MEN, the Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective consists of core members JD Samson (Le Tigre) Michael O'Neill (Ladybug Transistor) and Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR).
The group began in 2007 with the DJ/production/remix team of LE TIGRE members JD Samson and Johanna Fateman. With LE TIGRE on hiatus, when the duo began to write new songs, it made sense to merge their efforts with JD's other new project HIRSUTE. JD and Hirsute members Michael and Ginger now comprise the core of MEN, with Johanna and artist Emily Roysdon contributing as writers, consultants, and producers.
MEN focus on the energy of live performance and radical potential of dance music. Their music speaks of issues such as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and the demand for liberties through lyrical content and an inventive, high energy stage show.
MEN have recently completed U.S. tours with both Peaches and Gossip, and have completed two extensive European tours. MEN have recently signed a worldwide deal with LA label Iamsound, and release their first single for the label, 'Off Our Backs' at the start of November, with their debut album'Talk About Body' set for early 2011.
The band formed over a mutual love of danceable but dirty guitar sounds. 22 year old vocalist Patti Aberhart was reared in Wellington, New Zealand and moved to the UK in the summer of 2008. Her band of troublemakers are the British bred animal doctor Robert Hallworth on riffs, hairy witchdoctor Chris Davis on basslines and the handsome next Doctor Who John Raftery on beat duties. Fed up of seeing kids choosing pop and indie discos over live music thanks in part to a deluge of dreary coldplay/snow patrol wannabees, CALL THE DOCTOR's raucous live shows are making gigs fun again. Comparisons with YYYs, The Pixies, The Kills, Neil Young and PJ Harvey are flattering but it is CALL THE DOCTOR who will be the inspiration for the next generation of music makers.
The band have already featured as Steve Lamacq's unsigned band of the week, BBC Bristol Introducing's Record of the Week, been on Gill Mill's (NME Radio) Best Of Myspace podcast, and had their track, 'Gregory, You're a Star' daytime playlisted on BBC Bristol.
In May 2010 the band released their debut self-titled LP through Glasstone Records. It was recorded and mixed over 10 days with Paul Tipler (Idlewild/Elastica/Forward Russia).
As Bristol's legendary'Venue' magazine said: '...all the elements are in place for this Bristol foursome to make waves'