This band is on an indefinite hiatus.... Please check out the Electric Mood Maidens and Rob Dickinson to see what Davida is doing now!!!!!!!
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Somewhere between bluesy garage rock and punk tinged art, The Buzzkill Romantics twin guitar and drums attack delivers music you can feel. Rarely has a band been so well named, the distorted edge of the group’s guitars intertwining with the lament of lyrics and hooks strong enough to capture your attention immediately without being exactly pop.Formed in the summer of 2003 around the guitars and vocals of frontman Jason Hee, guitarist Davida Milkes and drummer Charlie Brownell, all three are seasoned performers from San Diego’s under rated music scene. Distinguished pedigrees however showed little of sign of the sonic explosion on display here. Hee spent time with pop heroes Rookie Card and both Milkes and Brownell were integral parts of Hammond r&b outfit The San Diego Beat Organization, with Brownell also a founding member of the Nephews. That said, the visceral energy here comes exclusively from the interplay of the trio.You can hear a lifetime of influences in the group’s tunes melded seamlessly into a blur of guitar licks and dissonant chording, but without a bass it’s all about the interplay between rhythm and melody. The secret seems to be in the minor chord frenzy from Hee, which gives the music an exotic edge that’s compelling. Milkes adds a taught tension with guitar licks full of dynamic phrasing and intensity. Propelled by Brownell’s drums the rhythms provide enough bottom end to kick you square in the chest while your ears are pummeled by that melodic distortion. And the Buzzkills will make you want the experience over and over again.In it’s short life span the band has already racked up appearances Coast to Coast, from San Diego’s Casbah and House of Blues to New York’s CBGB’s, as well as sharing the stage with numerous respected artists including The Mooney Suzuki, The Kills, VUE, Razorlight, Lucy's Fur Coat, Donita Sparks, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, Starlight Desperation and Bow Wow Wow to name just a few. October 2004 saw their track “Pretty Girls Need Friends†previewed on the annual SDMA compilation CD, while the same month they received a nomination as Best Alternative Band in the 2004 San Diego Music Awards.The band finally issued their debut album Cold Cold Cold in January 2005, not so much ten tunes as short sharp manic burst of energy. Cold Cold Cold manages to capture the band perfectly, and was in fact nominated for "Best Rock Album" at the 2005 San Diego Music Awards. The track "Pretty Girls Need Friends," also made a strong showing on local radio and was included in the Loudspeaker compilation issued by 91X-FM.
However where the Buzzkill Romantics truly excel is in the performance arena. With all the nuance, but even more intensity, the Buzzkills deliver a full frontal assault that doesn’t let up, whether it’s an audience of 20 or a thousand. They’re committed.All the ingredients for primal urgent rock ‘n’ roll are here. Just take a listen to the bands debut album. It’s in the guitar histronics of “Fly To The East,†the dreamy eighties feel of “Post Holiday Depression,†or the funky blues shuffle and guitar riffing of “Market Street Cinema.†It’s in every performance.
The band is currently preparing to enter the studio to record it's sophomore album for release in 2006, and has a massive online presence, making the Buzzkill Romantic music just a click away. Make no mistake. These are classic sounding tunes in every sense, made to play loud and rock the house. Anyone into guitar based indie rock played with blistering energy and conviction, will find Cold Cold Cold an album they’ll want to explore, and the new album something you'll find yourself looking foward to. Simply put, if it’s aggressive rock music with a biting edge you seek, meet your new favorite band.
