We have an interview with Groove Junkies in this month's 5 Magazine, with some chat about the split between Evan Landes and Parrish Wintersmith (amicable and drama-free it would appear), the debut Groove Junkies' album and the MoreHouse radio show.
Evan and I talk from time to time - he's an interesting guy, and as a label owner and recording artist is doing everything he can to keep the torch burning for House Music in LA, in the United States and in the world.
Imagine my surprise when the label for these two guys making some kind of secret Euro gang signs informs me that Groove Junkeez are releasing their first album not in June, but in August; and not on home label MoreHouse but on a label called "Diamond Production":
No, you read that right. These are "Tha Groove Junkeez", not "Groove Junkies". Their music is just the worst kind of by-the-numbers Electro-shlock you can imagine.
Really the entire package that is "Tha Groove Junkeez" is summed up by that photo.
There's one problem: the real Groove Junkies have been releasing music under that moniker since 1997 - on Virgin Underground, no less. From the looks of it, Die Douchemongers were about 5 years old then.
The offer of a promo from the head of their label prompted this interesting exchange:
To: Geraldine Feruglio-Allemann
Subject: Re: Tha Groove Junkeez feat. Al Walser
Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:30:35 -0500
Why an act would call themselves "Tha Groove Junkeez" when there's a very well known act known as "Groove Junkies" already?
To: Terry Matthew
Subject: Re: Tha Groove Junkeez feat. Al Walser
Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:47:01 +0200
Hi,
Our Tha Groove Junkeez exists since 2003 and did not want to change their name since then. ( http://www.myspace.com/thagroovejunkeez) - Back then they did not know the Groove junkies existed.
My Music Label & Distribution took them under contract last year, they have published two hits since and will publish their first album this August 2010.
I am staying at your disposal for any additional question
Wish you a great day :-)
Gery
To: Geraldine Feruglio-Allemann
Subject: Re: Tha Groove Junkeez feat. Al Walser
Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:57:36 -0500
I'm sorry, I know this is not your purview but Groove Junkies' debut single came out in 1997.
I don't think anyone is going to confuse soulful house with the generic electro they're playing but dance music is not such a big world that a record-buying consumer would understand the difference between "Groove Junkies" and "Tha Groove Junkeez" -- no more than if I created a band called "Thee Rolling Stoons".
That's ridiculous and not something I support.
It's probably pretty clear to you by now that I despise Electro (actually, not true: just the silly and non-creative kind. Unfortunately, that wipes out about 95% of it.) The absurd "Ready For Ibiza" poses of these clowns isn't really the issue either (though it doesn't help).
Really, it's just this simple: Evan Landes spent 13 years building the Groove Junkies name, only to have two Swiss kids come along, throw together a couple of cheesy productions and capitalize on it.
This is really the best example I've come across to show just how painfully bankrupt Electro is. You can see why wearing a cartoon mousehead represents the apex of Electro's creativity now, can't you? Anyone can do this: just fudge the name a little and you too can start a rewarding career with a skimpy resume under the name "Frankie Nookles", "Davido Morelas" or "Kenneth Dupe Gonzalo".
