In the ’90s, most indie rockers were white males who cultivated a cool, detached image. New York-based Versus stood out from its contemporaries for many reasons. Its lineup included two (and sometimes three) Filipino-American brothers, it had a female bassist/singer, and the band gleefully professed its love for sports, meat and classic rock. After several albums and lineup changes continuing through 2001, the group went on a recording hiatus, only occasionally performing live. However, a reinvigorated Versus returned two years ago, and the band has just released On The Ones And Threes (Merge), its first full-length in a decade. Now consisting of singer/guitarist Richard Baluyut, drummer Edward Baluyut, bassist/singer Fontaine Toups, plus live violinist/keyboardist Margaret White, Versus picks up where it left off sonically: hypnotic melodies, male/female vocals and the occasional heavy guitar squall. The band members will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with them.
Richard: Also known as the Archers (I call dibs on band name), their film career together started with quixotic wartime dramas but eventually transcended reality to arrive at a fantastical and illusory place. My favorites (like The Red Shoes, Gone To Earth, Black Narcissus) walk that wire and rather than being timeless (an overused word in my opinion) transport me to my preferred era of the 20th century.
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6iiJk-LHOE