The Judies
December 15, 2009 · Print This Article
Counting the number of musicians around the world would be like trying to count the stars in the sky…an impossible task. And for music lovers such as myself that’s a good thing, but on the other hand, it makes it that much harder for musicians to stand out from the crowd. That’s why we’re always pleased when we stumble across a truly unique artist or band who’s sound is original and who’s stage presence is captivating and for me The Judies is one such band.
Fronted by the charismatic Warren Ullom, The Judies is a hard band to characterize. They have a unmistakable, distinctive sound, but at the same time you swear you’ve heard it somewhere before. Their songs are original and catchy and will appeal to a wide variety of music fans. Their live show is personal and engaging, as if they’re trying their best to leave a lasting impression on each and every audience member and when you factor all these things together it makes The Judies a band to watch out for in the future.
The Judies consist of:
Dave Miksch – Drums
Warren Ullom – Lead Vocals, keyboard, guitar
Matt Smith – Guitar, backing vocals
Mike Sprinkel – Bass guitar, backing vocals
Give us some background on the band.
Mike: We started about five years ago when Warren and I were introduced at a local bar named “Mr. C’s” on Howell Mill Road. In the beginning, we were a Rockabilly punk band. Now we’re a sort of pop lounge rock outfit. After a plethora of lineup changes over the years, we think the current lineup is relatively permanent.
How long have you been playing together?
Mike: Ullom and myself have been in the formulation for almost five years, but the current lineup has been together for about 8 months.
How did you come up with the name The Judies?
Mike: We were inspired by the song name “Judy is a Punk” by “The Ramones.” We liked the arbitrary and fanciful nature of the name “The Judies,” thus we adopted as our band name.
Who are your musical influences?
Mike: Beck, the Velvet Underground, Harry Belafonte, David Bowie, Dr. Dog, The Bees
If you had to place your music in a category/genre, what would it be?
Mike: Pop/Experimental/Garage
Who’s the songwriter in the group?
Mike: Ullom is the primary songwriter, while the other members provide unique contributions via their respective instruments.
What messages do you try to convey with your songs?
Mike: Many of our songs are narratives inspired by past events, so the message depends on any given listener’s interpretation. In other words, while our songs adopt a sort of narrative form, they do not necessarily provide a “lesson” like a fable or nursery rhyme might. Thus, the listener is tasked with extracting a message, if any, from the song.
How would you describe your sound for someone that hasn’t heard you yet?
Mike: We often cite “gay polka” when asked this question. Frankly, I don’t know that any of us have ever heard “gay polka” or would even recognize it as such if given the opportunity. We’re basically just a pop rock band, which I realize is a broad categorization, but it avoids the risk inherent when applying a self assigned classification.
What would you say sets you apart from other bands?
Mike: Rugged good lucks, impeccable wit, fortitude of mind, body and spirit, and pleasant aroma.
The Judies is one of the more popular bands coming out of Atlanta, Georgia. Do you feel like you’ve outgrown the Atlanta music scene? Will we see The Judies on tour soon?
I suppose we’d have to feel like we’d conquered the Atlanta music scene in order to feel like we’d outgrown it. From this writer’s perspective, we have not conquered the scene so in my opinion we have not outgrown it. Regardless, we do plan a tour with in support of our upcoming album release in the near future.
Tell us about the new album? When will it be released?
Mike: Sometime in 2010, but I can’t provide an exact date. There’s still some finishing work that needs to be done.
What’s next for the The Judies?
Mike: Album release, tour, and then back to the studio.
For more information go to www.myspace.com/thejudies.
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