Gaga, looks are a minor caveat to the bigger picture: the sound.
Sprangers and fellow guitarist and vocalist Tommy Shears found each other on Craigslist two years ago. Shears remembers The Strokes being written in bold on the listing. For Sprangers, the New York rockers’ influence was a jumping off point for The Choons.
“If you really listen to The Strokes you’ll hear the subtle complexity of their sound,” Sprangers said in a recent sit down with The Badger Herald. “They play in a way that sounds simple, yet is fairly intricate when you break it down.”
For The Choons, mastering this technique of subtle complexity helps listeners latch onto a beat and actively engage in the melodies being made.
“If you listen to our songs you can always tap out something on your keyboard,” Sprangers added. “The bass is always active with that low sound that you can hear in the James Bond theme – that’s what we mean by ‘spy rock.'”
But before they could make foot tapping rhythms, they had to enlist a drummer and a talented bassist.
With the addition of Shears, the other two members, Ryan Hanke and Melissa Brumm, fleshed out The Choons. Since its foundation the band dynamic has changed slightly – Peter Reschenberg, an old friend of Sprangers who played with him growing up and in previous band projects – has taken over for Brumm on lead bass.
The Choons produced their first self-titled EP earlier this year in Fond Du Lac and have been playing the regional music landscape since. Their Facebook and MySpace pages describe their first musical effort as “expertly crafted lyrics meld coming of age with wanderlust and geopolitical grandeur.”
It’s as if the Majesty’s secret service carried instruments instead of lethal weapons.
The “wanderlust” of their four song EP is reflected by the spectrum of musical stylings used, which range from classical to classic rock but all married with intelligent lyrics that reflect their Madison environment.
One of the four, “Senorita,” refashions Freakfest into a fantasy rebellion.
“It’s influenced by Halloween on State Street. We re-imagine it as if it were a revolution of sorts,” Sprangers said.
Another obvious parallel to the politically-minded scene they’re playing: their insertions of “geopolitical grandeur.”
“Political themes make their way into our music, but they’re not necessarily political messages, it just has that braininess that is so Madisonesque,” Sprangers said.
Another Madisonesque aspect of The Choons? They are without a record label.
But as an unsigned band, the Choons recognize that social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter play an invaluable role in pumping up their fan base and booking shows.
“How you ‘make it’ is still a mystery even with the help of the Internet,” Sprangers said. “We’re always waiting for that ‘big call,'” Sprangers said with a hint of laughter as he referenced the epic “break” unsigned musicians sometimes hold their breath for.
And with the omnipresence of local bands both established and underground diffused throughout the campus, a cacophony of competition undoubtedly emerges, but The Choons shrug at any whispers of heated animosity between this network of UW rock bands.
“We build off what each other has done. We blaze a trail for one another,” Sprangers said. “It’s always good to know what fellow bands are doing.”
Last spring the Isthmus reported on this explosion of UW rock bands profiling several campus bands like The Choons. The guys were chosen as the cover shot for that issue – an opportunity Shears dubs as one of the band’s finest achievements thus far.
“Being on the cover of the Isthmus as the face of the Madison music scene was a strange and beautiful moment,” Shears said, while also noting, “Searching our band on iTunes and having the search bar finish our name and come up with our EP – that’s pretty cool too.”
Their upcoming concert at High Noon Saloon Thursday night is in association with the local Tenant Resource Center’s 30th anniversary party. The charity event hopes to raise awareness and donations for the TRC – a local non-profit group that provides free housing counseling to both renters and landlords and also educates both on their rights and responsibilities under Wisconsin law.
“It’s a great partnership,” Sprangers said. “Taking part in social activism is a very Madison thing to do.”
“Come if you want the full Choon experience,” Shears said. Sprangers then clarified on what to really expect:
“You can dance, you can meet a significant other… maybe on stage.”
Yes ladies, an unclaimed Choon remains without a Penny Lane to serenade from his on-stage pulpit.
But to the dudes who may not care that one of the lead singers is single, you’ll still want to head to High Noon to witness the musical duel between James Bond and John Wayne unfold while sipping on a martini -shaken, not stirred of course.
The Choons will be playing with The People Brothers Band and Electric Spanking at High Noon Saloon, Thursdsy, Oct. 21 for the “TRC Rocks!” charity event. The 21 and over concert begins at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover. Their first EP is also available on iTunes and Amazon.
