2/27 VIA AUDIO @ The Middle East Upstairs February 27, 2008
472(Up) and 480(Down) Mass Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
Wednesday, February 27, 2008The Middle East Upstairs
VIA AUDIOEvangelicals (Dead Oceans Rec., fr. OK)Headlights (Polyvinyl Rec., fr. IL)This Car Up
18+$9NOTE: 8:30pm doors
The adage of too many cooks spoiling the broth can be universally applied on a number of levels, particularly in artistic relationships, where, for example, too many musicians egos clash during the writing and recording of an album. But in the case of New York-based indie rock outfit Via Audio, having three-fourths of the band penning material for its SideCho debut album, Say Something, Say Something, Say Something, has only made a great collection of tracks even greater.
Drummer Danny Molad, vocalist/guitarist Jessica Martins, guitarist Tom Deis and bassist David Lizmi discovered each other as musical kindred spirits while at college in Boston back in 2003. Within a year, the band had begun performing locally, and its self-titled EP became their calling card. In mid 2005 the band began work on a new album, but the album fell victim to hard drive failures and sporadic recording schedules. It was during this time though that Via Audio began generating attention from some highly established indie rock peers. Death Cab For Cuties Chris Walla fell in love with the group after stumbling across their MySpace profile. Being dubbed Wallas favorite new band in Under The Radar was a giant boost to the bands confidence, but it was admiration from another high-profile peer that would eventually lead to the completion of Say Something.
Jessica went to a Spoon show, and she went up to Jim (Eno) and was like, Hey, were in a band and heres our CD, says Lizmi. Before too long, Eno had taken a specific interest in the group, plenty enough to make a considerable effort to produce the outfit. We were on tour in the West Coast and he flew out to San Francisco just to see us. After the concert Eno proposed a deal that the band could not turn down. He invited the group to his Austin studio to help the band record a new album agreeing to only get paid if/when the band got signed.
Via Audio spent two weeks in Austin with Eno, recording the remainder of the album as efficiently as possible to ensure that it would be completed on schedule. In fact, because of the band members engineering skills, Eno and the band would often be simultaneously working on the same album. In one room, Jim would be mixing and in the other room, we would be recording, says Lizmi.
Jims into the analog thing and it was a little bit harder than what we did at home, because of the fact that its very honest recording, adds Deis. We had to really get it right without the luxury of fixing our little mistakes.
But the tight attentiveness paid off. Not only did Via Audio finally finish the album they had started nearly a year prior, the foursome walked away with the experience of being able to work with one of their mentors.
We were all really pleasantly surprised, Deis recalls. Every time wed leave the studio, wed be like, Jim is amazing. We saw it as an ideal collaboration. He didnt force us into any direction. He just gave his input and we usually felt good about what he had to say.
After wrapping mastering in November, the band began speaking with a variety of labels, waiting for the right relationship. We were sitting on this record, and we were anxious as to where we were going to be, or whether we would have to release it ourselves, says Lizmi. To quell their anxiety, the band leaked a collection of Say Something demos to blogs with unexpected success. Within days the band had rocketed to the top of the Elbo.ws chart. Blogs were singing their praises, WOXY began spinning and charting the demos and the band landed in the pages of Alternative Press as a featured unsigned band. Via Audio eventually connected with Southern California-based indie label SideCho Records.
The songs of Say Something reveal a band that has the innate ability to draw from all depths and corners of its musical upbringing. Although each of the three songwriters has their own style, the end product is decidedly Via Audio. Credit this to their raw talent and understanding of how to maintain a seamless, symbiotic creative relationship.
We all enjoy each others input, says Deis. Ill bring in a guitar part and vocal part, or whatever, and I just say, David, do what you want to do. Jess, do what you want to do. Danny, do what you want to do. And then we discuss, and usually the person who is playing the instrument has a say in what their instrument does. We all let each other express each other.
Its about having fun, Lizmi adds. Its about having a good time and not taking yourself too seriously. Thats important. And having really solid musical and melodic content. Were trying to be real conscious about everything we play and everything we put in. Music is first with us Weve been in this waiting period, just kind of waiting to do a hard push. And with this record, this is going to be it. Its now a goal for us.
