WHEELS 2.0 DISCOVERS THAT OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Wheels is jammin’ to some groovy tunes this week, as we highlight two bands from opposite ends of the spectrum, but both will get you off your tuchuses and out on the dance floor. Electrolightz is quantized, beat-centric outfit from L.A., and Green Sugar is a crew of old-school guitar slingers hailing from the Windy City. Keep fillin’ our inboxes with killer tracks: [email protected]. Also, submit your best tracks to us before the holiday season, because we’ll be spotlighting our top picks of the year next month.

ONE TO WATCH
Electrolightz (www.myspace.com/Electrolightz; @electrolightz): “It happened overnight,” says ErOc, producer and one third of the Electrolightz. After meeting at a session and instantly hitting it off, the guys of Electrolightz proceeded to bring their own twist to an electro/dance/hip-hop-inspired sound. Their album plays on traditional themes, from love and relationships to nightlife in Los Angeles, where the band is based. The individual success of the members is clearly a driving force behind their new endeavor. Rami Dearst, son of renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman, fronted the band Something for Rockets, which got tremendous recognition on TV and radio, while ErOc has experienced commercial success with his production team, Da Riffs, working with 50 Cent, Young Buck, Pitbull, Chamillionaire and Method Man. The last piece of this tri-fecta, Namebrand, came up under the guidance of Rass Kass and has developed a reputation for putting out innovative lyrics and high-energy music. This musical force has been described as a blend of Daft Punk, Human League, Kanye West and Jay-Z. If these names call to you, then you should definitely check out the music and the live show. The band recently signed a booking deal with Moodswing360, and they’re now on tour with LMFAO.

ON DECK
GreenSugar (www.thegreensugar.com; @greensugarband) are a bluesy five-piece from Chicago who’d been playing 10 shows a month since forming early this year, sharing the stage with the likes of Warren Haynes, Gov’t Mule, Les Claypool and The Black Crowes. The band is now on tour throughout the Midwest. They recently completed a longplayer, Gorilla Fingers, which speaks of hope and irony and the experiences the bandmembers have undergone, and we suggest you peep the record.

BAND/ARTIST UPDATES
Saint Motel (www.myspace.com/saintmotel; @saintmotel) is just coming off a very strong showing at CMJ, with no less than four successful showcases, and recent press including Filter and the Wall Street Journal. They’re already spinning on KROQ and KCRW and will be playing the KROQ Bud Light Spotlight Local Band of the Month show this weekend at The Roxy. They're getting great adds and consistent spins for their song "Dear Dictator" and just shared a stage with Shiny Toy Guns at the Halos N Horns Fest.