Fans of Jon Spencer should head to the North Star Bar this Friday, Sept. 7, where his sister, Muffin Spencer, and her band Brassy are performing. Whether for curiosity or to have a good time, the show should be fun even for those who have never heard of the band.
Brassy’s blend of early hip-hop, punk, and pop create a sound that makes people dance. Their latest release, Got it Made, comes as a breath of fresh air to the music industry. Its lack of seriousness, along with good-time lyrics is a contrast to the overly-aggressive, overly-masculine groups, like Limp Bizkit. Muffin’s voice is guttural and cut, evoking images of what it would be like if P.J Harvey listened to hip-hop. The songs “I Can’t Wait” and “Good Times” give clues to the fact that, since 1986, Muffin has lived in Manchester, England.
Last time they toured, Brassy held a contest to see which city provides the most enthusiastic audience. They took pictures of the crowds from each town and posted them on their web site. Being that they wound up playing Philadelphia in the winter and at the Khyber, I doubt if our town even ranked in the band’s top 20.
But after having a video on MTV2 this summer, Brassy’s audience this time around will no doubt be larger, as it should be. The video, should also help to get the band some air play on this continent, being that they have received so much overseas.
Brassy’s sound is nothing like the Blues Explosion, but if Muffin’s stage antics take after her brother’s, then the show this Friday should prove to be entertaining.
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