Heres an article written by Ellen Carpenter of the New York Times about SPW, Ellen writes:
“JUSTIN TRANTER, the leggy, bleached-blond singer of Semi Precious Weapons, ended his bands set this month at Radio City Music Hall by turning a frenzied cartwheel and shouting the name of an old friend from the New York party scene, a girl who opened for his glam-rock group years ago. I say Lady, you say Gaga! he yelled. Lady! he screamed. Gaga! shrieked 6,000 or so tweens in platinum wigs, men in sequined vests and other, less fabulous, civilians.
This time, the Semi Precious Weapons were opening for Lady Gaga. Her rapid ascent has been a contrast to their slow and steady climb: the Weapons spent years building a fan base and this winter signed to Interscope Records, which will release their major-label debut, You Love You, in the spring. They have worked just as long on their style, which Mr. Tranter, who stands 6-foot-4 in his custom-made Stuart Weitzman heels, described as Marilyn Monroe fronting the Sex Pistols.
After their set, Mr. Tranter and his bandmates Dan Crean on drums, Stevy Pyne on guitar and Cole Whittle on bass retreated to their mirror-lined dressing room and opened Diet Cokes. They discussed their plans: Catch the beginning of Lady Gagas performance; grab a drink at St. Jeromes, their favorite Lower East Side bar; then off to their after-party at the Spotted Pig in the West Village. But first, a costume change.
They have been friends since 2000, as freshmen at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and each has his own style. Mr. Whittle, who wore a stonewashed denim poncho onstage, changed into a black-and-white woven poncho. I can turn anything into a poncho, he said. I could turn Dan into a poncho.
Mr. Crean nodded in agreement. He wore a hooded sweatshirt minus the sweatshirt, the remnant encircling his shoulders like a bizarrely hip monks cowl. I thought, Why do I love hoodies? he said. Because of the hood!
Mr. Pyne, an avid wig collector, considered exchanging his California-surfer shag for one more dramatic. The key is semi-obvious wigs, he said.
Mr. Tranter, who prefers pantyhose to pants, pulled on a pair of gold Lurex tights with a blue velvet print. My goal is that my makeup and style will inspire Midwestern housewives, he said. I want there to be a breakdown of Justins smoky eye in Cosmo.
As they watched Lady Gaga from the audience, Mr. Tranter was spotted by some camera-wielding fans. He obliged with one vampy pose before escaping through the stage door with his mates. At St. Jeromes, they met up with friends like Lady Starlight, the D.J. who introduced them to Lady Gaga in 2006. After 30 minutes of dancing and minimal drinking I dont like to pay for drinks, Mr. Whittle said the group cabbed to the Spotted Pig, where about 100 friends and fans-turned-friends awaited them. They took turns hugging and cheek-kissing almost every guest, many of whom wore temporary tattoos of Mr. Tranters head on their forearms (mementos from the bands music video shoot the night before).
About 2 a.m., after two glasses of Champagne, Mr. Tranter joined his bandmates by the bar. Im not going to say goodbye because Ill make a scene, he said. He hoisted his purse, gave the guys a wave and made a clean getaway.
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