We’re kicking off December’s Band of The Month run a little early, and for damn good reason: the music world needs advance notice of this much ass-kicking. Los Angeles rock quintet Irontom are the musical equivalent of a pile of high-powered illegal fireworks thrown into a bonfire at the most kickass party you’ve ever been to.
With a buoyancy and sharp energy befitting British pop-rockers, the boys have a similar sense of ecstatic energy to what Arctic Monkeys possessed early in their careers. Guitarist Zach Irons, singer Harry Hayes, bassist Dane Sandborg, Daniel Saslow on keys and drummer Dyl Williams present a unified front of explosive, angular rock with a level of talent that gives us more than a hunch that Irontom has one hell of a future between them.
With spastic, jerking guitar riffs that sound like a cross between John Frusciante and Joshua Homme, Zach has clearly made the best of his influences growing up on the road with his father, Jack Irons (RHCP, Pearl Jam, Eleven). This is a fine balancing counterpoint to Harry’s flailing, contorting, wide-eyed expressionism, wrapped in an impossible magnetism that bands filling Los Angeles are desperately faking as you read this now. Add Dan’s gorgeous key flourishes and the churning rhythms brought by Dane & Dyl, and the deck is stacked for excellence.
Through pure rockin’ excellence laced with harmonies, charm and infectious buoyancy, Irontom has gotten the cosign treatment from none other than the amazing Alain Johannes (from Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Cultures), who produced both their Loose and Nitro EPs.
And now they’ve gotten ours as well. We’ll be bringing you a new Irontom song performance each week throughout the month of December as part of our Band of The Month series, recorded at the beautiful Swing House studios in Hollywood. But first, let’s kick it off with a pre-Thanksgiving double dose of goodness from the guys.
Watch below as a creeping, poignant rise gives way to a positively searing solo in “Goin’ Slow”. No, seriously, check out this goddamned solo. My goodness.
Also check out the crass, jarring excellence of “What Will Happen To All The Indie Stars?”
Keep up with Irontom below, and check back next week for the next Band of The Month session performance from the band, including a supremely kickass Gorillaz cover!
Check out the Nitro EP in full at Irontom’s official site.
Special thanks to Swing House studios!
Previous Band of The Month Performances:
Alain Johannes / Grieves / Steel Panther / Vintage Trouble / Semi Precious Weapons
Hot Karate / RX Bandits / Nico Vega / The Mowgli’s / Dessa / Everlast
The Wild Feathers / The Silent Comedy / LP
