Rank and Revue - Austin, TX - Nov 25, 2004

Hitting the scene with a carefully polished debut album, Austin’s The Addictions bring a refreshing blast to the world of modern radio rock. Building on a solid bedrock of experience the quintet stays true to the purest nature and form of rock n roll while incorporating modern touches that bring straightforward 80’s rock up to date. Producing a sound that has been described as classic alternative the Addictions cover all the bases necessary to produce a quality musical experience.

Though the band is enjoying the success of single “Jaded” receiving radio play all around the country, witnessing the live show at the Backroom revealed that the Addictions are much more than a one-trick pony. Vocals are traded off between songwriters and guitarists Beth and Jason, which keeps the vocal tone crisp throughout the set. Beth electrifies the live set with her energy and love of performing, but even then is unable to overshadow Jason when he steps up to the mic with the stance and honesty of Joe Strummer. The rhythm section consisting of Derek on drums and David the purveyor of basstones do such a fantastic job of filling the room with omni-present precision that they seem to blend perfectly into the atmosphere, though shining through with Primus-like chops on “Riding On Top”. Lead axeman Chris pushes the bands hard edge with a loud dirty blues style indicative that he’s heard a Guns n Roses album once or twice, particularly on “Alright”. The cumulative effect is a solid, well-rounded performance containing all the essentials of a good rock show and remarkably better than most things on the radio. The raunchier side of the Addictions stands out on songs “Candy” and “Rollergirl” in particular and offers the promise that the radio-ready future may actually be developing a viscous bite. I spoke briefly with the Addictions after their set at the Backroom:

Have you noticed many crossover Quatropaw fans to this new band?

Jason: Its pretty new, the Addictions definitely have a more definitive, tougher sound. A lot of the old band’s crowd didn’t really crossover, don’t go to the same clubs.
David: That’s part of the excitement, we’ve got a clean slate basically.
Beth: Except for when journalists bring out Quatropaw. Hah.
Chris: This band doesn’t have anything to do with Quatropaw, this is totally fucking different.
Derek: We pretty much just buried Quatropaw with the Addictions.
Beth: It just buried itself really. We just decided to write all new songs and be excited about it again.

What are some of your favorite local bands to play with?

Beth: I like Broken Teeth, Kissinger, Honky and the Rockland Eagles for local bands.
Chris: We’ve played with the Pink Swords a couple of times, that’s my brother’s band.

What is your name ‘The Addictions’ all about?

Chris: I think everybody has an addiction, it's just something you can’t get rid of but you love it.
Beth: Some people are addicted to wheat grass. To me the Addictions started out of my addiction to music.
Jason: I’ve become addicted to coffee because I’ve had to set some of my other addictions away.

Do you support marijuana law reform?

David: We’re open to progress, not just about marijuana. We’re open minded and not too happy with the current administration.
Jason: I’m not a pothead but I think it’s a healthy drug for people who like it.

How do you see the political climate in this country affecting music over the next 4 years?

Beth: I think there’s going to be a lot of political upheaval. We have a song “Take The Guns” that we haven’t really brought out yet, but it’s a political song. I think that especially musicians feel the right wing…
Jason: I think in general people are going to get pissed and you’re going to see it in the arts.
Chris: Now is the time to stand up and fight more than any other time. People are saying, “I’m so bummed I’m just gonna hide for the next four years.” Fuck that. Now is the time to make your stand to do what you really need to do for yourself to be happy.


Do any of you have other creative outlets besides music?

Beth: Derek just came out with a coffee table book of photos.
Derek: It’s a Mexican food review. I like photography- that’s what I do for another creative outlet.
Beth: I was an art major in school but I ended up going into music. I think that whether you’re a writer or an artist it all comes from the same place. If you’re an artist it is a matter of where you want to focus your attention, for me its music.
Chris: When I’m not collecting dirty socks I cultivate chia pets.

You seem to have a healthy PR campaign behind you. I’m seeing signs of the Addictions all over town.

Beth: We were really fortunate to fall in with our label Electric Factory Records. Basically they really believe in our music. I don’t know if its fate or whatever but we’ve got people that want to see it happen. We just found out we got played on KROQ in L.A…
Chris: We should send them a thank you letter. Maybe put together a fruit basket.

In other press you’ve described yourselves as a ‘pioneer band.’ What is that you bring to the table in terms of innovation in rock music that makes you pioneers?

Beth: I think its because Jason and I both sing. Its almost like people want to box you in and say, “You are a punk band, there is one singer and that’s it”. And that’s not what we’re doing. Because both of us are singing it just gives it a...
Jason: I think it’s definitely a fresh twist on a familiar subject. I think as the records progress- this one is a great rock record and all- and as they keep going on it will keep developing, getting more progressive as we fall into our own.
Beth: We’ve got the sound, and we definitely have got a modern twist to it - it doesn’t just sound like AC/DC or Cheap Trick or Joan Jett. We’re just not going to settle. We’re not gonna say I’m the singer because everyone wants to box us into one thing. There’s very few bands that say were going to have 2 singers, especially male/female, and were not going to compromise to fit into one little box that says it has to be that way.

What has developing here in Austin done for your sound?

Beth: We have been cultivating this sound in private to be totally pro when we bring it out. We’ve made all the mistakes that were gonna make and this time around were just gonna do it right. We know what it takes to do it right so were just gonna line em up and shoot em down.
David: We want to be welcomed in our hometown but right now our priority is expanding to cover a more regional area.
Beth: The thing about Austin is you could focus on playing and being an Austin band for ten fucking years and you might have 100 people at your show. And were just tired of focusing on Austin. If the Austin crowd likes our music then we love them too. Its not like were trying to cut out Austin but were not going to just focus on it because we’ve done that. We’re thinking that we’ve got a shot here and we want to take over.
Jason: We don’t want to be a Little Sister Schneider.


-Justin O.