New York-based, Baltimore transplants, Girls Like Cigarettes boast not only the type of infectiously catchy alt-rock one might've heard on 120 Minutes circa 1990 -- thus channeling groups like Husker Du, Catherine Wheel, Stone Temple Pilots, Teenage Fanclub, and the Pixies, all of whom loom large in the band's output -- but have the impressive ability to be supremely populist yet to truly sound like nobody else on the scene today.
Although having been on hiatus for the last 18 months, the group is now re-emerging in 2011. They have in the past played such notable venues as SONAR (Baltimore), THE ANNEX (NYC), DON HILLS (NYC), ASYLUM (DC), THE RED & THE BLACK (DC), VELVET LOUNGE (DC), MERCURY LOUNGE (NYC). They have also prominently been featured on INSOMNIA RADIO, XM RADIO, TLP RADIO, 98 ROCK WIYY, UNSUNG HERO, WHFS 105.7, WFMU (live on-air), and WTMD RADIO BALTIMORE, and also featured in CMJ New Music Monthly as well showcasing at CMJ2008.
A collection of the group's first three-song EP, their second double A-side Single, rare tracks, radio edits, and bonus songs is available on ITUNES: "Let's Hear it for the Beautiful Death Machines." Produced by Steven Wright (SR71, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Slipknot) and Grammy-Award winning Producer John Seymour (U2, Santana, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Alice in Chains, Common, Thursday).
PRESS, NARCISSISM, ETC.:
"'Combustible You' is a masterpiece of genius lyric writing and melody. Everything about the song is perfect. The sweet groove and smooth feel are such magnificently sublime counterparts to the bitter, vengeful lyric. Where has this band been hiding and why are they not world-famous?" - Garageband.com
"'Combustible You' rides a Stuart Davis-esque wave of radio-ready pop, but, like that enigmatic singer/songwriter's works, the lyrics aren't typical Top 40 fare: 'For better or worse / You exploded first.'" - 15 on Matt Perrine's "Shake*Your*Shores" Awesome Mixtape Series No. 29 @ flyhighduluth.blogspot.com
"The chiming fretwork on "Beautiful Death Machines" recalls the work of underrated 90's group Wire Train. They also evidence good taste by claiming influences from Hüsker Dü to Teenage Fanclub." -- Bill Kopp, Editor-in-Chief Skope Magazine, writing for Musoscribe.com.
".As the song went on I realized that: a) it rocks and b) it's catchy as hell. This could be a radio hit, or could have been one in the 90's. Anyway, this is a song I will download and listen to again and again and again." TokyoPopStar Online Blog, review of "Whatever Happened?"
"'Whatever Happened?' is the type of the song that makes you believe that rock and roll never went away.huge guitars, massive drums, and vocalist Joe Black singing like he's ripping his heart out.it transports me back to Everclear's "Santa Monica" and the energy of the Nirvana "Nevermind" album. Christ, those are big shoes to fillbut, hey, maybe these guys CAN save rock and roll." TIME OUT NY - CMJ2008 Supplement.
"A pop sensation, but with an off-beat, alternative side. Very interesting and very different.Definitely a band to watch out for on the Alternative scene!" - SKOPE MAGAZINE ONLINE REVIEW
"'COMBUSTIBLE YOU'" - KINGS OF A&R, "Choice Pick," 10 November 2008, Soundcheck.
"Brash and Arrogant, supremely talented, and catchy as hell. New York City's answer to Oasis" PennLive.com MMC music sampler
"Girls Like Cigarettes" - TRASH BAR FESTIVAL - "A 5 day concert series and live album intended to capture the excitement, enthusiasm, and aesthetic of the New York rock and punk scene in 2008 from the bands that make it happen."
