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The Spell Versus Is Under: Acupuncture

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.

Fontaine: So having needles inserted in your body doesn’t sound relaxing? Believe me, try it, as acupuncture is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic procedures I’ve ever done and will continue doing. Not only is it relaxing, but it has helped cure me of the chronic shoulder pain I had gotten from the touring days when, on one occasion, I drunkenly thought it a great idea to carry my bass amplifier on my own. And yes it is true, I need help carrying that thing.

Video after the jump.