The Appellation Trail

Name recognition goes a long way, so some acts take a shortcut by borrowing famous people’s identities. But are they any good? We ask three celebs to weigh in on their namesake bands.

Kane Hodder
Lee Mayjahs?

WHO ARE THEY?

A hyperactive screamo quintet with a yen for slapstick and satirical song titles

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

“I was always obsessed with horror films. I loved the Friday the ¹³th movies,” says singer Andrew Moore. “When I found out that this guy Kane Hodder had played Jason more than once, I thought that was cool. So I threw the name out there—kind of as a joke—and it stuck.”

THE REAL KANE HODDER SAYS: “I’m a headbanger from way back, so I like it. I’ve heard most of the band’s music, and they’re definitely improving. It’d be nice if the singer wasn’t growling all the time, though.”

WHO IS HE?

This veteran Philly-based DJ concocts lush, simmering lava-lamp electronica.

The Tony Danza
Tapdance Extravaganza

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

“I was a fan of The Six Million Dollar Man from way back,” Mayjahs? explains. “[Majors’ character] Steve Austin crashed his plane in the Nevada Salt Flats, which is near the Burning Man festival. That’s where I made my name as a DJ. It’s all connected.”

THE REAL LEE MAJORS SAYS:

“I like how the music keeps changing. Sometimes it’s jazzy; sometimes it’s jungle-y. I walk to the post office every morning to get my mail and pick up the papers—this would be perfect to listen to when I do that.”

WHO ARE THEY?

These math-metal Southerners make music only well-coordinated octopi could dance to.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

“Our guitar player was having a wet dream and thought of the name,” jokes singer Jessie Freeland. Seriously, though: “Too many metal bands out there have such heavy names. We went with the stupidest one we could think of.”

THE REAL TONY DANZA SAYS:
“I have a feeling these guys
are good at what they do,
but I don’t know what they’re
doing. I’m more of a rap fan.
You’ve heard of Vanilla Ice? Call
me Italian Ice!” DAVID MARCHESE

Buzzcatcher

UNDER THE RADAR AND BLASTING FROM OUR OFFICES

Apes &
Androids
WHO: Capes & Androids
is more like it. By giving
their gleaming ’80s-
infused robo-dance
tracks an irresistibly
glammy strut, A&A have
built the perfect bridge
between two deliriously
decadent fantasies.
LATES T: Blood Moon
(self-released) FOR FANS
OF: LCD Soundsystem,
David Bowie

The Acorn WHO: Adding South American simmer to indie’s third-world fascination, this Canadian collective crams more percussion than you can shake a drumstick at into songs brimming with celebratory group vocals, burbling bass lines, and serpentine guitar. LATEST: Glory Hope Mountain (Paper Bag) FOR FANS OF: Yeasayer, Talking Heads

The Pinker
Tones
WHO: This Barcelona duo
hit like a spicier Daft
Punk, keeping the retro
electronica but trading
the po-mo mind games
for hip-twisting grooves.
Bring oil if you catch
them on Warped Tour
this summer—you will be
doing the electric slide.
LATES T: Wild Animals
(Nacional) FOR FANS OF:
Kraftwerk, Chromeo

< Cloud C ult

WHO: Without ever neglecting main man Craig Minowa’s melodic gifts, these Minnesotans careen from sawing string ballads to jerky funk. The album’s parenthetical is as apt a description of their sound as you’re going to find. LATEST: Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) (Earthology) FOR FANS OF: Arcade Fire, Okkervil River