Discovery: The Americans

We caught up with classic rock-style band The Americans when they played, appropriately enough, at The Smile’s Independence Day Party in Southampton. Lead singer Charlie Klarsfeld gave us the basics:

WHO ARE THE AMERICANS? The Americans is a band I put together two years ago with a group of musicians. (Charlie Klarsfeld on guitar and lead vocals, Kyle Olson on drums, Sissy Clemens on vocals, Corey Dozier on bass, Matt Chef on keyboard, John Stanesco on saxophone). I write all the songs and it’s my baby–it’s me as a musician in a nutshell. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BAND? This is my third band. When I was 14, I was in a band called The Breaks, my next band was Hysterics when we were 15 or 16 years old and then I started The Americans when I was 18. This is the first time I started a band. BACK UP PLAN: Well, I started doing some photography and I’m going to have my first show in August or September. But either way I want to be a musician and a guitar player–and a producer, too. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NEW YORK? New York is that it’s a beautiful city and that it’s inspirational. There are great musicians, but kids who are receptive aren’t allowed in night clubs and kids who are don’t want to go hear bands they never heard of. They just want to go buy overpriced drinks. FIRST CD: Dookie by Green Day, and Sublime. CELEBRITY DOPPELGANGER: I mean, people tell me I look like Robert Downey Jr. I don’t know, what do you think? (PHOTO BY JACK SIEGEL)

THE AMERICANS PLAY NEW YORK’S NUBLU ON JULY 20 AND 27. THEIR ALBUM, THE WHITEY PEA, WILL BE RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER.