The Slants -
Anime
Convention Personalities of the Week - March 9, 2008
Sports nicknames like
"Boilermaker," "Canuck," "Tar Heel" and "Sooner" weren't always beloved
titles. They were insults that were liberated by turning them into
nicknames. When referring to Asians, "slant" is considered as much an
insult by some as "redskin" is seen by many in referring to native
Americans. Yet, there's a rock band from Oregon that deliberately chose
"slant" as their title. What some consider to be an old-fashioned
pejorative, The Slants consider to be just...a name. It's the sort of
thing that can get attention. In a world crowded with independent,
hopeful rock bands, it's hard to get any attention. but The Slants have
done that - first with their name, but more importantly, with their
music. At this writing, The Slants have been around for barely one
year, but they've gotten attention from people of all ethnicities with
what they like to call "Chinatown Dance Rock." Singer Aron, bassist
Simon Young, keyboarders Gaijin and Jen Cho, guitarist Johnny and
drummer AC have launched a 2008 tour that's as ambitious as any young
band has attempted. They're scheduled to escape from Portland and play
a bevy of anime conventions, traveling to the wilds of Idaho and the
fjords of Wisconsin, challenging the history of Nashville and trying to
appease the tough audiences of Pennsylvania. And they're hoping to
conquer Scotland one day.
Sports nicknames like
"Boilermaker," "Canuck," "Tar Heel" and "Sooner" weren't always beloved
titles. They were insults that were liberated by turning them into
nicknames. When referring to Asians, "slant" is considered as much an
insult by some as "redskin" is seen by many in referring to native
Americans. Yet, there's a rock band from Oregon that deliberately chose
"slant" as their title. What some consider to be an old-fashioned
pejorative, The Slants consider to be just...a name. It's the sort of
thing that can get attention. In a world crowded with independent,
hopeful rock bands, it's hard to get any attention. but The Slants have
done that - first with their name, but more importantly, with their
music. At this writing, The Slants have been around for barely one
year, but they've gotten attention from people of all ethnicities with
what they like to call "Chinatown Dance Rock." Singer Aron, bassist
Simon Young, keyboarders Gaijin and Jen Cho, guitarist Johnny and
drummer AC have launched a 2008 tour that's as ambitious as any young
band has attempted. They're scheduled to escape from Portland and play
a bevy of anime conventions, traveling to the wilds of Idaho and the
fjords of Wisconsin, challenging the history of Nashville and trying to
appease the tough audiences of Pennsylvania. And they're hoping to
conquer Scotland one day. 