Doors 6:30pm, Music 7:30pm

The Isotopes

The Isotopes Pick Your Brains, the eighth studio album from the long running instrumental combo, was released in 2021 and continues their tradition of celebrating all forms of instrumental rock. It follows a well-received covers collection from 2020, Duck and Cover, containing versions of songs from artists as diverse as Bruno Mars, Glenn Miller, Aha, Lil Nas X and Mozart and sprinkled with TV and movie soundtrack favorites. Surprising covers have always been a staple of The Isotopes’ legendary live shows, and so have dancers, lights, and picking confetti out of your drink.

It seems like just yesterday that their fifth album, The Isotopes Overstay Their Welcome, was released on vinyl by Archive Records and voted Best Local Album of 2013 by the readers of City Newspaper (and they’ve been insufferable ever since.)

But just who are the Isotopes? Are they super sweet instrumental rock stars? Are they scientists performing an experiment gone haywire? Are they skirt-chasing sociopaths with no conscience or sense of right and wrong?

Yes.

They’re the Isotopes, Rochester’s premier instrumental rock band featuring gyrating go-go dancers, hilarious announcements, stage effects, nerd glasses and panty-dampening rock choreography. From traditional surf music first made famous by the likes of the Ventures and Dick Dale, to heavier rock riffs taken straight from the playbook of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, there isn’t a dry seat in the house as the Isotopes journey through an array of genres.

But don’t take our word for it, here’s what the increasingly untrustworthy liberal media has to say about the Isotopes:

“Huh … how about that? The Isotopes play it as a joke, with their white lab coats, science-geek demeanor, goofball stage names and pun-laden song titles, but their latest release “Play Surf Music” is really quite good. The Isotopes do a fine job of shifting the dynamics from song to song, and within the songs themselves. “

-Jeff Spevak, Gannett

“The Isotopes Play Surf Music isn’t just another Isotopes record. Well, it is … it just seems this Rochester surf band has finally hit its stride with all 16 tracks showing up with something catchy and truly Isotope-y. It would seem The Isotopes have developed a signature sound at last.

What sets the members of the ‘Topes apart on this record, or any other one of their recordings for that matter, is these guys aren’t purists, thankfully, and attack the music with guts akin to some of the players’ heavier backgrounds. There are hooks aplenty throughout The Isotopes Play Surf Music, and producer Doug White does an excellent job keeping the band on track. Just in time for the two weeks we call summer.”

-Frank DeBlase, City Newspaper

https://theisotopes.com/

Cover: $10