In just over six months, The New Collisions have gone from an unknown club band to one of the northeast's fastest-rising acts. Fresh off a national tour with The B-52s and Blondie, they are gearing up for the release of their debut EP, Invisible Embraces, on November 17, and a national fall tour.
The story is unusual. Greg Hawkes, the legendary keyboard player from The Cars, caught one of the band's first shows during the winter. Over the spring, the band worked with Hawkes and with platinum-selling producer Anthony Resta (Duran Duran, Missing Persons), another early fan, on its first recordings.
The result speaks for itself. Influences from the New Wave explosion of '77-'83, plus the early 60s of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, meet a modern, dancey, intense sound. There are powerful female vocals, jagged analog synth, sweeping harmonies, and a message of lost youth in a world falling apart.
Suddenly a three-month-old band was selling out large clubs in Boston. The first tracks garnered full pages in The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix, and The Boston Herald, and wild praise from every blog tuned in to the local scene. "The sassy party of The New Collisions," wrote The Phoenix, "has fallen into place so well it's actually kind of fucked up." "If there is another New Wave revival," said The Herald, "credit The New Collisions and electric frontwoman Sarah Guild. She looks like a star waiting to happen."
It wasn't long before an offer came for a summer tour: The B-52s had chosen The New Collisions as their support act. Soon another offer came: Blondie--the band's number one influence--asked The New Collisions to be direct support at an upcoming show.
"We want The New Collisions to be about everything we love," says Sarah Guild, the band's platinum-haired frontwoman. "Fashion, art, melody, great lyrics--all the things that make pop music timeless. But to see it come together this quickly has been incredible. This music is our life; we'll go wherever it takes us."
Say hello! We rarely bite... thenewcollisions@gmail.com
The New Collisions are...
Sarah Guild--vocals Scott Guild--guitar Alex Stern--bass/vocals Casey Gruttadauria--synth/keys/logistics Zak Kahn--drums
"The New Wave–indebted Boston pop-rock act has been together for less than a year, but has already logged tours of duty with the B-52's and Blondie, and you can see why in their ultraenergetic live show. Make sure to check them out them if you like fun."--New York Magazine (Critic's Pick, Top Ten@CMJ)
"A gargantuan, refreshing blast of pure power pop. There should be no standing around at their CMJ showcases; if you can’t move to “Parachutes on the Dance Floor,” well, then, there’s no hope for you."--This Week In New York
"Nodding in sound and style to new wave's heyday in the late 1970s and early '80s is one thing. Doing it well enough to attract the attention of a bona fide member of one of the era's most iconic bands - and then recruiting him to play on your debut EP - is quite another. 'Greg [Hawkes] came out to one of our shows and and it just happened,' says Sarah Guild, whose platinum-blond locks are nearly as bright as the hooks on her band's self-titled debut EP." --The Boston Globe
"If there is another New Wave revival, credit The New Collisions and electric frontwoman Sarah Guild. This dance-pop act has no problem harking back to the giddy, sexy side of ’80s new wave. Platinum-blonde singer Sarah Guild looks like a star waiting to happen."--The Boston Herald
"The sassy party of the New Collisions, who began playing out only six months ago, has fallen into place so well it's actually kind of fucked up."--The Boston Phoenix
"There is no hotter band in the city than The New Collisions."--Ryan's Smashing Life
haha hey thanx!!!! i still listen to the EP i got a while back i think its great and i tunrd lots of my friends on to you guys i know your gonna be big im glad to be a fan befor the rest of the world ;D
Awesome show, again!! Enjoyed hanging out afterwards (even though the club atmosphere tends to wear me down a bit--my apologies)! I'll get those photos up soon! :)
Hi gang. Nice interview in the Deli. (http://www.thedelimagazine.com/newengland) We got one too, about four posts below you. We have similar influences. (We were on Ric Ocasek's top 8 when he used to administer his own Myspace.) Do you guys like Split Enz?
Hey!! What a HOT SHOW at the Bitter End! I bet they're not used to such hotness at this otherwise-known-for-acoustic-folk venue! It was an absolute pleasure! If you guys have a break coming up, you've earned it! :) BTW, Scott, save my t-shirt for next time!
