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- The Punk Group is an electro/synth-rock comedy band based in Portland, Oregon. The group began in 2002 "as a joke" and consists of two male members who dub themselves "Sex Object" and "The Model" after song titles by the German electronic band Kraftwerk. They record and release all their albums themselves. Critics cite the band's 1980s musical influences, particularly Devo. The Punk Group frequently criticize pop culture and other artists in their songs and are known for their politically incorrect lyrics. "We like to put people in their place and knock them down a few pegs, you know, make sure they don't get too big for their britches," says one member. Their live show consists of the two members (who sing and play guitar, bass or synthesizer), a drum machine and assorted costumes. The following is a recent article from the Portland Vanguard in which the members explain the process behind creating The Punk Group. Ever wonder why folks listen to Sleater Kinney so much? Or get pissed at how much of an asshole Toby Keith is? You’re not alone. Sex Object and The Model, otherwise known as The Punk Group, have not only shared your thoughts and curiosities, but for over eight years they have been putting them to synths and rocking guitars. Pretty good for a band that started up as a joke for the Satyricon’s gong show. “I had the idea and said ‘Hey why don’t we make a fake band for this,’” Sex Object says. “So we got the slot, went up there and did 3 songs, and we won. ” Don’t assume that The Punk Group merely writes songs about people, or even people they don’t like for that matter. Their set is full of songs about fat girls riding bicycles, Heineken, Ataris, rainbows and even MySpace, where they highlight how the social networking site is “good for getting laid. ” Their lyrical content has been known to offend, and mostly, the provocation is intended. Today, The Punk Group has become almost as well known for their Devo-esq style as their offensive manner. “When we’re playing, [Tony] will be playing guitar, and I will be playing bass … and then we’re basically playing along to whatever music we can’t play at the time,” Sex Object says. “A lot of people like to use laptops, we don’t. We like to be a little bit more organic. You know, program the drum machine, put in whatever sounds are going on and do our thing. ” One of their more popular songs, “Sleater Kinney Sucks,” has caused quite the local snicker here in Portland, where the Olympia-born band has now settled and become rather cherished. “When we made that song five or six years ago, everyone was saying ‘Oh my God, you can’t do that,’” Sex Object says. “Bullshit we can’t! If we’re in a bar, or talking to our friends, and everybody else is saying it … basically every song we’ve written has been written by somebody else in the context of, somebody will say something, we overhear it, and then immediately we start cracking up, and there’s a song. ” The Punk Group’s own name is a jab at the music world itself, particularly upon their feelings regarding the punk scene, which has become as authentically rebellious and unique as a mob of Dave Matthew’s fans. By calling themselves The Punk Group, and then playing music that is inherently not the set standard mesh that is “punk” they are, in a way, turning the genre on its head as they take over playing actual unique and original content while spouting jaw dropping lyrics. However shocking or comedic their songs have been, one thing is for sure, they’re working, and people like what they hear. After only eight years as a band, The Punk Group is getting their own tribute album, titled Shower Time, with renditions of their own tunes from artists all over the world. According to Sex Object, the album should be coming out sometime within the next month. “We got 25 bands from all over the country,” he says. “We got a great band from Australia, one from France and Thor from Canada. ” The idea for a tribute album was brought to them by an outside record label, however, the label’s idea of a Punk Group tribute album diverged from what The Model and Sex Object creatively had in mind. “Long story short, we got our lawyers involved and we pretty much took the reins, out of the hands of the label” Sex Object says. “’Cause they wanted some bullshit techno artists and just a bunch of crap, and we said ‘No this isn’t a good representation of what we do. ’” The contributing bands recorded their covers on their own, in their own style, some paying to go into a studio. Local radio DJs Cort and Fatboy from KUFO even formed a band just for the project. In the end, the album maxes out a CD’s carrying capacity with Punk Group fervor. “The versions that people have done are often times better than ours,’” Sex Object says. “We told everybody, ‘Don’t make it an exact cover, nobody wants to hear that shit. Put your own stamp on it, fuck it up, rebuild it, rework it, destroy it and make it your own, and everybody pretty much did that. ”
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