Johnny Headband

Mercurial Detroit-based, electro/space pop outfit Johnny Headband was designed and directed by siblings Chad and Keith Thompson, both of whom began a torrid love affair with multimedia in their early teens. Alternately amiable and steely eyed, the brothers honed their artistic muscles on a steady diet of home movies, synth pop, Krautrock, disco, new wave, shoegaze, and classic rock, meticulously choreographing dance moves, building a formidable wardrobe, and tirelessly composing songs that skillfully infused the lusty, eyeliner-heavy swagger of early Roxy Music and Berlin-era Bowie with the wild neon abandon of a Factory Records house party. The band's first few years were busy on all fronts, with Chad constantly refining songs in his home studio, and Keith disappearing for months at a time while touring the world as the bass player for the Electric Six, but by the time they released their 2006 debut, Happiness Is Underrated, they were already laying the groundwork for the next phase. 2009's Phase 3 EP found the group expanding to a quartet, a move that allowed the Thompson brothers the room to explore new sonic territories, especially in a live setting. This new approach reached its apex with the release of their second full-length album, which was recorded in a rustic cabin in northern Michigan. The resulting Who Cooks for You was released in May, 2012, and was followed by a European tour. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi