Love electrorock? Hiphop? Electronica? Um… dancing? Check out early 80s New York band ESG.
They were so heavily sampled that they actually titled an EP, Sample Credits Don’t Pay Our Bills.
They opened for The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and their work’s been sampled by acts like TLC, The Beastie Boys, Tricky, and Wu-Tang Clan. Pretty impressive for a group of sisters from the Bronx.
I love them because of their blend of old-school and new-school approach; they use traditional instruments (bongos, guitars, bass) to produce a futuristic, near-electronic sound that reminds me of Krautrockers like Can and Kraftwerk. ESG were able to produce some very atmospheric sounds with a mix of minimal melodics and maximum rhythm, capturing the magical madness of New York City like so many before and after.
ESG play their final gig in June at Le Poisson Rouge.
Go if you can. Thank me later.