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10Speed
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Members
Hutch
- Vocals, Guitar
Dimitry
- Bass, Vocals
Newman
- Drums, Vocals
Discography
10
Speed - 1998/99
Biography
Theatrics
without melodrama. Eccentric yet accessible. Intense but dynamic. Eloquence
without pretension. “It’s all rock ‘n’ roll, baby!” quips Russian-born,
Canadian-bred bassist Dimitry. “It’s Rocky Horror Picture Show!” While
he’s actually referring to the tune “Wired,” which kicks off 10 Speed’s
self-titled debut, it’s an apt description for the nearly indescribably
trio and their musical magic and madness that is 10 speed. Co-produced
by the band and Matt Hyde (Porno For Pyros) and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge
(Wallflowers), 10 Speed runs an explosive gamut from the soul-infused modern
rock of the groovy groove-oriented “It Makes Me Crazy” to the dramatic
syncopation, go-go dance vibe, ‘60’s movie milieu and dramatic vocals of
the first single, “Space Queen.”
At
its core, 10 speed is a reaction—to its environment and to itself, a progression
away from the music of the early ‘90’s and its conscious lack of sonic
and visual color. 10 Speed, together about four years, recalls the excitement
and glamour of early rock ‘n’ roll (from Queen to James Brown to Kiss to
Curtis Mayfield), coupled with ‘90’s and-beyond musical sensibilities and
beautifully crafted pop song work. The trio who comprise 10 speed are unique,
idiosyncratic and diverse characters whose combustible chemistry meshes
in 10 Speed. If Hutch is the band’s dark dreamer—artistic and unsettled,
Dimitry is his perfect foil, a mischievous sort with a zest for adventure
that rivals Evil Knieval, permitting Newman to be he much-needed glue that
keeps things semi-sane.
Growing
up in New York, singer/songwriter/guitarist Hutch recalls being at the
home of a friend whose parents were “60’s activists”. “The Monterey Pop
Festival was airing on TV that night. It was the first time I saw Jimi
Hendrix—really the first time I saw rock ‘n’ roll. I remember thinking,
“this is what this is all about!” he recollects. “I’ll always remember
that feeling—he had this incredible heroic quality. I still look for that
feeling every time I get on stage.” For Hutch, though, pursuing music is
often more of a s struggle than an adventure. A prolific songwriter who
cites Roy Orbison as his “most fulfilling” concert experience, Hutch
began penning songs at the age of 10. While the eccentric artist has a
clear mind for words and music, he’s prone to losing his keys or wallet.
Likewise, he’s traversed various intellectual and artistic stratums, studying
engineering in college, dropping out to play music, then disillusioned
with music and life, returning to school to study business, “to put things
back into right angles.”
Hutch’s
artistic/romantic side eventually prevailed, and following a girl to L.A.,
he settled on the left coast, forming 10 speed shortly thereafter.
His
partner in all things rhythmic is the irrepressible Dimitry, whose grandmother
was an opera singer in Russia and whose father was “a space ship
control panel engineer” who played violin and loved rock ‘n’ roll. Emigrating
to Canada when he was 4, Dimitry began classical piano at 9.
“I
got very proficient, but hated every moment of it,” he says. “My youth
was all about being invulnerable and getting into mischief. The earliest
songs I remember hearing were from my parents, who had this 8-track of
“strangers in the night” by Frank signature, and a bunch of Abba music.
Outside of that, I found a box of Pink Floyd and Police tapes in the trash.”
After being “asked to leave” high school, Dimitry, then 17, toured Canada
with a cover band until, at 18, he moved to Los Angeles, which proved to
be the first step in his 10 Speed Journey.
Newman,
who joined 10 Speed after the record was completed in late ‘97, is a down-to-earth
SoCal native whose first album purchase was Queen’s “The Game.” He believes
that “music is a marriage between passion and discipline,” and has toured
Europe with an orchestra, among other musical endeavors. the hard-working
drummer ultimately found classical and jazz “too stuffy” for a full-time
career, though he plays jazz “for kicks” and he is an accomplished marimba
and vibraphone player. When Newman walked into 10 Speed’s rehearsal room,
he was drummer #81 to try out, and, recalls Dimitry with a laugh, “It was
magic!” “Of course, paramount, was talent and musicianship,” adds
Hutch, “Plus strong vocals, an easygoing personality, and of course, that
he smelled right,” Cool on all counts including olfactory, Newman completed
the rhythm section.
During
10 Speed’s initial inception, the soulful-voiced Hutch played only acoustic
guitars and the band leaned toward a more organic, “Violent Femme-like”
sound. The band evolved quickly, though, moving toward something transcendent
and exciting, or, as one person characterized 10 Speed’s approach, “a war
against the mundane.” Live, 10 Speed possess and immense passion for the
stage and rock show theatrics. The band wields fuzz-box processed guitars
and bright “tuck and roll” Kustom amplifiers from the early 70’s giving
the stage a futuristic “Elvis in Las Vegas” flair. Despite a seemingly
combustible chemistry on-stage, when it came to their debut album, 10 Speed
were very process-oriented. “We were in the studio for 16 hours a day for
two months, with one day of the entire time. The ultra-focused lineup were
set on capturing the signature 10 Speed “sound” working very hard on pre-production
to that end.
Which
explains how, within the diversity of the darkly mid-tempo “When Your Lips
Are Blue” and the grandiose pop drama of “Suicidal Psychopathic Freak,”
it’s all instantaneously identifiable as 10 Speed.
10
Speed’s debut is the end result of relentless enterprise. Prior to signing
with A&M, 10 speed often played three gigs a night, all over L.A.,
to gain fans and hone their potent live show. They occupy a niche, which,
while hard to name, they own. Like a T. Rex, Bowie or the Talking Heads,
10 Speed can’t be confined to just one category, filed under “pop” or “Alternative”
or “rock opera” 10 Speed are just ...10 Speed. From the “locomotive” melodic
aggression of “wired” to the memorable mid-tempo grandiosity of “I Hate
You” to the quirky, Optigan-related musical segue before “Head Splits Open,”
10 Speed are an extravagant and singular band.
May
1998
Update
June 1999
Well
as many have heard with the mega merger of A&M's parent company Polygram
Records almost all new artist were dropped from the label - 10 Speed among
them. We here at Rock n World believe this to be a colossal mistake on
the part of the Record Company. The band has obtained the rights to distribute
the album and is doing so via their web site. They are also playing acoustic
gigs in LA and are hard at work on their second record. One thing is for
sure... whichever label is smart enough to pick these guys up are
almost certain to have great success with them. So now cruise over to the
10 Speed web site and listed to why we think these guys are great!
10Speed:
See Also
10
Speed Links
10
Speed message board
Review
of 10 Speed's Debut
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