Obsessed gamers, anime fanatics and manga readers will unite this weekend as the “Slants army” floods the stage of everybody’s favorite Asian dance-rock act.
Reinvigorating the new wave and electronica scene, The Slants mix rock with power pop, propelled by furious dance beats and vocals resembling that of ’80s legend Billy Idol.
Based in Portland, Ore., The Slants have only been around since June 2007, but quickly won the ears of Asian media critics with trendy Hello Kitty looks and a catchy, jump-up-and-down sound. Now admired by thousands in the die-hard Asian culture troop, The Slants are booked two years in advance for Asian/anime conventions worldwide.
The band’s full-length debut “Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts,” made it to AsiaXpress’s “Top 5 Asian-American albums of 2007.” The album has also been controversial in some circles.
“We sing for the Japanese and the Chinese and all the dirty knees,” chants vocalist Aron Maiden in “Sakura Sakura,” a song that takes “hateful rhymes about Asians” and turns it “into a song about unity and being proud of our heritage.”
“Most of the people that find our name racist aren’t even Asian. We’re saying to the world, ‘We’re proud of who we are, we aren’t going to hide it.’ In fact, our biggest support has been from the Asian community itself,” said bassist and founder Simon Young in a press release.
The Slants will perform at the WOW Hall on Friday along with Eugene’s own Science Heroes and The Ovulators. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.
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The Slants prepare to take WOW Hall by dance-frenzy storm
Daily Emerald
January 21, 2009
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