Artist Website: http://www.viaaudio.net
The Evangelicals seems like an appropriate name for a band from the Bible Belt town of Norman, OK, but this band's skewed, psychedelic take on post-Pavement indie rock seems unlikely to thrill the average church youth group. Seemingly heavily influenced by fellow Oklahoma oddballs like the Flaming Lips and the Starlight Mints, as well as other members of the lysergic end of contemporary indie pop, the Evangelicals were started in 2005 by singer, songwriter, and, at first, sole member Josh Jones. After recording the majority of the Evangelicals' debut album by himself, Jones recruited his childhood friend Austin Stephens as drummer and fellow Oklahoma University student Kyle Davis on bass, turning the group into a full-time studio and touring proposition. Signing to the respected indie Misra Records (Great Lake Swimmers, the Mendoza Line, etc.), the Evangelicals released their debut album, So Gone, on the thematically appropriate date of June 6, 2006. All Music Guide
Artist Website: http://www.myspace.com/evangelicals
Headlights are an indie threesome from Champaign, IL, made up of members of Kindercore band Maserati and Parasol band Absinthe Blind. After name changes, false starts, and membership adjustments (at one point, they were known as Orphans) the group settled on their current moniker and lineup (Erin Fein on vocals and keyboards, Brett Sanderson on drums, and Tristan Wraight on vocals, guitar, and bass) in 2004. Headlights recorded their debut, The Enemies EP, with Adam Schmitt serving as producer. Featuring an early-'90s American noise-pop sound reminiscent of Velocity Girl and Lilys filtered through modern electronics, the record was originally available only through mail order and at Headlights' gigs. The EP sold out, and Polyvinyl took notice of the band's popularity, signing them and re-releasing The Enemies EP in November 2005. The band continued recording and issued their first full-length album, Kill Them with Kindness, in 2006. The record was largely recorded in Milwaukee, and Headlights opted to stay closer to home for the recording of their follow-up effort. Some Racing, Some Stopping appeared in February 2008, followed by another round of touring (this time alongside Oklahoma's The Evangelicals). All Music Guide
Artist Website: http://www.headlightsmusic.com
"They have been together since July 2006 and have performed several shows, gone on a mini-tour, done a pod-cast and recorded their own demo. They are completely at one, finishing each other's thoughts and sentences. All members are also songwriters and are now working on collectively contributing lyrically and melodically to songs as opposed to before. There is an energy and warmth that emanates from This Car Up, particularly their live set. Not only do they feed off each other while still playing their own part, but prove they are still just guys having fun and doing what they love. With their cute dawdling atmosphere, Kevin says that This Car Up is "Endorsed by Lenscrafter" and babbles on about Wookieepedia.com. While Eric fiddles with pedals, Paul graciously but passionately plays alongside Barry's dynamic drumbeats, as Kurt and Kevin rock the stage, shaking it with their energy. The keyboard's uplifting and playful sounds echo a Mates of State style flippancy. Eric slams his guitar into the ground and plays it with a broken tile, when he jumps off the stage he knocks the mic stand over and that's when you see that they couldn't be happier anywhere else. Each member plays a part, there is no front man; they say Eric and Paul are the alter ego dads, but on this stage it only matters that they are a family. Horn players, who are friends of the band, make a beautiful addition as everyone in the band and audience has an arm around one another and the crowd is singing along to words they have just learned. Eric sings as loud as possible into the crowd, standing on top of an amp, having knocked the mic out of the stand; everyone is won over and content in this creative community they are now a part of. Commenting on their live shows, Paul says, "I just love that feeling of togetherness. You know we all respect each other and when we're playing I'm just looking at everyone just like 'I love you.'" This Car Up's stage show proves what they have been telling me as we sit in my living room. Everyone can read about an "up and coming" band and not care, but when you see them smashing together right in front of you, lights glimmering, faces sweating and hearts pounding, you know they are playing exactly what we want; something to be passionate about, something to feel. This Car Up gives that to you and loves every minute of it."
Artist Website: http://www.myspace.com/tcarup
********************For hi-res press photos or more information, please email Clay S. Fernald: [email protected].
Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of Middle_East.
Added by middleeast on March 4, 2008