New Bombastic Video, Week 8: “Changing”
When we first recorded the song “Changing,” we had decided to cut the drums on the third verse and just clap and stomp instead. So we all got in a room at Dave Sardy’s studio and did just that. Hit record, clap and stomp—which wasn’t something we were used to as a rock and roll band. It struck us then (it became a running joke) how much this was like step dancing. The idea of the body being your drum.
So we decided to find a step dancing crew and see what it would be like to do a video with them. A friend of a friend named Reese was in a group called the Strikers All-Stars. They were from Florida. They’d moved to L.A. to pursue dancing full-time. We thought it was a good story so we called them up and asked them if they’d like to do a video with us. We had no idea if it would work.
But then, when we got in a room with them and saw them perform up close, we were mesmerized. They were world-class dancers and seeing anything that precise and difficult up close is just amazing. (We’ve done collaborations with a world-class string quartet—the Calder Quartet, and thought well, this will just be another.) So we did a video. (the original “Changing” video.) We decided it was 1968 and this was the coolest speakeasy in town. It was a sort of early rock and roll yet proto hip-hop party. That was the idea. On set, it actually became a party in which the end of the video was unscripted—just a spontaneous jumping dance circle.
So for this Bombastic video we thought we’d try to do a live version of what we did in the official music video. We knew it was a bit of a high-wire act: an acoustic performance of a rock and roll song with a late ’60s proto hip-hop dance element. But then after one take we were just screwing around and having fun with it. It’s funny how musical genres can seem so strict, you know—this is rock and roll, this is hip-hop or whatever. But then it didn’t seem like that at all when we shot this stuff. They were eager to dance, we were eager to play, and afterward it just felt like a really good party we went to one night.
11 Comments
I love this song!!! Anna your fantastic: First the glasses, then tamborine, back up voice, then viola you can do it all. Great job cant wait for new album. (counting the days.)
this is such a booty shaker.
im gonna go learn how to play glasses now XD
“Musical genres can seem so strict”
Agreed on that, when people ask me what music i listen to, i say “good music”, not “progressive emo steampunk alternative mathcore” :^)
Water glasses, tiny toy pianos, banjos and teeny weeny xylophones are some of the reasons I just love this band! Every video has been meaningful and unique, fitting the tone of the piece. Thank heavens you all don’t take yourselves too seriously. It means you can have FUN. Can’t wait for NYC and Boston!
Love your newest work! In this video i thought it was funny how everyone kept trying to look at the dancers to see what they were gonna do next haha! See you in Austin. Cant Wait!
This song seems to be a little more on the mainstream side for me
Thank you guys!!!!! this is awesome, you make my life better with this video, you have putted a smile in me!, THANK YOU!!! see you in Ft Lauderdale!
I love you guys and I hate to sound closeminded, but I like the song a lot better without the clap/stomp. The video with the dancers and all (which are very talented) is just a little too mainstream for me. I’m very much looking forward to the album though…..preordered it and the 3 vinyl collection….Can’t wait! Keep up the good work!!! See you in Philly!
I love your bombastic version of Changing. It looks like you had a lot of fun making both videos. I thought the dancers were excellent and the drinking glasses was a really cool idea – you always make me smile 🙂 x
Just saw you on Jay Leno. Wow! Fantastic! I’m not easily impressed. Let me tell you – Excellent! I think you’re on your way! – KJ
We recently had the chance to do The Airborne Toxic Event for the LA Show. All unique, and one of a kind.
http://tworabbits.bigcartel.com/product/the-airborne-toxic-event-rock-poster
You can view the processed photos here:
http://tworabbitsstudios.com/the-airborne-toxic-event-rock-poster