Tapes 'n Tapes, this year's designated Internet-sparked American indie band are, for the moment at least, enjoying their rocket trip to notoriety. Touring their butts off since self-releasing their debut album "The Loon" about a year ago, the Minneapolis-based quartet have already achieved a certain level of road comfort.
"In the United States, we have our own van that we drive ourselves," says guitarist-vocalist Josh Grier over the phone from a club in Berlin. "In the United Kingdom we had a split-bus -- band in the front, gear in the back. Now we're on the Continent and we have our first-ever tour bus. It's pretty cool."
The band's trajectory has been phenomenal, though it's necessary to use a different yardstick for success with Internet-launched indie bands than with traditional label-signed acts. Word-of-mouth is essential since there isn't much money available for things like advertising and video production. Promotion comes down to a constant flood of interviews and the never-ending tour, making the job of pop musician a young person's game, as the stamina required is almost superhuman.