Hat Madder
Isaac Vander Schuur – Vocals, keyboards, guitar
D.B. Higgins – Bass
Mark Jagmin – Drums, vocals
Matthew “Doobie” Lofts – Keyboards, piano, loops, samples
Their music is often compared to many of the great bands of the 90’s that still aren’t given enough credit including Sonic Youth, The Pixies, DEVO, Shudder to Think, The Afghan Whigs and 90’s indie rock poets Archers of Loaf. Listeners will enjoy catchy hooks blended with some weirdness that will make even the toughest critics tune in. Using contrived metaphors such as “new wave indie plus synthesizer doom” could be one way to describe the Hat Madder, but live performances is the only way to truly experience the uniqueness of the band. Their shows were initially described as a sea of glazed zombies wondering what the hell was going on, when suddenly something clicked and awareness filled the room.
2008 brought their first full length album titled “Friend of the Devil” which was a nonstop roller coaster ride of interesting songs each blending perfectly into the next. Their current upcoming release “Rogue Notes & Phones” has made itself a home as the band’s second major accomplishment. With it’s hard to swallow subject matter, swirling sonic landscapes, jerky, angular transitions and shear vocal power. “Rogue Notes & Phones” serves not only as a testament to the band’s outspoken disregard for trendy sound-a-likes but also as an overall taste of their uncompromising confidence in what they bring to the table.
One of the few underground bands that has withstood the test of hype, the Hat Madder offers something truly unique to the Detroit underground music scene. They’ve been revered in their ability to uncross the arms of hipsters and raise the inquisitive eyebrow of even the largest indie rock snob. Friend of the Devil which is incredibly polished for a self-produced album. You may have even heard them on the Lansing station 88.9 WDBM The Impact on your way to or from Grand Rapids (but I digress).
The band is currently working on an EP follow up to Friend of the Devil which is set to be released sometime in 2009.
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