The Tennis System

Considering that The Tennis System draws from a lot of well-loved influences (The Beatles, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, anything harDCore from the 1980s), they sound surprisingly different from most other bands in the area. Most bands that may share their appreciation for reverb and distortion or even large-scale sound might go for a dreamier route. But The Tennis System goes straight for the gut. The songs are certainly well crafted, but their energy and sense of urgency assumes that no listener may have a second chance to notice it. They’re melodic and powerful without giving up their sensibilities of what they enjoy up to the alter of industry or blogosphere-deemed “cool.” But people are starting to take notice.

We caught up with The Tennis System and talked about meeting their influences, how they’ve watched D.C. music evolve and why they’re unabashed about playing their live shows very very loudly.

See them next: Tomorrow night at Comet Ping Pong with Imperial China

Find them online: http://www.myspace.com/tennissystem

Did all of you grow up in this area?

Matty: I basically did. I grew up in Upper Marlboro which is in PG County.

Brad: I took my motorcycle to class at PG Community College.

Matty: I know exactly where that is. That’s ten minutes from my old house.

Drake (to Clinton): You’re D.C. born and raised.

Clinton: Yes, born and raised here. Over by Catholic University.

Drake: I grew up in Harrisonburg, VA. I came up here for school. I’ve been here off and on for about eight years.

Matty: Drake and I are the young bucks. We’re still in school. But we shouldn’t be.

Brad: I’m from Atlanta. It’s not that cool of a town. I went to school in Athens. I love Athens, but Atlanta…just, I grew up there, I’ve never had the desire to live there. So I went to New York and then I moved down here. I’ve been down here for about nine years. That’s about enough time to learn to learn D.C. and actually know it very well where I know the fastest way to get anywhere.

Matty: I’ve found that walking is the easiest way to learn the city.