Imagine the voice of Rufus Wainwright singing Beatles melodies with the hard, but quirky edge of Weezer. Other influences include Of Montreal, Beulah, and Ozma.

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ROCK: Modern Rock, POP: Beatles-pop



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Michael Chagnon was sitting on the couch when he heard a familiar tune. The notes coming from the TVâs speakers were from his guitar and his band, Escape Velocity.

Months earlier Chagnon sent MTV a CD with the song âGwynneth,â on it. The song appeared on a documentary about teens at fat camp. Since the brief exposure to a worldwide audience, Escape Velocity has recorded and released its second album, âOld Familiar Way.â

âOld Familiar Wayâ is available now, but is it any good? Should you spend your hard earned money on it? Thereâs one way to find out: listen to it. The whole album (minus one song) is available in streaming audio beginning today on the bandâs web site (www.escapevelocity.com). The missing song can be found on Beats in the Burg.

If you like what you hear, âOld Familiar Wayâ can be purchased over the Internet. The guys in Escape Velocity are taking this different approach to sell their album because they feel like itâs the best way to showcase their band. âIf you hear it, youâll be more likely to buy it,â said Dustin West, the bandâs bassist. West said thereâs a lot more acoustic and catchy stuff on the album and itâs less âhard rockinââ.

The members of Escape Velocity met when they were in Boy Scouts, but didnât really become friends until high school. The group of guys lived in the same neighborhood, went to Heritage High School and participated in the schoolâs theater program.

When they were sophomores they started to mess around with different instruments. All three had taken some experience with music. Drummer Aaron Horton and West played in the high school band. Chagnon played the violin in elementary school and graduated to the guitar by the time he hit eighth grade and started listening to Weezer. âThatâs where the guitar came in,â he said.

Meanwhile, the other two pieces of Escape Velocity were starting to take shape. Horton got a new drum set and West got a bass guitar. They were a band, but they needed a name.
One day in a high school physics class, Chagnon had an epiphany. He wanted a name and found it while the teacher discussed the effects of escape velocity. âIt just kind of stuck,â Chagnon said. But he admitted the âname doesnât particularly go with the band.â

As Escape Velocity continued to practice, they started to get shows. At first, they played in basements and at parties. Then, they were offered to play around Lynchburg at venues such as the Drowsy Poet, Big Lick Tropical Grill and the now defunct Bistro. Soon, the band started to amass a local following. âWe donât sound like anybody else,â West said, but mentioned that theyâre greatly influence by the Beatles. West said Escape Velocityâs sound is âkind of poppy and catchy. Itâs unconventional.â

This summer the band took its show on the road to the northeast for its first tour. Escape Velocity played in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut, but the band didnât just play. Escape Velocity puts on a show, Chagnon said. Since band members have theater backgrounds, they like to add something different to their set. While in concert, band members wear all pink and black. In the middle of their set, during a breakdown, the band begins a slow-motion fight scene. Some fans like it, some fans laugh and other are confused, but at least theyâre entertained, Chagnon said.

West, Horton and Chagnon have graduated from high school and moved on to college. Chagnon goes to Lynchburg College, Horton goes to Liberty University and West attends Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. They continue to play, practice and write new songs. Right now, geography keeps them apart, but Chagnon continues to write news songs. â(Chagnon) records every day,â West said.

The hard work and effort may one day pay off with a record deal, but itâs not all about being the next big thing.
âItâd be nice to get signed, but its kind of nice to do our own thing,â Chagnon said. âRight now Iâm just having fun with it.â

Source: http://www.newsadvance.com/