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Electropop duo brings unique act to Cedars
By John Benson
YOUNGSTOWN
Dancing and drumming is what Sagit “Cupcakes” Shir does a lot of as one half of husband-and-wife act Hank & Cupcakes. However, audiences often aren’t quite sure what to expect when the electropop duo, which includes bassist Ariel “Hank” Scherbacovsky, takes the stage.
“It’s just the two of us, I play drums standing up, and Hank plays bass,” said singer-drummer Shir, calling from New York City.
“Our look is very colorful, and I think people don’t know what to expect. They see a girl about to play drums, but they don’t expect the wall of energy and sound. They don’t expect to get a very sincere, raw show that it is.”
Youngstown audiences are about to find out why critics have been raving about the Brooklyn-based – by way of Israel and Cuba – outfit, which has booked a Wednesday show at Cedars West End.
The twosome is supporting its recently released album “Cash 4 Gold,” which acts as a follow-up to its 2013 debut effort “Naked!” Shir said the group’s first CD has more of a Euro-dance-pop vibe that was a result of recording the album in Berlin.
That project ended up being picked up by a major label, which wasn’t the best experience for Hank & Cupcakes.
Shir said “Cash 4 Gold” was inspired by the group’s restricted existence and eventual creative independence.
“We were very unhappy so we were able to break free,” Shir said.
“We took a whole year off, kind of reorganized and made this record completely ourselves. This new album is much more eclectic and has a whole bunch of different styles – electric to more soft and poppy and rock things.”
Among her “Cash 4 Gold” favorites are the pop-folk sounding “Bat Your Eyelids,” the rock ’n’ roll “Relax,” the ballad “Count Down” and the Cuban-inspired “Cocaina.”
The latter track is inspired by the six months Shir and Scherbacovsky lived in Fidel Castro’s homeland.
“We’re originally from Tel Aviv,” Shir said. “We decided we wanted to learn more music and we felt it was time to leave Israel. I was studying congas at the time and my teacher kept telling me Cuba is an amazing place to study drums. I went there for a month and studied congas and drums.
“It was incredible, so we both decided that would be a more unique experience than going to study music at a college. It was crazy.”
As far as the live show, Shir said lately Hank & Cupcakes has been garnering comparisons to fellow Brooklyn band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
There are also hints of early Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ting Tings and The Kills.
“People can expect to be a little bit surprised because it’s never what it seems,” Shir said.
“There’s a really big sound to it, and it’s very high-energy. People can expect to come and dance and have a lot of fun.”
So it sounds like we should bring our dancing shoes.
“Definitely bring your dancing shoes,” Shir said. “I’ll be dancing on stage as well, as much as I can while drumming at the same time.”