photo: Jasper Coolidge
The iOs:
Chris Punsalan - Guitars, Vocals
Autumn Proemm - Keyboards, Vocals
Chris Brocco - Drums
Chris Punsalan and Autumn Proemm began forming their unique brand of dreamy indie-pop in 1999. A graduate of the Robert Smith/Billy Corgan School of Music, Chris reincarnates his influences through a variety of warm and powerful instrumentation that incorporates a huge variety of guitar sounds, synthesized and natural bass, keys and drums, with help from Autumn's classically trained voice and piano skills. By 2000, they had amassed a huge catalog of memorable tunes that wander comfortably through familiar Pixies, Blondie, Cure and Pumpkins neighborhoods.
They spent the following year building a dedicated fan base while honing their stage skills and getting through numerous personnel changes, going from synth-pop duo to full-on rock 5-piece and back again. In 2003 they added west coast import Chris Brocco on drums, whose tasteful beats add organic power to the mix. But no matter how much room they physically occupy on stage, Chris's well developed songwriting and crooning capabilities joined with Autumn's angelic, heartfelt harmonies can fill any room and captivate the most critical of crowds.
The iOs have shared stages at Sin-e, Luxx and Southpaw with such indie luminaries as Ambulance Ltd, Champale, Circle & Square and Mendoza Line.
Music:
Press:
"There's a wonderful, unheralded downtown band called the iOs. They're this lush, new-wave, indie-pop, boy-girl group who are better than, well, half of Jade Tree's roster. My 17-year-old friend William describes them better than I can: The iOs sound like an in-love Weezer, like Rivers Cuomo has a girlfriend and theyıre happy together. They sit at home all day and make keyboard-tinged dance-pop versions of the next Weezer album (the proper followup to Pinkerton). Sometimes, they show their joy by singing close harmonies together...ohhh, yeah." - New York Press
"Better brush up on those Molly Ringwald dancefloor moves because new wave is back, and not just at the Depeche Mode parties roving around town, either. Nu garde bands like the iOs rock harder than their '80s counterparts, pairing their bright synth washes with scuzzy guitars to catchy effect." - Village Voice
Website:
www.the-ios.com