The Throwdowns: On the fast track

Poised for fame at home and abroad, the Maui band talks tours and bacon with Metromix

By Tracy Chan

Metromix

Don’t worry, The Throwdowns aren’t planning to slow down anytime soon. With tonight’s CD Celebration Party at Pipeline for their successful debut album “Don’t Slow Down,” and a string of upcoming gigs, they won’t have time to.

The Maui-based alt rock/punk group has become one of the most buzzed about bands in the Islands, with their catchy reggae-infused sounds, high-energy live shows and lead singer Erin Smith’s sexy, Gwen Stefani-esque charisma.

We recently taked to Smith — a native of Canada — and guitarist Ola Shaw about opening for big national acts, being nominated for two Na Hoku Hanohano awards and expanding their audience via aggressive D.I.Y. marketing.

Where did the phrase “Don’t Slow Down” come from?

Ola: It’s a line from our song “Stolen Car.” I think it was bassist Kimo (Clark) that suggested it. When he said it, it resonated with all of us.

How’d you end up selling more records in New York than in Hawaii?

 Ola: We’ve got a great iTunes presence; we’ve got our own station on Pandora. Honestly, it’s pretty random, but awesome.

Any plans to capitalize on that random achievement?

 Erin: Maybe … We’re thinking about touring multiple coasts.

When “Don’t Slow Down” came out in December, we heard you hand-delivered the CD with a press packet and box of Krispy Kremes to the local media. Where do your creative marketing ideas come from?

Ola: There’s a lot of things about marketing that people don’t take  advantage of, and it’s all about using resources and being ballsy about it … If we didn’t believe in the music, we wouldn’t be able to do it.

Erin: The whole thing about making our music is we just want to give it the  attention it deserves. You gotta make sure that people know what’s going on, and when they ask for things, you give it to them.

How do you feel about being nominated for two Na Hoku awards (one for Best Rock Album, the other for Best Graphics)?

Erin: So stoked. We don’t take it lightly; we’re really honored.

What’s your new album going to be like?

Ola: I think our last album was really eclectic; now we’re honing in more on our sound. It’s going more in the direction of “Stolen Car.” I’m really  excited for our new record. We’re putting a lot of time into it. It’s going to sound bigger, more intense. We want to have it done by August.

Have you ever tried rapping?

Erin: No, we’ve joked about it though. It’d probably be the worst white kid rap you’ve ever heard. I feel like you can embrace it, but to do it well, you have to own it. I don’t want to be that guy. At our Pipeline show, we’re going to do a hip-hop cover though; it’s a surprise.

First time you opened for a national act?

Erin: NOFX, a couple years ago. ... In the fall of 2009, we started to get a lot of national gigs.

You’ve opened for Matisyahu, Sammy Hagar and 311, among others. Do you ever get starstruck opening for big bands?

Ola: Not really. I’m more excited than starstruck. We usually hang out with the bands; (at the Sammy Hagar show) James Hetfield from Metallica was there, and he came up to us afterward and told us that we had a really big sound. I got to stand outside with him and shake his hand, and he hung out with us for a little bit.

What’s the ideal crowd reaction to your music?

Ola: A lot of dancing, watching and singing along.  I think it’s a passion that people just soak off of us. Erin interacts with the crowd, and the band rocks out, and it works.

What’s next for you guys?

Erin: We’re opening for Slightly Stoopid (May 22), playing for the troops at K-Bay (July 4), and on July 1st, we’re going to sit around eating bacon for Canada Day.

The Throwdowns CD Celebration Party
Pipeline Cafe
Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
$20 regular, $40 VIP