This Microwave World

BIO

“This is the electric wirey kind of groovage that winds up into a form fitting tightly in your back pocket. Humming and humming away, you can carry this melody wire about with you wherever fate may lead, humming and humming away.” - Citizine

“Bristling at being labeled ‘electroclash’ early on, frontman Sean O'Neal and company spew a prickly discontent in the form of icy-hot grooves and sociopolitical witticisms that are a pinch of PiL, a pinch of the Fall…” - Michael Chamy, Austin Chronicle

“This Microwave World touch on new wave, no wave, post-millennial meltdown, and coldwar childhood, putting a uniquely ‘Austin’ spin on whatever passes for dance-punk these days.” - See You In The Pit

This Microwave World have been called "avatars of the dance revival," "vanguard of the even newer new wave," "synth-flavored rockers," and (their favorite) "electro-mods." In their early days, it seems the press couldn't lob enough trendy genres at them, thanks to their use of a drum machine and synthesizers. After being shoehorned into the "electroclash" fad due to their use of a drum machine, the band was tapped to open a number of style-over-substance road shows, culminating in an opening slot for W.I.T., three tall girls prancing around in designer dresses behind canned pop beats. The writing was on the wall: The drum machine had to go.

The next day Sean O'Neal (Guitar/Vocals) and fellow bandmates Evan Lawrence (Organ), Brandon Loe (Bass), and Erin Mikulenka (Synth/Vocals) ditched the offending timekeeper they'd had since their inception. "I never understood why just because we had a drum machine we were electro music," says O'Neal, "...People think they know what you sound like before they even listen to you."

Former On!Air!Library! drummer, Kevin Bybee replaced the machine and has infused a more organic feel to TMW's vibrant and urgent brand of rock (think Johnathan FireEater meets The Stranglers). Their music is "au courant" solely by the sum of its parts, not by design. From Motown to Mark E. Smith, TMW blend soulful rythyms with angular guitars, bleeding synths and wry lyrics, creating music that is both poignant and manic.

This Microwave World's first EP The Same Things Kill Your Kids spawned an international underground radio hit, "In Hospital" which has helped them gain a large audience. Since then, the band has been touring and released two more EPs, Total Information Awareness and Love Your Zine, Let's Go to Bed, both making several "Best of" Lists for 2003. Through their 70+ live shows they have drawn big crowds and their diversity of sound has given them opportunity to play with the likes of Spoon, ...Trail of Dead, The Rapture, Sebadoh, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Trans Am, Guitar Wolf, A.R.E. Weapons, and The Thermals.

December of 2004 found the band opening for Spoon throughout Texas and Lousiana as well as wrapping up recording of their first LP, to be released in the Spring of 2005 on Tight Spot Records. With East Coast tour plans to support the record in May as well as a slot at 2005’s SXSW, This Microwave World will be busy throughout the Spring and Summer. More info can be found at thismicrowavworld.com