Fireworks Factory, the ninth studio album from Rochester’s own The Isotopes, was released in 2023 and continues their tradition of celebrating all forms of instrumental rock. It follows 2021’s The Isotopes Pick Your Brains and a well-received covers collection from 2020, Duck and Cover, which contains versions of songs from artists as diverse as Bruno Mars, Glenn Miller, Aha, Lil Nas X and Mozart along 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
[expand title=”Read More”]“Lights flash. The players swing their instruments in synchronized, cheesy movements as they riff on a medley of TV theme music while girls in matching black miniskirts and white shirts grind their hips against them.
“The crowd loves it.”
-Silandara Bartlett, Rochester Insider
“Their third and latest effort, Real Instrumental Heroes, continues the band’s relentless and riotous musical assault on all five senses, as these guys always present a stage show that is a visual pleasure as well as aural.”
-Michelle Picardo, Freetime Magazine
“Most Inventive Local Release. The Isotopes’ fate is in your hands: The Rochester surf band’s CD, Choose Your Own Adventure, opens with 13 original songs, then ends with interactive tracks that allow the listener to choose the fate of the band in its quest to be heroes.”
-Jeff Spevak, Democrat and Chronicle
“The Isotopes … raged instrumentally ferocious with the dancing girls bumping and grinding to the beat. I couldn’t tell if the band was trying to be funny or just showing off when they covered Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein” note for note, because they did it so well”
-Frank DeBlase, City Newspaper
“Anybody who saw the trio do surf versions of Iron Maiden songs at last year’s Maiden tribute show knows that there’s more to these guys than meets the eye – like serious chops for starters. They pretty much stick to the surf playbook, but its surf you can really sink your teeth into: rousing and well composed.”
-Saby Reyes-Kulkarni, City Newspaper
We could’ve said it better ourselves.
[/expand]To book the Isotopes for your next event contact us at spitbeer@theisotopes.com or check out our book the Isotopes page.
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spitbeer@theisotopes.com
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The Isotopes are:
Handsome B Wonderful – Guitar
Lance Uppercut – Guitar
Admiral Awesome – Drums
Rock Strongo – Bass
Guy Incognito – Lights and Sounds
Ophelia Cox – Go Go Dancer
Lucy Tightbox – Go Go Dancer
Giggles – Go Go Dancer
The Isotopes Announcer – Announcements
The Isotopes is one of the best instrumental rock bands featuring former scientists in all of WNY
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The Isotopes
