Skates. The name says it all, really. Skates propel you forward while everyone else is taking clunky steps and falling over. Skates work best in pairs. Skates can cut like a cold blade, or roll smoothly like a car at night. Skates make you think of t [+]Skates. The name says it all, really. Skates propel you forward while everyone else is taking clunky steps and falling over. Skates work best in pairs. Skates can cut like a cold blade, or roll smoothly like a car at night. Skates make you think of the days when roller rinks, polyester, and passionate music still ruled the earth. Skates mixes elements of hip-hop and electronica with decade-spanning vocal styles. Well, okay. Maybe the name doesn't say that last one. But it should, dammit. And Todd Drootin and Melissa Dungan, the masterminds behind Skates, will do their darndest to change it.
Todd Drootin has been doing salchows and tight spins around 'serious' electronic music for years as Books on Tape. Racking up high marks in both technical and artistic presentation, he has been dominating North America's DIY electronics scene. He recently shared the spotlight in a CMJ showcase with Tigerbeat6's Stars As Eyes in 2003. His most recent album, Books on Tape Sings the Blues, took the college world (and the heart of the Russian judge) by storm. He has appeared with acts ranging from Cursive and TV on the Radio to Restiform Bodies and Daedelus. He is known for his energetic live shows and left-side-of-the-rink style. When he's not holding a bouquet of roses and waiting for his score, he spends his time in his recliner with his cat, Nasty, and tries with all his strength to think rationally over the beats that pound in his head. He rarely succeeds, but his love of Italian food, electronic gear, political debate, board games, free jazz, and tight sequined open-shirt costumes help him through the tough days.
Meanwhile, Melissa Dungan executes verbal flips and lutzes with high degrees of difficulty. She draws on diverse influences all over beat literature, modern day comedy and social commentary, vocalists both real and imagined, and (of course) Brian Boitano. She has a funny habit of going completely nuts on stage, prompting audience reactions that range from staring dumbfounded to dancing spastically to holding up cards with numbers on them and cheering. Putting on her solo electronica alter-ego MQ Musik, she has performed with high flyers like David Cross to Nina Hagen. As the singing half of Skates, she has fun throwing her art through the fan at musical
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