"Just to let you know - I love the 80s -
what I call the "janglecore" sound, i.e. The Feelies, Let's ACtive, Big Dipper,
The Bats, The Chills, the Clean, and all that C86, and Creation stuff. Well
some of that sound is back lately with the just outta college "kids"
rediscovering that sound. Kahoots are from Massachusetts (not sure if they are
"kids") and this is a nice example of that great guitar jangle I loved. These
four songs could be right from the Flying Nun/New Zealand catalog, especially
the organ flavored 'The Coroner Blinks Twice,' and the souble speed "jangle
punk" "Empty Boxes". Pure indie rock guitar pop songs at its best. A side note:
Chris Brokaw of Come/Codeine is listed as a member of Kahoots."
-Greg Vegas, Artrocker.com
If you haven't heard Kahoots yet, you're not to blame. Although the group formed in the mid-90s, for years they rarely traveled outside their home of Martha’s Vineyard, where they built an appreciative – often to the point of obsession – fan base. But consider yourself warned: you won’t forgive yourself if you miss them again. Kahoots write brilliant, catchy pop songs with thoughtful lyrics, more hooks than a pirate ship, and all the trappings of a good old-fashioned indie rock guitar band.
“Fourteen Ghosts,” their latest full-length, is their best album yet, combining the manic energy of punk rock with the total mastery of musicians who have played together for nearly a decade. Recent live shows in New York City and Massachusetts demonstrate what sets Kahoots apart: these kids play tight, fast, and never forget to have a good time.
Part of their new record, “Fourteen Ghosts,” was engineered in Chicago by rock hero Bob Weston (Shellac, Volcano Suns, Sebadoh), who has worked with them several times before. The rest of the record was engineered (all analog, direct to tape) by two of the band’s members, recording experts in their own right. The record preserves the energy of their live shows, but ups the ante even further with the help of a special guest, the legendary drummer and guitarist Chris Brokaw (Come, Codeine, The New Year, Pullman, Consonant). The record also features guest appearances from Bob Weston, Robbie Lee, and Kurt Ballou on woodwinds.
Kahoots’ first record for I and Ear was a 7-inch, released in the Fall of ’05 (on white vinyl, 33&1/3 rpm). It’s still available, as well as to download from iTunes, MSN, Napster, and other similar sites.
Bands they've played with include:
Mission of Burma, Chris Brokaw, Daniel Johnston, Scout Niblett, Nada Surf, Mr. Airplane Man, Adam Green, New Radiant Storm Kings, The Oranges Band, Bright Eyes, The Pernice Brothers, Wesley Willis, Lou Barlow, The Rosebuds, Palomar, Evan Dando, Dead Moon, French Toast, The Ponys, Jennifer O'Connor, etc...
