The Ting Tings

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More About

• Katie White
• Blondie (Band)
• Ting Ting
• Jules De Martino
• Manchester

According to lead singer, guitarist, and drum bassist Katie White, ting ting is Mandarin for "band stand" (Ting Ting was also the name of her Chinese co-worker). Growing up in a livery in the English countryside, White claims she spent most of her childhood bored, writing music under gray skies. Londoner Jules de Martino met White in Manchester, and after an epic, failed attempt at creating a group, the two re-formed later as the Ting Tings. They first played underground shows and private parties, then things snowballed into bigger shows including the Glastonbury Festival. They list Portishead and LCD Soundsystem as past influences, but their beep-, boop-, and beat-heavy sound is more reminiscent of '80s club pop, with a healthy dose of Blondie. Though her voice is undeniably girlie, White's defiance, eye-rolling nonchalance, and impatience for fools is apparent on tunes like "Fruit Machine," "Great DJ," "That's Not My Name," and "Shut Up and Let Me Go"—ditties that don't lose their coolness despite being featured on shows such as Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, and even those dang iTunes ads. All ages.
Mon., Aug. 4, 6 p.m., 2008