For a band that drinks a lot and drives around in a ramshackle school bus, the 4onthefloor sure do have a clear-headed, tidy sense of packaging and branding through commonality. That much is obvious by their core concept (playing all 4/4 songs with the use of four kickdrums). Further proof comes in the form of the quartet's just-released EP, "...And 4 Riders Approached at Dawn," which you can sample for free at the band's Soundcloud page. It's on sale at iTunes and the many, many local 4OTF shows.
Four of the EP's five songs -- a four-song disc apparently would have been too obvious -- all pertain to canis lupis. Wolves, that is. There are two new songs on it titled "Howl for Me" and "Sheepskin." There are also two very well-chosen covers: a slurry, harrowing version of Howlin' Wolf's "I'm the Wolf" and a fist-pumping take on David Bazan's "Wolves at the Door." TV on the Radio's "Wolf Like Me" also probably would have been too obvious (and probably hard to play in 4/4). The EP's lead-off track, "Hold," also has certain wolf-like qualities, from its on-the-prowl lyrics to frontman Gabriel Douglas' full-throat-howling vocals.
Wolf themes aside, the EP serves the 4onthefloor well. Even though the band's debut album, "4 X 4," only just came out this spring, the demand for fresh material has been greatly hastened by the guys' maniacal local gig schedule of late. Not that I mind hearing "Undertow" everywhere I go, but it'll also be nice hearing some newer stuff. Fans will predictably have that chance twice this weekend, starting with Friday night's Rock the Boat cruise with Wayne Newton, followed by the West Bank Music Festival after-party at the Nomad Pub on Saturday. They then wind down the Vita.mn August Music & Movies series at the Lake Harriet Bandshell on Aug. 26 -- nicely paired with "Strange Brew," although "Teen Wolf" suddenly seems the better choice.
