Charlie Slick press blog

Print-worthy Photos

2011-09-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

cover by Nikki DeSautelle

photo by Ryan Stanton

Photo by Ryan Stanton

photo by Judy Jinn

Photo by Judy Jinn

Biography

2011-09-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

Charlie Slick is a prolific musical entity, an embodiment of his obvious heroes, a genre bending pop composer, a coconut man, and now, A FAROUT INDIAN.

Often outcast by both electronic outfits and the punk rock scene, Slick has worked tirelessly to develop a cult following of teenage girls, DIY nerds, and stay-at-home moms, all of whom seem to relate to his quirky un-cool and yet showy approach to music and performance.

Now performing under the moniker CHARLIE SLICK AND THUNDA CLAP, Slick and his female accomplices mix homegrown electronics with rusty saxophone and dank synthesizers. In recent years, Slick has risen up from playing primarily basement dance parties to mostly larger venues, though the stage rarely keeps him off the floor. He engages the audience to dance with him--frequently shirtless, sweaty, and covered in glitter.

Each of the 3 ladies who comprise THUNDA CLAP, are complex entities unto themselves, and in the group, they tend to mirror the different aspects of Slick’s persona. Molly Mascow or--“Mixtape Molly” as she is referred to in the group--is the veteran and is primarily responsible for beat sequencing, which she coordinates using the “rainbow lunch box beat creator,” an instrument Charlie created specifically for her and her loud colorful persona. Micah Vanderhoof or “Shy Micah V,” the band’s coolest and quietest member, shares her time between Twin Peaks-esque saxophoning and hiding behind her video camera. Natalie Berry or “Breezy” is the free spirit of the group; she is a master of voice, dance, and crowd manipulation/participation. Utilizing her extended history as a performance artist in many a highbrow art installation, she now carries Slick’s gauntlet of throwing confetti and glitter.

Charlie Slick’s newest album, A FAROUT INDIAN--his 6th release in as many years--comes as a 35 minute, multicolored vinyl (or a digital download, respectively) hegira. Lyrically, A FAROUT INDIAN has a clear and ever present ideology that holds it together as it bounces between genres and tempos. And though a song like “Rush” can find itself on the cusp of industrial rock, the true heart of AFI is it’s unique combination of plastic soul and Devo-esque rock guitar riffs, placing the sound somewhere between groups like Chromeo and The Coathangers.

Those who’ve been following Charlie through his compositions over the past 6 years will be surprised by AFI’s integration of guitar and acoustic percussion (his earlier releases being primarily composed on synthesizers), but it’s a welcomed addition, complementing some of Slick’s more mellow and even prayer like lyrics on “Nomads on the plains of time.”

Slick’s storied past of boombox hijacking, robots, bubble machines, light machines, rapping, and sweat inducing electronic dance party chaos, makes him hard to nail down, which even he attempts to reconcile in a simple summarizing statement: “we are not a rock n roll band, we are the tribe from 3005.”

Press clippings

2011-09-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

This post is organized as quotes that represent a larger article with either a link or pdf.

"Charlie Slick—self-proclaimed “synthesist for the people”—delivers minimalist electro-funk with unstoppably reckless enthusiasm... Slick combines wit, some homemade instruments, and a whole shitload of energy in his music."

-Patrick Dunn for A.V. Club on 10/18/11

"Saturday's show at Mark's Carts with Charlie Slick and Thunda Clap was totally awesome--quite possibly the best show I've seen all year. Anyway, they put on a great, high energy show. You should totally see them if you have the chance"

-Ben Conner Barrie for Damn Arbor blog on 9/5/11

"There are no words that can adequately describe Charlie's awesomeness..."

-Ryan J. Stanton for Writing With Light on 9/3/11

"True musicianship is just one of many tricks up the sleeves of Ann Arbor’s own Charlie Slick. The man’s a killer producer perpetuating basement ass shakin’ like none other with his infectious electro-infused synth hooks, raw rhythms and poppy lyrics. He’s a real showman. Energetic. Unapologetic. And always the first one on the dance floor with moves that often explode in a barrage lights and glitter. But Slick’s also an inventor, a problem solver, a DIY maker to the max and a freaking songwriting machine."

-Clay Adamczyk for Dig Boston 8/16/11

"On the stage, Charlie Slick is a full-on party-sensory assault, his electro-dance jams usually presented amid a light-show-soaked flurry of bubbles and glitter with audience participation. For one who invites so much chaos into his live shows you might be surprised to find his home is downright sedate (yet sweet) by comparison"

-Doug Coombe for Motor City Cribs/Metrotimes 9/29/2010

"I am not a robot…I am a person! Those lyrics from Charlie Slick's song "I Am Not a Robot" may not be as well known as some of the other words that have been produced by Ann Arbor musicians in the past but locally they are just as beloved...Anyone who thinks that Ann Arbor no longer has it's musical edge need look no further than at Slick---a frenetic ball of energy..."

-Kevin Weirzbicki for antimusic/Rockworld 6/15/2010

"While electronic pop is often accused of being flat and emotionally chilly, Slick has managed to create a song cycle of genuine poignancy and wit...Slick's a real songwriter and not someone who only knows how to knock some keyboard lines together"

-Mark Deming for AMG 2007

Relevant video

2011-09-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

A promo video for "Nomads on the plains of time" from "A Farout Indian".

"You've got the job" from "Elron Hubbard" 2010