When the hype machine in their native Britain sent newcomers The Ting Tings into overdrive in 2008, the Manchester duo had one advantage over other acts garnering similar column inches: The Ting Tings were actually good.
Seemingly springing out of nowhere at the start of last year, Katie White and Jules De Martino had actually honed their craft together in the trip-hop trio Dear Eskimo. But when that unit ground to a halt before releasing their major-label debut, White and De Martino came up with something new. Coupling a fresh, minimal, party sound with an underground manifesto, their Ting Tings incarnation was all about having fun. It paid off — the duo made an organic but no less sudden leap into the national consciousness with singles such as "That's Not My Name" and "Great DJ," which burned up the radio playlists, seduced the critics and burrowed into the brains of Britons.
Live reports were no less breathy, with the duo playing roughly three explosive shows a day at the South by Southwest music-industry festival in Austin, Texas. Drummer De Martino kept a cool and steady rhythm as singer-guitarist White prowled the stage, yelping her lyrics and radiating stage presence.