WHO IS HIPSTER ZERO?
HIPSTER ZERO is a fun and functional rock duo from the Midwestern United States. Half punk, half pop, and have indie, that seems like a lot of halves. But drummer Steve-O Hinckley (the MixelPricks, Kaki-O-Badi) and guitarist/vocalist P.J. O'Connor (Destination: Earth!, In Stitches) are known for their short, concise song structures, hooky melodies, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics... Something like the bastard child of the Ramones and They Might Be Giants (or if you prefer, the White Stripes and Stryper).
HIPSTER ZERO began in late 1968 as a country-eastern band, playing honky tonk versions of showtune standards from India with a beatnik influence. They recorded one self-titled album for Wariner Bros. Records (no, not Warner Bros.), which was, thankfully, never released. Realizing that they would someday have an episode of 'Behind The Music' based on them, the members of HIPSTER ZERO surrendered to their respective toy collecting addictions as their late 60's fame began to subside. They disappeared from the public eye, but were in fact captured and held prisoner by corporate executives of the music industry in the early 1970's, and were thought to have been buried alive beneath the Twin Towers in New York City. It was not until the terrorist attacks of the early 21st century that they were reawakened to do battle with their corporate rock foes.
They issued their first recording of the new millenium in 2003, entitled TALK NERDY TO ME.' Collecting several favorites from the early days and presenting them in a more listenable form, the theme of the recording seemed to center around songs that they could be sued for releasing, such as "Monster Girl" (which incorporates a highly recognizable hardrock riff) or "Pop Song 69" (which combines upwards of a couple dozen hooks stolen from alterna-diva hits of the 90's).
In late 2004, HIPSTER ZERO renewed their battle against the corporate monsters of the world with the release of a second EP, a quasi-concept record, entitled 'CRAP IS THE NEW COOL.' Tracks included "Are We Loud Enough?" (a tribute to soundchecks), "Sexcapade" (a tribute to Gwen Stefani and friends), "Weak End Warrior" (a tribute to aging cover bands), and "Thom Yorke" (the title of which is self-explanatory), among others.
Our story continues!
-Hipster Zero
Attorneys At Rock