It's refreshing to hear some good, straight up rock with just a touch of alternative flavorings. 7th and perhaps even some 9th chords give some interest and dissonance. Their music seems to be influenced by U2 and early Muse. Andrew Orvis decorates each song with riffs aplenty, often waxing a bit atmospheric (a la Edge) and then arpeggiating chords (a la Bellamy.) And while there might be reminiscences of other sounds, their sound doesn't copy anyone.What really vaults this band ahead of the pack are Shea Stratton's vocals. His range is huge, extending from a rich tenor up to a falsetto that has ease, power and expressiveness. A few times it seemed like Bono's voice, but more expansive and richer. I hope he guards it with his life as so many singers wreck their voices singing too hard, etc, etc. There are enough screamers out there.
Their musicianship achieves excellence from all four. What makes them worthy of repeated listens are the changes of texture which they handle with relative ease. They alternate between quieter passages with fewer instruments playing, before turning loose and going full boar. Their rhythm section deserves a mention for leading with skill.
In terms of getting to know much about them, they are a bit mysterious so far. Their Myspace says quite simply, "We are a band. We make music. You should listen to it." Their influences are "lots of things." The band consists of Shea Stratton (vocals/guitar), Andrew Orvis (guitar), Cristy Michel (bass), and Mike Scheider (drums).
You should definitely listen to their music. It's available in all the usual places and also at Amoeba records if you are looking for a physical CD and an old-fashioned record store experience. They just played The House of Blues this last Thursday, January 13th. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it.
www.StateToStateband.com
They should definitely Keep Musicking!
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