Song of the Day: Suckers - Beach Queen

Suckers at The Cutting Room Studios NYC
photo by Jon Vachon

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Morning Show host John Richards, is “Beach Queen” by Suckers from their 2009 self-titled EP via IAMSOUND.

Brooklyn’s Suckers are a prime example of what is happens when the underground smacks indie pop. The explosiveness of open palm meeting boney cheek creates a kinetic energy most associated with combativeness but in the case of Suckers, the created meetings of flesh turns out to be the fuel for their rich blend of indie pop and cult experimentalism. Often bands that blend the sounds of Animal Collective, Ariel Pink, and Bad Dudes clash with bands that dabble in the sounds of Wolf Parade, Chromeo, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — not that Suckers come anywhere close to mimicking any of those bands. However, the group draws a lot from every corner of music, clenching it into a tightly packed fist and unleashing it the unsuspecting public. “Beach Queen” is an odd amalgamation of 80s Hall and Oates and the works of Spencer Krug — the intersection where Philly soul meets for its ritualistic knife fight against Montreal pop. Anyone who’s been in their fair share of fights will tell you that the enemies, after pummeling each other, usually come out with a mutual respect — and sometimes a lasting friendship. While Suckers’ music may be one punch to the gut after another, in the end you and the songs will become chums of the highest degree.

Recently, Suckers performed a set exclusively for the Morning Show with John from The Cutting Room Studios NYC. Here’s a song and the interview from the session:

The band’s idea of a tour right now is staying put in NYC, playing various clubs in Manhattan and Brooklyn. They’ll be at the Bowery Ballroom in May and at Prospect Park this summer with MGMT. Other dates can be found on their MySpace page. While they inhabit the Big Apple, they continue to leave other big cities with not-so clever nicknames out in the cold. We’re in a forgiving mood considering when the band invades SXSW with “It Gets Your Body Movin’”: