Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
(also known as NPSH
) is an American indie rock/electronica band from Seattle, Washington. The group released its debut album in July 2008. Their name is a reference to actress Natalie Portman's physical appearance in the film V for Vendetta
.
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NATALIE PORTMAN'S SHAVED HEAD TICKETS
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History
Formation
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head was formed by Luke Smith and Shaun Libman, who met while attending
The Center School, an arts-based college preparatory school in Seattle.
[1] Their early work was centered around keyboards and
drum machines, the only instruments that the pair knew how to play at the time.
[2] Their decision to start Natalie Portman's Shaved Head was made in the food court of the
Center House, in 2005.
The name of the band is a reference to
Natalie Portman's physical appearance in the film
V for Vendetta
.
[3] [4] Smith and Libman's first written songs for Natalie Portman's Shaved Head were about "fruit snacks and partying".
The band claimed one of the reasons they formed the band was to get girlfriends.
The group expanded to a four piece before playing their first major gig, at the grand opening of the writing center and .
[5] They invited their friends David Price and Claire England to the band, and later recruited Liam Downey, Jr. from another band that they found on
MySpace.
Smith typically writes the band's music, and then writes lyrics with Libman afterwards.
The band places Natalie Portman on the guest list of all of their shows, but the actress has not yet attended any performances.
Portman is, however, aware of the band's name and existence. England's sister, a New York City resident, met the actress once, and relayed to her the history and story of the band, signing an autograph for them, saying in response to the story, "Oh that's cool".
[6]
Glistening Pleasure
, 2008-present
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head's debut album,
Glistening Pleasure
, was released on
Team Swam Records on July 15, 2008.
[7] The release party for the album was held at Easy Street Records in the
Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle.
The group have toured internationally with
CSS,
Matt & Kim, and
The Go! Team [8] and supported
Lily Allen on her North American tour of her sophomore album
[9]. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head has begun work on their next album.
Keely Weiss of Aced magazine described their music on
Glistening Pleasure
as reminiscent of
Devo and an "unstoppable electronica/techno/funk/punk fusion".
[10] Their music has been described by Amy Atkins as evoking the sounds of 1980s music, and as "addictive dancey electro-pop".
Michael Roberts of Westword called their sound "knowingly dorky party music" with "so many winks the average
optometrist may suspect a serious vision issue."
According to Smith, "We try to pack in as many melodies as possible and change it up a lot, as opposed to a straight repetitive style."
[11]
Members
- Shaun Libman - vocals, maracas, shakers, tambourine, claps
- Luke Smith - vocals, guitar, keyboard, drum programming, claps
- David Price - keyboard, guitar, vocals, claps
- Claire England - bass keyboard, bass, vocals, claps
- Liam Downey, Jr. - live drums, 808 claps, devil lock
Discography
- Glistening Pleasure
(2008)
References
- Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
- NATALIE PORTMAN'S SHAVED HEAD, AUG. 19, NEUROLUX
- Natalie Portman's Shaved Head: a name, band that are hard to forget
- Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
- Natalie Portman's Shaved Head (biography)
- Behind the Scenes at Download 2008 San Francisco: Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
- Natalie Portman's Shaved Head and Glistening Pleasure
- SPUNKY SEATTLE CREW PROVES THERE'S A LOT IN A NAME
- Lily Allen finally allowed to gig in US
- Behind the Scenes at Download 2008 San Francisco: Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
- A sound that's turning heads