Prom Date grew up scattered across Louisiana’s swampy wilderness. What started as a friend-rock band with a love for electronic experiments became a tight-knit group focused on danceable pop music. Always fueled by the love to perform and the desire to innovate, the group drew influence from synth pop legends such as The Human League, New Order, and Erasure. The troupe quickly evolved into a well-oiled pop collective known for its energetic live shows. After years of playing across Southern Louisiana, the band united in New Orleans to create some coherent noise. Prom Date’s self-titled EP hit the web in February 2012, resulting in several regional adventures on the way to SXSW.

 

In mid 2012, Prom Date set out for Magic Ranch Studios in Austin, TX in two cars piled with musical instruments, junk food, and sleep-deprived musicians to record a single. Over the course of a few months, that single became the cornerstone of a full-length album, Portraits. As Prom Date prepares to unleash Portraits out into the world, they are also sharing their synth-driven arrangements by reimagining their favorite artists’ work in a series of new remixes.

 

2014 promises to be a great year for Prom Date as they hit the road in the Fall and release Portraits.

 

• 8/8/2014 // The Spanish Moon (CD Release) // Baton Rouge, LA
• 8/9/2014 // Gasa Gasa (CD Release) // New Orleans, LA
• 9/6/2014 // The Beatnik // New Orleans, LA
• 9/11/2014 // Texas Rose Saloon // Beaumont, TX
• 9/12/2014 // Stargayzer Festival // Austin, TX
• 9/13/2014 // TBA // San Marcos, TX
• 9/15/2014 // Lola’s // Fort Worth, TX
• 9/16/2014 // TBA // Dallas, TX
• 9/17/2014 // Hailey’s Club // Denton, TX
• 9/18/2014 // TBA // Shreveport, LA
• 9/19/2014 // Silver Dollar // Texarkana
• 9/20/2014 // The Buccaneer Lounge // Memphis, TN

 

 

 

1. Rubblebucket – Save Charlie // Rubblebucket is our favorite new inspiration. No road trip is complete without playing a little Rubblebucket in the car. Can’t wait for their upcoming album!
2. Saint Bell – Leave It Behind // Saint Bell is one of our favorite Louisiana acts right now. We played a killer show with them at HiHo Lounge, and our jaws dropped when they came on stage decked out in sequined jackets like David and Brett wear. It was love at first sight. We’re very pleased to be playing our CD release in New Orleans with them.
3. Spoon – Do You // This new track is the perfect blend of Spoon’s poppier and experimental sides. Spoon’s an old favorite– Brett and I used to marvel at the simplicity of their arrangements back in high school. To us, Spoon showed that pop music could still be different and interesting.
4. Metronomy – The Bay // When this track came out back in 2011, it was our summertime jam. David and I were in a dance music kick and many of those hot nights were spent dancing wherever DJ Matsy was spinning. That was a great summer– it ended with David performing a crazy pop mashup at Northgate Festival.
5. Sphynx – Hunger // The keyboard player for Sphynx, Cory Dennis, recorded and engineered our upcoming album Portraits. We’ve come to be really great friends with those guys, and we’re really excited for their first full-length that’s coming out later this year. They’ve got some great momentum going– be on the lookout for them!
6. The Smiths – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out // Last spring, Christine, David and I drove around Lafayette in Christine’s convertible looking for high heels that would fit David’s big ol’ feet. If you’ve never listened to the Smiths on a nice day while driving around in a convertible, you’re really missing out!
7. The Futureheads – Meantime // When Brett and I first became friends in high school, we both listened to a lot of emo. We left that music in the dust when we discovered upbeat Britrock bands like the Futureheads, Bloc Party, and Franz Ferdinand. Our first musical collaborations were driven by this desire for different, original music.
8. will.i.am – Scream & Shout // This song is so stupid, but I love it. Brett and I do a lot of driving between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and almost every time we’re in the car we crank this track up and act a fool.
9. Big Freedia – Ol’ Lady // I’m the old lady, I’m the first lady. Every time we’re in Austin, we usually crash with our friends in Sphynx. It’s our tradition to roll up on their turf with our windows down blasting New Orleans bounce music. Can’t wait to bump this track during our September tour.
10. Lady Gaga – Fashion! // For a long time, I refused to like any of Lady Gaga’s music. After covering this song earlier this year per David’s request, I must admit that I like this song. Maybe Gaga’s okay after all… sorry for hatin’, David.
11. Midlake – Young Bride // The first time David and I hung out, we drove from BR to Jackson to see Anathallo and Colour Revolt. We were tired on the way home, so to stay awake we sang along to this album. Turned out we both knew all the words. We recently covered this song and were tickled to have Amanda from Big History join us on violin.
12. Disclosure – Latch // This song is a great reference track in the studio. Lately we’ve been working on a lot remixes, and from time to time we’ll get “lost” in the mix. Listening to this track always recenters us– it’s really balanced and has layers like an onion. Glad it’s doing so well lately; it just hit platinum in the U.S.
13. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – If You Leave // I put together a bunch of 80s and 90s songs for one of our longer road trips. When this song came on, Christine’s eyes lit up and we cranked up the volume to croon along with the track. The 80s had some great songs featuring over-the-top vocals.
14. Paws – Sore Tummy // This song is strangely sad and beautiful. I think I listened to it ten times in a row the first time I heard it. This album showed up during a time of heartbreak in our lives– I’ll leave it at that.
15. New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle // One of my favorite songs, ever. I’ll admit that I wasn’t familiar with it until Brett showed it to me a few years ago. We did a cover of it for our 80s Prom Night at Spanish Moon and I wouldn’t be surprised if it shows up at more of our shows.