Banks and Steelz to trek throughout
North America
North America
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Published by Sareth Ney on July 18, 2016 at 6:40 a.m.
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Photo credit: Banks & Steelz Facebook page
Banks and Steelz will embark on a North American tour. The expedition begins at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, Calif., on July 21. It will conclude at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, on Oct. 9.
Paul Banks (Interpol) and RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) are known as Banks and Steelz. They are a hip-hop and alternative two-piece hailing from New York and are part of the Warner Bros. Records roster.
Touré, contributor and author, spoke with Banks and Steelz and how the artists formed the project. Banks remembered of the time where he, RZA and RZA’s martial arts coach dined at a noodle shop in Chinatown.
“It was a very Wu-Tang Clan thing for me to do,” Banks recalled. “I brought up my favorite Wu-Tang song. I said it was ‘Bells of War’. He nodded and told me about the Nord Lead keyboard he’d acquired at the time and used for the song. I saw he was stoked that I’d said that. That was my first interaction with him where I felt an artistic connection.”
“He had a cool New York musician type energy,” RZA spoke of his first impression of Banks.
Through the years, RZA and Banks spent time at RZA’s Los Angeles studio. Banks and Steelz kept each other company, including challenging each to games of chess in various cities. Banks cited every time he and RZA played, he would lose every time.
Thinking of someone new to work with, RZA chose Banks. RZA’s engineer kept hinting to Banks about a selection of songs he had kept in a folder in RZA’s computer. The songs were made over a weekend, after RZA was away from the studio for three months. After Banks made his way back to N.Y., he requested RZA and company to send him songs from the folder. Shortly after, they collaborated as Banks and Steelz.
RZA spoke of how the songs on the album, “Anything But Words”, could be the soundtrack to Richard Branson’s (founder of Virgin Group) space travel. After joining forces as Banks and Steelz—RZA compared the two to the characters in John Woo’s film, “The Killer”. He stated how both came from different backgrounds, how it was unknown who portrayed the cop and who was the criminal. In the film, they had to put their differences aside and join forces to create something greater. “Anything But Words” is available on Aug. 26.
Paul Banks (Interpol) and RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) are known as Banks and Steelz. They are a hip-hop and alternative two-piece hailing from New York and are part of the Warner Bros. Records roster.
Touré, contributor and author, spoke with Banks and Steelz and how the artists formed the project. Banks remembered of the time where he, RZA and RZA’s martial arts coach dined at a noodle shop in Chinatown.
“It was a very Wu-Tang Clan thing for me to do,” Banks recalled. “I brought up my favorite Wu-Tang song. I said it was ‘Bells of War’. He nodded and told me about the Nord Lead keyboard he’d acquired at the time and used for the song. I saw he was stoked that I’d said that. That was my first interaction with him where I felt an artistic connection.”
“He had a cool New York musician type energy,” RZA spoke of his first impression of Banks.
Through the years, RZA and Banks spent time at RZA’s Los Angeles studio. Banks and Steelz kept each other company, including challenging each to games of chess in various cities. Banks cited every time he and RZA played, he would lose every time.
Thinking of someone new to work with, RZA chose Banks. RZA’s engineer kept hinting to Banks about a selection of songs he had kept in a folder in RZA’s computer. The songs were made over a weekend, after RZA was away from the studio for three months. After Banks made his way back to N.Y., he requested RZA and company to send him songs from the folder. Shortly after, they collaborated as Banks and Steelz.
RZA spoke of how the songs on the album, “Anything But Words”, could be the soundtrack to Richard Branson’s (founder of Virgin Group) space travel. After joining forces as Banks and Steelz—RZA compared the two to the characters in John Woo’s film, “The Killer”. He stated how both came from different backgrounds, how it was unknown who portrayed the cop and who was the criminal. In the film, they had to put their differences aside and join forces to create something greater. “Anything But Words” is available on Aug. 26.
Banks and Steelz upcoming tour dates:
July 21 - Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, Calif.
Aug. 24 - The Crocodile, Seattle
Aug. 25 - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, Ore.
Aug. 27 - The Independent, San Francisco
Aug. 28 - FYF Fest at Exposition Park, Los Angeles
Aug. 31 - 9:30 Club, Washington
Sept. 01 - Bowery Ballroom, New York
Sept. 03 - Sinclair, Boston
Sept. 06 - Mod Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sept. 08 - Lincoln Hall, Chicago
Sept. 23 - Life Is Beautiful in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Sept. 24 - Life Is Beautiful in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Sept. 25 - Life Is Beautiful in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Sept. 27 - Fox Theatre, Boulder, Colo.
Sept. 30 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 01 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 02 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 07 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 08 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 09 - Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix
July 21 - Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, Calif.
Aug. 24 - The Crocodile, Seattle
Aug. 25 - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, Ore.
Aug. 27 - The Independent, San Francisco
Aug. 28 - FYF Fest at Exposition Park, Los Angeles
Aug. 31 - 9:30 Club, Washington
Sept. 01 - Bowery Ballroom, New York
Sept. 03 - Sinclair, Boston
Sept. 06 - Mod Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sept. 08 - Lincoln Hall, Chicago
Sept. 23 - Life Is Beautiful in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Sept. 24 - Life Is Beautiful in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Sept. 25 - Life Is Beautiful in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Sept. 27 - Fox Theatre, Boulder, Colo.
Sept. 30 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 01 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 02 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 07 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 08 - Austin City Limits at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
Oct. 09 - Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sareth Ney is the journalist for A Quarter and Dream Pictures. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and Center for New Media from Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is a former apprentice to master of horror, Clive Barker. He is a Wu-Tang Clan inspired superhero, Wu-Man Chu. He is an award-winning short filmmaker; his goal is to write 150 articles in select time zones, inducts every article into his hall of fame, is a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, founder and co-host of Pueblo's Independent Multimedia Podcast and is the festival director at Sareth-Fest Music and Comedy Festival.
