The Drums is an American indie pop band/project from New York City. It was initially formed by Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham as Goat Explosion, and later added Adam Kessler and Connor Hanwick.
Graham exited the band in 2016. Since then, the band has operated as a solo project of sole remaining member Jonathan Pierce.
members: Jacob Graham, Adam Kessler, Connor Hanwick, Jonathan Pierce
formed in: Brooklyn
labels: Island Records
genres: indie rock
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
Founding members Jonathan (Jonny) Pierce and Jacob Graham became friends as children, having met at Bible camp. Some years later, they formed a short-lived electro-pop group initially named Goat Explosion, eventually renamed Elkland. They released one album, Golden, in 2005 and garnered interest with the single "Apart".
In December 2009, the band was shortlisted as one of the 15 music acts for the BBC Sound of 2010. Subsequently, they placed at No. 5 in this list on 4 January 2010. In NME's first issue of 2010 they were named number 1 in the magazine's top tips for the year as well as in Clash Magazine's Tips for 2010. The Drums were also voted "Best Hope for 2010" in Pitchfork's 2009 Readers' Poll. They won the Hall Radar Award for 2010 and were the most Shazamed band of 2009.
The band have cited influences including Kraftwerk, OMD, the Smiths, Orange Juice, the Wake, the Legends, the Shangri-Las, the Tough Alliance, the Embassy, and Joy Division. Graham also mentions that reverb in general has played a major role in their sound: "...If reverb didn't exist we wouldn't have bothered trying to start a band."
"Let's Go Surfing" is the debut single by American band the Drums, released from their self-titled debut album. The single was first released in the UK on 15 September 2009 as the lead single from the band's debut EP Summertime!, but was later re-released on 9 August 2010.
On both releases, the track was released as a double A-side with the Summertime! EP exclusive track "Don't Be a Jerk, Johnny", although only the lead track received chart placement in the UK.