The New Up makes new friends in the Valley

By John Benson

These are exciting times for San Francisco-based rock act The New Up, which is not only in the running to be named MTV’s “Bay Area Breakout Band” but will make its Youngstown debut Sunday at Cedars Lounge.

While the former could lead to mass exposure and perhaps stardom, it’s the latter that The New Up singer E.S. Pitcher is looking forward to.

“Last year, we played Cleveland, and we hooked up with [Youngstown band] The Zou,” said Pitcher, calling from her San Francisco home. “And we just really hit it off with them, loved their music and loved them as people. They’re going to come out to California and we’ll do some shows with them, but they haven’t yet. So basically we’re doing 26 shows across the U.S. and we’re doing four with them.”

Formed just a few years ago, The New Up is employing an EP trilogy to get their music released. This plan began a year ago with “Broken Machine,” continued recently with the release of “Better Off” and culminates with the final EP due out in early 2010.

“The first EP was cool because we charted on the CMJ Top 200,” Pitcher said. “We’re a total DIY band, so that was great for us. ‘Broken Machine’ is an idea that things aren’t working but we tend to hold on to things that are familiar. But it’s not allowing us to move forward. The whole idea is the machine is broken, so it’s about being in that place of stagnant and holding onto things based on familiarity. And ‘Better Off’ is the sequel in the sense that realization that you’re better off without having things holding you back.”

Stylistically speaking, “Broken Machine” was more pop-based, while “Better Off” finds the act displaying an edgier and more focused vibe. So far, the band has garnered comparisons to newcomer rock act Silversun Pickups; however, Pitcher isn’t convinced that’s accurate.

“It’s kind of weird, I don’t think we do, but it’s like our genre of music is similar,” Pitcher said. “But I think it’s kind of been our blessing and our curse that I don’t think we really sound like anybody. We’re definitely in the rock genre, and there might be some new wave. I think in this day and age people ask, ‘OK, What do they sound like?’ And then after our show, I ask people what does our music sound like and they say, ‘I don’t know.’”

She added, “I don’t think we sound like our influences at all, but I’m a diehard Beatles fan and I really look to them as far as the craft of songwriting. As clich as it is, we’re extremely inspired by Radiohead and just their melodies and how inventive they are in terms of their layering and use of space. Also, I’m really inspired by Pixies.”

Pitcher is optimistic like-minded music fans will enjoy The New Up’s rock show, which will feature plenty of original tunes, as well as perhaps a cover from U2 (“Bullet the Blue Sky”) or Jane’s Addiction (“Mountain Song”). Whatever the material, Pitcher says the results are equal parts cathartic and visceral.

“I think anyone who really is an appreciator of music, who appreciates performance, will enjoy our show,” Pitcher said. “We just don’t like to look at the ground and play. We like to give a show. That’s really important to us. I really love the performers where there’s just like a lot of raw energy on stage. And instead of doing a show where there are choreographed steps, it’s just a really true and raw performance where people are moving and playing organically.”

She added, “Like I love Iggy Pop. I think he’s one of the greatest performers. So like him, what you see is really authentic and true in the moment.”