"I really dig rejection. It makes awesome fodder for songwriting."
Peter Elliott & the Sellouts are an Austin-based quintet that combines a rock swagger with the bounce of pop to create carefully-crafted 3-minute stories about heartbreak, hedonism, and hot chicks. From barn-burners with shout-along choruses to piano ballads with a bite, Peter Elliott's songs are evocative and catchy as hell.
Elliott's originals -- new, unreleased tracks and songs from the band's CD "The Time I Kicked Peter Elliott's Ass" -- pay homage to landmarks of Austin nightlife: the Jackalope (and the girls who can't resist dancing on its bar), the gone-but-not-forgotten 503 Coffee Bar, Lake Austin... No wonder. Elliott is an icon in the downtown scene and was named "Best Man to Turn to at 2am" in the 2006 "Best of Austin" Critics Choice poll: "We trust our lust to our fave... he can be seen behind a flying V, some ridiculous eyewear, and his beautiful cue-ball head in Peter Elliott & the Sellouts...."
The band's re-imagining of Top 40 pop songs as punk anthems has garnered them hipster cred and loyal fans. Chris Gray of the Austin Chronicle said Peter Elliott & the Sellouts "combines tongue-in-cheek lyrics with punchy delivery. Their punk rock take on Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful' could've been precious, but is instead priceless." And in a Chronicle list of the best cover songs, the band was recognized for their take on Elton John's "Your Song."
On stage, the band is tight, known for an energetic live show that maintains just the right balance of irreverence and musicianship. In 2006, they added keyboards to the line-up, introducing new sounds to old favorites and adding fresh elements to new songs.
The band is currently recording a new CD for release in early 2007.