Despite being unable to see every single band that played the Noise Pop Festival (which was pretty impossible), from what I witnessed, Tempo No Tempo seemed the best candidate for what Noise Pop represents: the perfect blend between the two words (and worlds). As a companion piece to the Dizzy Balloon interview — a band which represented a very different sound, more towards the pop end of the spectrum — I interviewed TNT outside Slim’s our first night there, just to get some insight to the songwriting of the band and the brains behind it.
Tag Archives: Tyler McCauley
Music Tempo No Tempo
Double Negative | Tempo No Tempo is a Bay Area trio comprised of guitarist/lead vocalist Tyler McCauley, drummer Alex Kaiser, and Jason Wexler on keys and bass. Their bio claims that they have the “fierce dynamic shifts of early Fugazi,” and while that may be a bit off base, their sound is unabashedly dissonant and erratic. It just doesn’t remind me much of 13 Songs or Repeater, which are disheveled in their own endearing way but more melodic as sprawling, post-punk anthems. Then again, Fugazi still carries its cult following and could be a bit high as far as the bar is set; Tempo No Tempo might work to tide their fans over in the meantime while they wait for McKaye and Co. to get back together.



