The Rioteers

In the fall of 2003 a riot started with four guys who wanted to play some real rock & roll. The Rioteers - Tim McHugh (vocals, guitar) writes the incendiary songs that Jeff Hupp (Bass, vocals), Matt Aljian (drums) & Phil Murray (guitar, Vocals) ignite with unbridled power & imagination. Hailing from Detroit, where the riots died down years ago but the rock still kept smoldering, the Rioteers fire up a combination of Guided By Voices songwriting smarts, Pixies-like arrangements & Cheap Trick style melodies. The Rioteers are throwing their 3 & a half-minutes-or-less pop-rock bricks through the windows of mediocrity, aiming their Moltov-Cocktail-lyrics at the corporate offices of clichi.

What: All of seven months old, the Rioteers find themselves in a holy trio of matchless Detroit power-pop bands, flanked by Brendan Benson and the Fags. Tim McHugh —vocals/guitar; Andy Reed — guitar/vocals; Jason Reed — bass/vocals; Jeff Hupp — drums. Also, main tunesmith McHugh was burped up from the gut of criminally overlooked Atomic Numbers.

Why you should give a damn: Songwriting, chief! What’s more, each guy on stage is intriguingly engaging. Supple-voiced McHugh is the in-house chick-magnet and trapsman Hupp’s timekeeping skills rival that of a Rolex. There’s an unlikely guitar hero in Reed whose bassist brother out-scissors his legs in a manner that upholds the honor of Dee Dee Ramone.

Debts/ spiritual forefathers: Beatles, banana seats, Badfinger singles, Queen, “All The Young Dudes,” early Coop, the brothers McDonald, Phil Seymour, 20/20, ’70’s Cheap Trick, GBV, Office Space and Frank Black.

The killer quote:”Rock anthems for losers!”

Releases: Bedroom-recorded, self-released debut EP, Underachievers of the World Unite, is out this week.

Predictions: Band lands a major-label deal, takes the dough and runs — debut album most likely will adhere to long-standing rule that power-pop doesn’t sell. However, long-term residual checks will litter Rioteer mailboxes after penning theme song to a forthcoming WB sitcom. —Brian Smith

Catch the Rioteers’ inspired hook-din at their record release show Saturday, May 10 at the Lager House (1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit). For info, call 313-961-4668.