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Artist Fri Apr 03 2009
They Started Something...
Every time I see pop duo The Ting Tings (Katie White and Jules De Martino), all I can think is that Katie is basically what every little girl wanted to be when they "grew up" after watching Jem and the Holograms. She bounces all over the stage with her fluffy blonde hair, Technicolor outfits (clothes which she designs herself) and sugary voice chanting cheerleader-style or serenading a sweet little melody.
The pair started writing songs together in 2007 and played at house parties in Manchester England's Islington Mill (an old cotton mill converted into an underground artist collective) when they started to draw a following and started playing proper gigs. The first time I saw them live was at an early morning set (well, noon counts as early morning when you're running on "festival time") at Lollapalooza last summer. They were one of those bands I discovered there that I didn't know anything about (in my opinion one of the best parts of a music fest). The crowd erupted into a spontaneous dance party which you wouldn't expect to participate in when you're still nursing the previous day's hangover...but the sun was shining and the duo brought spunky pop tunes to a whole new level.
Now you hear The Ting Tings everywhere--iPod commercials ("Shut Up and Let Me Go"), promos for the film Slumdog Millionaire ("Great DJ"), just recently performing on Jimmy Fallon (where they played "That's Not My Name"), and if Katie sounds a bit like a cartoon rock-star herself, it's fitting that they even appeared on the children's program Yo Gabba Gabba.
This Sunday, April 5, The Ting Tings will play to a sold out crowd at the Metro. The show is all ages and starts at 7:30pm. The Metro is located at 3730 N. Clark Street. Hot Tub will open.
Their debut album, We Started Nothing, is available on Columbia Records.
