The Charms are, arguably, America's greatest garage band. Fronted by the sweet, sassy Ellie Vee, the Boston-based quintet delivers the rock 'n' roll goods on record and, more importantly, live.
the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, March 1, 2007 6:00 pm
The Charms are, arguably, America’s greatest garage band.
Fronted by the sweet, sassy Ellie Vee, the Boston-based quintet delivers the rock ’n’ roll goods on record and, more importantly, live.
The Charms will make its second Lincoln appearance Thursday night at Knickerbockers, touring behind “Strange Magic,” their fine new release on Wicked Cool Records, the imprint founded by Little Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band and “The Sopranos.”
Now, the godfather of garage, Little Steven, has adopted The Charms, featuring the band on his Underground Garage radio show and Sirius satellite radio channel, sending them on his old-school package tours and signing them to his label.
“They've got the three things that make a band a contender,” Van Zandt says in the band's bio. “They're great writers, great performers, and their attitude is right, which means they're fearless.”
Formed in 2002 by Vee and guitarist Joe Wizda, The Charms soon became one of the most popular bands in Boston, playing what Vee calls “every dive in the Northeast” while releasing four records —2003's “Charmed, I'm Sure,” 2004's EP “So Pretty,” 2003's “Pussycat” and the just-released “Strange Magic.”
Produced by Detroit's garage master Jim Diamond, “Strange Magic” draws on rock ’n’ roll past — from the girl groups of the '50s and '60s to the earliest punk band and is one of those catchy records that just keeps gettng better and better.
But garage rock is even more about delivering the goods live than it is making records, and Vee had the Zoo audience captivated in about two songs last time The Charms played. With a few more years of touring and another great record to draw from, The Charms should be great and live up to its rep as the top of the garage pops.
— L. Kent Wolgamott