"Combustible You" - CMJ - NEW MUSIC MONTHLY - CD SAMPLER - Vol 153 (Jan-Feb 08)
"This is a mix I can't wait to dig into.the sweet sounds of Kaiser Chiefs, Girls Like Cigarettes, the Sugarbabes & Thoroughly Modern Millie." Lizziegreeneyes mog.com online music blog
"Girls Like Cigarettes put on one hell of a live show" --Tracii Guns, LA GUNS
"This band is the SHIT" --Pop Tarts Suck Toasted online blog
"Girls Like Cigarettes is already being compared to REM, The Cure, and early-era U2.not bad company if you ask me." - WDBK 91.1 "REAL 91" - The Starting Five Showcase / TOP 30 Charting Artist
"Girls Like Cigarettes are no joke." - DJ MOJO, BREAKTHRU RADIO DJ, writer for SPIN MAGAZINE, and former member of legendary NYC band SWANS
"Girls Like Cigarettes is one of the best 3-piece bands around today. Smart, catchy, loudvery rarely does a band pull off all three so well." --Tim Poggioli, DJ Insomnia Radio Baltimore
"I don't know if girls like cigarettes.but they're going to LOVE Girls Like Cigarettes." - Tim Qualls, Host of the Tim Qualls Show, Comcast 28, Philadelphia/NJ/Delaware
"I received the new Girls Like Cigarettes CD today and, if their mission was to blow my mind, they have valiantly succeeded. Wonder how many spins in my car's cd player it'll take to melt this f*cker." - Smoke Ring Productions Online Blog
"Girls Like Cigarettes have GREAT guitar tones." -Guitar Player Magazine Editor Matt Blackett
"What's that I hear? Happy Days-era Catherine Wheel? Maybe some Doolittle-era Pixies? Mix that with some of the band's bombastic early-U2 inspired arena-ready choruses, and you've got one winning fuckin formula." -- "old school" .alternativerawk! online blog
"Girls Like Cigarettes are an alt-rock band in the most traditional sense of the term.they love the Pixies and Hüsker Dü.TIMELESS!!!" --The L Magazine NYC's CMJ ISSUE
"Girls Like Cigarettes was the best band I saw at CMJ08! These guys just freaking ROCK." --Revolution 91.7 WWHR Program Director Marjorie Yambor
RADIO/TV/PRESS: CMJ COLLEGE MUSIC JOURNAL; SKOPE MAGAZINE; TIME OUT NEW YORK; VILLAGE VOICE; BALTIMORE CITY PAPER; WFMU 91.1 New York, NY; WIYY 98 Rock Baltimore, MD; WDBK 91.1 Camden, NJ; WHFS 99.1 Baltimore, MD; WVUA 90.7 University of Alabama; WTMD 89.7 Towson, MD; WVUM 90.5 University of Miami; WMUC 88.1 College Park, MD; WLOY Baltimore, MD; WBMB 89.7 New York, NY; WMBC Baltimore, MD; Breakthru Radio; Warp.com.mx Radio (Spanish Language); The Tim Qualls Show: DE/PA/NJ; Insomnia Internet Radio BALTIMORE & NEW YORK; TLP Internet Radio (Tampa); Tim Duncan Show - WFMU NYC; XM RADIO; Technorati; Large Hearted Boy; Pop Tarts Suck Toasted; Brooklyn Vegan; The Capstone Connection, Tranquilizer Records Radio (Toronto), Indie Crown Internet Radio (Chicago), Bullpit Podcast Radio (Los Angeles), SKOPE TV and RADIO; RockRadioCafe Internet Radio.
ABOUT THE BAND:
--Lead singer/bassist Joe Black was a founding member of DC HarDCore stalwarts Greenhouse, which also sported members of indie/punk legends Lungfish and Slow Jets.
--Guitarist Ralph Rodriguez was a member of DCIDE records/major label upstarts Agents of the Sun, and as such has toured the country with the likes of 311, Trapt, Staind, Saliva, and Papa Roach.
--Drummer Jeff Reed was a member of Fowl Records experimental outfit Venus Sparkplug (along with Black), and has done session work with the likes of LL Cool J and Evan Taubenfeld (Avril Lavigne).
