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John Coulter on Datafrogs

November 23, 2007

Editors Note: This article was originally written by JC months ago. It’s being posted now. The Fix would like to formally apologize to Mr. Coulter and request that he not think of us as flaky douchebags in the future.

Dear Baltimore,

Do you know who you are missing exactly? DataFrogs. Honestly, this writer does not understand why their shows aren’t sold out everytime they play locally. Readers at home: at this point in the program you copy and paste in a new window (http://www.myspace.com/datafrogs) and continue along with me in this opinion piece. You will know when it is time to turn the page….

Datafrogs, consist of Jack (synths & vocals), Mike (bass & vocals), Naveed (guitar & synths), Zack (beats n’ drums). This was the lineup I saw at Sonar in Baltimore. I saw them again all the way out in Centreville, VA of all places and again, the band blew me away. One key difference- the Centreville show had a sick Jack (so no vocal here) and a family emergency absent Naveed (so, minus a synth and guitar). What?

Find me a band missing 3 layers that #1 still play and #2 destroyed the place and you have found me a working hardcore well-rounded band; a band capable of fearless improvisation and a workhorse mentality. They carried the night on a set shared with Hardcore metal, rappers, a funk rock band, and a DJ (don’t boo me).

That said- their music online is great; doesn’t match their shows intensity (can anyone say Lake Trout?). These guys are an electronic rock outfit seemingly on the same pot that Daft Punk, Duran Duran, and Jamiriquia’s band have been smoking for the past 15 years.

My humble advice to the band? Record more shows live with some decent devices. Then sell that thing over and over and over and over.

My humble advice to the reader and to the clubgoers in the 410? Keep missing them play if you are mad at yourself and looking for proper punishment.

Yours
JC
www.myspace.com/johncoulterjc
www.myspace.com/jcanddlake