In the ’90s, most indie rockers were white males who cultivated a cool, detached image. New York-based Versus stood out from its contemporaries for many reasons. Its lineup included two (and sometimes three) Filipino-American brothers, it had a female bassist/singer, and the band gleefully professed its love for sports, meat and classic rock. After several albums and lineup changes continuing through 2001, the group went on a recording hiatus, only occasionally performing live. However, a reinvigorated Versus returned two years ago, and the band has just released On The Ones And Threes (Merge), its first full-length in a decade. Now consisting of singer/guitarist Richard Baluyut, drummer Edward Baluyut, bassist/singer Fontaine Toups, plus live violinist/keyboardist Margaret White, Versus picks up where it left off sonically: hypnotic melodies, male/female vocals and the occasional heavy guitar squall. The band members will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with them.
Edward: Definitely worth the 11-hour flight. You haven’t had steak until you’ve been to the parrillas in Buenos Aires. It has something to do with the grass the cattle eat in the Pampas. And you can try all the different cuts on a single platter (my favorite is bife de chorizo, or rump steak). The ridiculously cheap prices don’t hurt either. Another secret: The best Italian food I’ve ever had has actually been in Buenos Aires, where 30 percent of the population is Italian. Who knew?
Video after the jump.
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IN BUENOS AIRES There is lots INDIE ROCK