Esteemed Alumni / Lifetime Members
Joe Dahlen -- Everything, 2005 -- 2008
Kevin Davis -- Bass, 2006-2008
Cindy "Here Comes The Bass" Koh -- Bass, 2008-2008
Influences
A lot of love and hard work.
Sounds Like
LOOKING GOOD EP
2009 (digital only)
1. Looking Good
2. The Verge
3.Good at That
4. Dance Serene
5. She is a Jet
Check us out over at TheHardtoGet.com
Or follow us on Twitter @ thehardtoget
Bio
The Hard To Get (THTG) is the musical duo of Melissa Kaplan (guitar/lead vocals) and Tim Lee (drums/backup vocals). Formed in Los Angeles in 2006 as an indie rock outfit in the spirit of The Pixies and Sleater-Kinney, the band covered every venue from Echo Park to Venice. Their debut, self-released 2008 album, "This Is The New Business Plan," captured the band’s catchy, riff-driven songs while maintaining the hard, fast and electric feeling of their live shows. Their second EP, “Looking Good,” shows off the group’s eclectic side with a mix of more layers and even a quick venture into samba rock. Usually covering multiple genres in one set, the duo surprises an often one-trick pony LA rock scene with a passionate multi-layered sound and a revolving cast of guest players. Most THTG songs share a common thread of playful boy-girl harmonies, thoughtful lead and rhythm guitar progressions, and heartfelt melodic ideas.
THTG will be supporting their latest EP, “Looking Good,” with tours along the East and West coast throughout 2009. Check here and on their Web site for dates.
"Melissa Kaplan and Tim Lee, as the Hard to Get, play the girl-boy pop game pretty effectively, as their new EP, 'Looking Good,' testifies."
--Kevin Bronson, Buzz Bands
"The Hard to Get's Looking Good EP plays more like a full length piece of vinyl, with peaks and valleys, upbeat bubblegum and introspective heartbreak all wrapped up into one. Smack in the middle, Good at That is an excellent example of Melissa Kaplan's flawless guitar riffing and impressive vocal range. Dance Serene clearly demonstrates drummer Tim Lee's versatility and captures a samba vibe indistinguishable from music that would come straight from the heart of Brazil. How LA indie rockers can even think of pulling off a track like that and make it work is something to take note of. If truth in advertising matters, The Hard to Get are big fat liars. I get it and I like it."
--Jon Hershfield, Is Good Music
"The Hard to Get closed the night with a jaw-dropping set. This was the first time I got to see them live on stage and it was a stunner. If you could take your eyes off of Tim Lee's four or five arms (no way can he drum that way with only 2) or Melissa Kaplan's face-melting guitar work, you'd see an audience enamored."
--Jon Hershfield, Is Good Music
"On such a short set (about 20 minutes) with so many bright spots, it is difficult to choose a standout track, but I have done so anyway, and I’m going to go against the grain here. While in many ways, “Dance Serene” is the landmark track of Looking Good, it is the third song, “Good at That”, which has stuck with me from the moment of the first listen. Maybe it’s the sickeningly infectios “do do do” refrain, or the call and response style chorus. Or it could be the lyrics, which are terribly clever . . . I can’t really be sure, but I do know that this is clear cut, good songwriting and I like it."
--Eric Robertson, The Indie Handbook
"Funny, sarcastic, quick on their feet . . . I enjoyed them because it seemed like they were having fun, which crossed over into their music. Would I go see them again? Yes."
--Photolinguist
"Got 'Dance Serene' on loop in the car. Jesus, you guys are on fire."
--Kay Hanley, Letters to Cleo
"This music speaks to me. It’s quirky, it’s stylish and – most of all – it makes me think. Melissa and Tim sound like they’re enjoying every lick. Anyone can play music, but this is an enchanted vibe."
--Steve Chiotakis, Public Radio Host, Marketplace Morning Report
"The debut effort by Los Angeles pop group The Hard To Get, 'This Is The New Business Plan,' is a sweet, layered, occasionally raucous gem. The boy-girl vocals and careful instrumentation remind me of the shimmery, bittersweet music of 90s alt-pop band Velocity Girl, with noisy bits of Sleater-Kinney tossed in, mixing perfectly on the standout track, 'Buzzkill'. Recommended for fans of earnest, fun, indie pop."
--Massing Signals Against the Universe
"The Hard To Get are positive, polite, down to earth, and most importantly, punctual. They bring out a great crowd and can really make a room feel full with their ever-flowing energy."
--Rebecca Balin, Dramaturgy Booking & Promotions
So strange to see you've been added by someone you didn't know yesterday but who's sleeping on your floor today. But nice. Hope the rest of the dates are killer!
Hi Gang, It was great meeting you at the Jive (and we all loved your set). We'll be in touch - all the best with the tour :0) Tim (and the Time Machines)
holy crap! we finally have a show together! yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! like, times infinity. see you soon! finally...
Hi, my first mixtape here : ALAN HOWARTH Drive to santa mira ALICE COOPER School's out PRESIDENTS OF USA Ca plane pour moi JAY REATARD Let it all go FRED MYROW Welcome to morningside BROADCAST The black cat TENDER FOREVER Tender forever ALAN HOWARTH First chase JAY CHATTAWAY Cemetery chase DEVO Snowball ALAN HOWARTH Chariots of pumpkins WHY ? Pantone cyan SJ ESAU Sports man FABIO FRIZZI Sequenza coro e orchestra NECRO No remorse GEORGES DELERUE Les visiteurs YO LA TENGO Nuclear war GOBLIN Profondo rosso STEREOLAB Canned candies ENNIO MORRICONE Humanity (part 2) THIS HEAT Sleep BOB LIND Cool summer http://www.lesmixtapesdemesamis.blogspot.com/
One of my friends introduced me to you guys, and admittedly that's all that's been playing on my iTunes the past three days. Anywhere you play in VA will probably be 4-6 hours away from where I am, but I'm going to try to catch you in Philly!
Online Now!
