Riding in a van on their way to a gig in Kansas City, Mo., the members of Tussle seem a bit shell-shocked that their music is catching on and that critics are giving their new album enthusiastic nods.
Their surprise is understandable. When roommates Nathan Burazer and Jonathan Holland, who live in Greensboro, N.C., picked up a bunch of secondhand instruments in 2001, they only played them as a way to amuse themselves.
“It was probably after the second album started that it started setting in that I?m a musician,” Burazer said. “The music has evolved in a very natural way.”
Indeed, the music is an incredibly danceable blend of funk, electronic, some disco and even soul, heavy on the percussion. Blend them all together, and it works, although it?s hard to say exactly why. The magic formula appears to be a secret ? in Tussle?s case, even to its members.
“I had seen Tussle a couple times and thought the concept was really cool,” said Warren Huegel, who shares drum duties with Holland. “It?s cool that a lot of our songs are born out of improvising. And the two drummers, well, that keeps you on track.”
On track is indeed where the band is, too. With long jams, catchy tunes and plenty of energy, the group seems poised to break out of the pack and become a standout. And that?s all thanks to a form of energetic collaboration that Huegel said he?s felt since he first joined the band about two years ago.
Now, the quartet, which also includes bass player Tomo Yasuda, entertains plenty of others as the members travel around the country, letting the music work its magic and encouraging the audience to jump in, literally, on the stage.
“I will say that the people who come see our shows are the more music-oriented people, the ones who like to hear different sounds,” Burazer said.
Will that sound expand their reach and get them more air time on college radio and more hits on MySpace? Hard to say, the members said.
“There really isn?t a master plan,” Burazer said as the van traveled on its course. “The master plan is just to stay alive.”
If you go
Tussle ? part of the Are We Not Men?! Party with Sweet 16, Thrust Lab and Kitty Porn
» Venue: The Depot, 1728 N. Charles St.
» Time: Today
» Tickets: $3
» More info: 410-528-0174
