Who are they? The acronym stands for North America/South America, which is the duo moniker for Los Angeles-based DJs Squeak E. Clean (Sam Spiegel) and Zegon (Ze Gonzales). With a name-dropping assist from MTV-turned-big-screen director Spike Jonze (Spiegel's brother), the duo developed enough cred to get some big-name performers to guest on their just-issued debut album, "The Spirit of Apollo."
Why the buzz? Just look at the names who contributed to the disc: Tom Waits, Kanye West, David Byrne, Karen O, M.I.A., Chuck D, George Clinton and even the late Ol' Dirty Bastard (the album was five years in the making). The guest list has sparked a whir of press/blog praise in recent weeks and jump-started the duo's first full tour, which includes dates at the South by Southwest Music Conference.
What do we think? N.A.S.A. excels at the terrific mash-up gimmick that made Girl Talk famous -- i.e., Waits' vocals on top of Kool Keith, or Byrne with Chuck D., etc. Except while Girl Talk swipes his music off other people's records, these guys actually get the artists to come in and do their thing. The results aren't necessarily more exciting, but they are more original and organic, a quality that fuels the standout bump-n-grinder "Whachadoin'" with M.I.A. and Spank Rock. The big question is how Zegon and the Squeak will fare without their starry friends at these tour dates.
When's the gig? 10 p.m. today, Triple Rock. 21 and older. $15. Mel Gibson & the Pants open.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
