The Imposters
Evan Hein, Nickolai Preiss, and Miles Gretsky of The Imposters
Maybe they’re among us. Imposters. Walking among us even here in the South Bay – studying us, helping us, or plotting our demise. Perhaps your co-worker, choked by a “tie,” restricted by “underwear,” adhering to “9-5,” is actually gathering information for an intelligent planet revolving around a warm star in a distant galaxy. Or possibly some desperate bacteria hitched a ride on the back of a meteor that struck Earth, spawning over the millennia the walking-crawling life of this planet as we know it and the bi-pedestrian folk we call ourselves, humans… therefore making all of us imposters.
Maybe they walk among us.
The Imposters are a Hermosa Beach-based punk-rock band. Three gentlemen: two Costa grads, 1 RUHS grad, class of 2010 and ’11. They are Evan Hein (bass), Miles Gretsky (drums), and Nickolai Preiss (guitar, vocals, organ, piano, djembe, xylophone, banjo, bass, drums, kazoo, tambourine).
“When I was 11 [years old] and I thought this band would only play one show for my brother’s back porch get-together, I couldn’t think of a cool name – so I picked up an LA Weekly, looked at the music section, and saw an ad for Elvis Costello & The Imposters,” recounts Preiss of how The Imposters came to be. “I figured we would just use that name since we had never heard of those guys anyways. (I still haven’t heard their music)… As I’ve gotten gradually more interested in aliens and space travel over the past several years though, I’ve been applying the name as much as I can to that subject; such as how there could be aliens on Earth and they’re just posing as humans, therefore making them imposters.”
While The Imposters are generally best cornered into the genre of punk rock, and granted they are punk rock, with an edgy rawness and considerable attitude, their music goes well beyond the common expectations from said category. Their imminently forthcoming new LP “Animal Magnetism” boasts an impressive range of musical influences, which remain undeniably contained within the punk realm. One perhaps wouldn’t expect on a punk rock album to distinguish elements of surf, ska, blues, jazz, funk, psychedelia, and ’50s rock n’ roll. Or to hear saxophone, flute, organ, piano, xylophone… However, this dynamic South Bay band blends it together seamlessly, while retaining the clear assertion that it’s punk. It’s as if punk is the obvious and irrefutable orange peel, but when pulled back the citrusy mist and juices offer many colors, tastes, and sounds of a different nature. Gretsky says, “You can’t describe our genre… Young, pissed-off kids with musical taste.” Preiss states that it’s thoughtful and loud rock n’ roll, while Hein claims it’s everything. They’re all correct, but it is definitely punk. Genres aside; it’s eclectic, intelligent, and well done.
Genres concerned, the boys have struggled over the years to book regular shows in the South Bay.
Gretsky explains, “The main problem with booking shows in the South Bay is that if you are a punk band, venues automatically assume that your crowd will totally mess up their venue – which is a valid assumption.”
Hein adds, “Venues are just afraid of people getting rowdy, so there’s a general tension between the management and the bands. People aren’t looking for trouble, they just want a release.”
Preiss delves deeper. “I think music-based businesses in general are no longer willing to take risks. That being said, it just makes all of the venue owners’ lives that much more comfortable if they don’t give us a chance. Why would they support musicians anyways. Their alcohol sales pay the bills just fine.”
Scarce luck in locating all-ages venues has also always been another challenge to the band. A great way to pack a show is to get all of your friends there to support you; but if your friends aren’t old enough to drink the booze that pays the bills, then it’s difficult to generate a base following.
But the boys have gotten creative and are in the process of booking an all-ages record release party for “Animal Magnetism” in September at Alpine Village in Torrance. They’re also hoping to book a show at Cafe Boogaloo, probably the beginning of October, to kick-off their Fall tour. Local band and friends Temporal Love are likely accompanying The Imposters on tour up the west coast, into Canada, and down through the Midwest.
There’s a lot of “maybes” and “probablys” here; but with a bit of luck behind their proactive efforts, it will all come together.
Preiss says, “Just pay attention to your local telephone poles, electrical boxes, school entrances, or storefronts in the coming weeks if you are looking for more details.” I get the feeling there’s a “wink, wink” in there.
While The Imposters battle forth to play their music, they have persisted since 2005 and have indeed played some notable gigs. They’ve performed alongside the Circle Jerks, JFA, Smut Peddlers, Deadbeats, Anti, and Chuck Dukowski’s sextet. They even stirred enough intrigue in ’09 to be interviewed for Thrasher magazine, and on a couple of occasions have been voted Best Underage Band in Easy Reader.
By 2007 the band began releasing recordings. Preiss started his own label in 8th grade called Secret Records, and The Imposters’ debut CD “Crimes” preceded a string of vinyl pressings. The “Pool Maintenance” 7-inch followed in ’08 on Secret Records/Flat Black Distribution, “The Time Has Come” LP in ’09 on Secret, “Bus Stop Blues” 7-inch in ’10 on Secret/Nada Nada Discos (this investigative journalist happens to know there’re still a scarce few copies hiding at Lopa Lopa vintage clothing store in Hermosa Beach), “The First Four Years” cassette tape in March of ’11 on Foreign Fish Records, “Down By The Bay” 7-inch in July ’11 on Headcount Records, and the “Animal Magnetism” LP to be released this month on Dead Beat Records brings them up to speed; almost.
Preiss says, “I’m about to start a new label called Space Plates, and the first release will possibly be Temporal Love’s first album. Later this year, I’m planning to release a new Imposters album and a new 7-inch by The Neckties. Time will tell how that all works out…”
Indeed, time will tell if these imposters are up to no good, or great things. But at least for certain, we know these imposters are walking among us; watching us, helping us, or possibly plotting our demise…
The Imposters “Down By The Bay” 7-inch is out now, and “Animal Magnetism” breaks this September on limited vinyl only. The LP also features Brian Tuley (sax), Joe Lopilato (organ), Sean McGill (backup vocals), and Tyler Bozeman of Temporal Love (bass). The Imposters’ next LP “Invading” is due out by the end of 2011. To further inquire about details regarding the pending release show at Alpine Village, or the tour kick-off show at Cafe Boogaloo, contact the band at facebook.com/TheImpostersHermosa. And keep your eyes peeled for posters on every corner.