Formed early in 2004, The Main Drag has enjoyed a quick rise to regional success. The group was formed as a collaboration between Adam Arrigo and Matt Levitt, both of whom attended universities on the East Coast. Arrigo self-produces The Main Drag, while Levitt is a classically trained concert violinist and arranger. The Main Drag's sound is quite unique, fusing experimental songwriting and production techniques with lushly orchestrated indie-folk.
Arrigo and Levitt have been collaborating for over three years, after a successful first recording of "Admit One" that would end up on the debut record. With the help of a couple local producers and musicians, Arrigo began producing The Main Drag's debut album, Simmer In Your Hotseat, over the summer of 2004, drawing on material spanning two years. While working on the album, Arrigo was employed full-time at a local mental hospital in Lynn, MA, where he ran exercise and music groups for schizophrenics, head injury patients, etc. The album title was taken from an exercise tape Adam used in his morning groups. The campy, 80s-born "Sittercise" tape professed such activities as: "Ride your bicycle and milk that cow!" But there was one command that no one seemed to understand: "There's hot oil on your seat...simmer! Simmer in your hot seat!" This command thrust the room into mass confusion, and the tape insisted on returning to it: "Alright, you're done riding that donkey? Let's simmer again!" While the origin of this title is quite ridiculous, it does however reflect the album's recurring themes of different types of debilitation.
Simmer In Your Hotseat is a combination of dark songs and elating ones, although a distinct cohesion runs through the album, thanks to Levitt's haunting arrangements and Arrigo's delicate vocal melodies. The Main Drag is currently promoting their second, self-released album, and has played with such acts as The Young Knives, The Forms, The Unicorns, and The Arcade Fire.
Simmer In Your Hotseat lyrics Digital Press Kit The Main Drag on MySpace The Main Drag "Famous Last Words" on YouTube The Main Drag "Jagged Gorgeous Winter" on YouTubeAwards
Salon.com's Best "Unsigned" Artist - 2007
Many "Songs of the Week" - GarageBand.com
