I’m pleased to announce the birth of a new record. Thirteen Times by Instant Winner will be released at Club Impact this Friday. In case you haven’t heard, Instant Winner is a freakin’ awesome six-piece band with an actual horn section — not a keyboard that sounds like horns but actual horns like the kind you pucker up and blow into. They play a high-energy mix of rock, ska, punk, and reggae.



Did I mention the horn section!



Neal Martin (vocals, guitar), Morgan Hushagen (drums), Bryce Gifford (bass), Chris Swartz (backing vocals, guitar), Brien Beebe (trombone) and Chad Fondren (trumpet) are relatively young, yet they’ve been playing together 10 years.



“A couple of us met in junior high school,” says Martin, “It wasn’t until our enrollment at Puyallup High School that the band really started to take shape, meeting through acquaintances and stealing the horn section from another band.”



Martin says they chose their band name because saying it makes people feel a little bit better. “Like maybe they really did just win something,” he says. 



The band calls Seattle home these days but still has strong ties to Tacoma.



“Growing up in Puyallup, T-Town was pretty much ‘The Big City,’” explains Martin. “Of course it was kind of a dirty, stay away from Hilltop kind of big city back then. Over the years we have played many a show in Tacoma, especially at Hell’s Kitchen and Club Impact. Now Tacoma is the new Seattle — cleaner and cooler than ever. There has always been great music from Tacoma and I’m sure there always will be.”



The meaning of the album name was disclosed under duress by Martin.



“Hmmm, well, I wasn’t going to reveal the deep meaning behind our new records title, Thirteen Times, but you seem like a nice enough person so you can have the lowdown first,” says Martin. “Ok ... the new Instant Winner CD Thirteen Time s... has... 13 new songs on it ... It’s Instant Winner ... thirteen times ... get it?”



Martin says Instant Winner music is perfect when mopping a floor or picking a fight.

“Both situations seem very appropriate,” says Martin. “Plus, sometimes its fun to pretend the mop is an electric guitar.”



The four Thirteen Times tracks available on MySpace were the only glimpse of the new album that I could manage in time to meet my deadline, and I didn’t test out the mopping or the fighting theory partially because I am inept at both and partially because my boss is waiting for this story; but I did listen intently, and I wholeheartedly agree that all four songs are winners. The intro to “On and On” had a Steve Miller “Space Cowboy” feel to it but as soon as they broke out the horns I was reminded of the jubilant Tragic Kingdom of No Doubt. Then the harmonic male vocals chimed in all modern and boyish similar to “Boys Like Girls.” The mixture gives the band a fresh sound all their own. “False Idol” starts out with monster guitars, which are quickly joined by the brass like a battle call.



The result is like kicking ass with your own cheering section. If their live show is anything like the album, the audience will be bouncing around like ping pong balls. “We try to make people move around a bit when we play — its good exercise for everyone,” Martin explains.



I asked the band what they would like me to tell people about them.



“We would like people to know that we are outstanding citizens that brush our teeth at least once a day, don’t text on our cell phones while driving, and just like to have a good time while on stage,” replies Martin. “They should come see us play sometime ... like maybe Friday night at Club IMPACT in Tacoma ... it’s probably right down the street from their house.” — Angela Jossy



[Club Impact, with Truce, Sunderlyn, Sights Over Seen and A Leaf, Friday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., all ages, $6-$8, 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, www.brownpapertickets.com]