After a move from Boulder to Brooklyn in 2007, Caroline Polacheck, Aaron Pfenning and Patrick Wimberly started developing their hypnotic, synth-pop sound. Their first release was an acclaimed 7-inch and digital DL single for “Evident Utensil.” The NME called it “a charming pop oddity,” Exclaim! gave it “immediate cult status,” and RCRDLBL.com deemed it “the best single from a Brooklyn band since like TV on the Radio or something.” Comparisons were also made to The Knife, Of Montreal, and Yaz(!). The B-side of this limited 7″ was a psyched-out remix by MGMT.
The band spent the summer of ’08 touring the US with Ariel Pink, and In the early fall, Chairlift’s popularity exploded when the band’s catchy pop single “Bruises” got chosen for the colorful new iPod Nano-Chromatic commercial. In October, Chairlift played a well-received series of CMJ shows before heading to Canada to join Yeasayer on a brief US tour. By November, they were in Europe for their first overseas tour. They rounded out the year on the west coast playing a few dates with Vampire Weekend. Chairlift ended the year as strongly as they started, with Does You Inspire You being named one of SPIN Magazine’s Top 40 Albums of 2008.
Does You Inspire You track listing:
1. Garbage
2. Planet Health
3. Earwig Town
4. Bruises
5. Somewhere Around Here
6. Evident Utensil
7. Territory
8. Le Flying Saucer Hat
9. Make Your Mind Up
10. Dixie Gypsy
11. Don’t Give A Damn
12. Chameleon Closet
13. Ceiling Wax
Chairlift recently performed with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and are currently on their first tour of 2009 with YACHT, Sebastian Tellier and Peter, Bjorn & John. They will be performing the following dates at SXSW:
Thurs. 3/19 Other Music Showcase @ Red 7 – 12AM
Thurs. 3/19 Gigotron/Videothing Showcase @ Club 1808
Fri. 3/20 Urban Outfitters Party – 5PM
Fri. 3/20 Under the Radar Party @ Flamingo Cantina – 3:15PM
Sat. 3/21 Filter Magazine [email protected] 1PM
Sat. 3/21 This Side Up Sounds Party @ Red Eyed Fly