the NODS

Comparisons are dumb. Every band sounds like some other famous band, and it’s all just a bunch of name-dropping nonsense. Queens of the Stone Age crossed with The Beatles and The Killers -- if that means something to you, go with it.



We’re guessing The Nods’ guitar-driven retro rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t need a bunch of overly clever labels and comparisons. You could call it garage rock flavoured with pop overtones -- and many journalists have -- but why not just turn it up and listen?



Visit MySpace and start with Blame, a signature track that finds the group maintaining the energy of the garage while incorporating tight harmonies and classic pop hooks. Then take a listen to Gimme Love, a danceable rocker where a simple melody explodes into a raucous sing-along chorus and a driving instrumental jam. Interested yet? Here’s the rest of the story:



Since 2003, The Nods have been cranking out music that doesn’t need to be labelled beyond energetic and catchy. Debuting with Everything You Know Is Wrong in 2005, The Nods broke onto the vibrant Winnipeg scene and were quickly regarded as a band to watch. Regular gigs reinforced that opinion and allowed the guys to share their energy live with a growing number of fans.



In October 2007, the sophomore release Static Pop showed a group that wasn’t content to hang out in the garage and crank out straight-ahead rock. By stepping out of the basement and refining its sound, the quintet was rewarded with showcase slots at RedGorilla MusicFest in Austin, Tex., Canadian Music Week in Toronto, and Musexpo at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Static Pop rose to No. 172 on the CMJ Top 200, with tracks receiving airplay on 204 college radio stations across North America.



In 2008, the band signed an MTV licensing deal that gives shows such as Life of Ryan, The Hills and The Real Life access to The Nods’ catalogue, and Uh-Huh was featured in the Nations Foundation film One Day.



The band’s latest is Roar, which finds the quintet taking things further -- tighter harmonies, catchier melodies, bigger hooks and more energy. The disc will drop in April 2009, just after the band hosts a Northern Exposure Showcase at the RedGorilla MusicFest. The new material will be on proud display throughout the year as The Nods tour both North America and Europe.



A video for Blame is also in the works, with Absurd Machine Films heading a shoot inside Winnipeg’s famous Royal Albert Arms Hotel.



Yeah, The Nods are doing all the right things -- filling out their resume, leaving it onstage every night and writing polished songs with a rough and ragged edge.



Now you do the right thing -- check out their music or see them live.