Early 90's chicago-style indie rock with lyrics influenced by W. B. Yeats and T. S. Eliot

10 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Psychedelic, ROCK: Hard Rock



Details:
In a different town in a different time, you would have already heard of the Mandate of Heaven. Greg Pier has released nine records, in cd and vinyl form, over the past eight years in the Syracuse area. The sound of MofH is in a category that no longer exists; if it had come into being ten years earlier, it would have been grouped with bands like Helium, The Spinanes, Fugazi, and the Jesus Lizard. Syracuse has been on Clear Channel lockdown for some time now, so the building of MofH's fanbase has been a slow process, not to mention the fact that Pier is the sole permanent member, promoter, songwriter, and producer of the group.
Syracuse did have a music scene at one time. We were there to see it. The scene revolved around a club, the Lost Horizon, at a time when straightedge hardcore was at its peak. While the hardcore scene was quite purist and homogenized, bands would show up on matinee bills from time to time that provided the germ of MofH's influences, such as Quicksand, Into Another, Ashes, Shades Apart, Orange Nine Millimeter, and other groups that toured in the all ages circuit yet defied its conventions.
Eventually, the tired dogma and hypocrisy of the straightedge scene wore Pier out. He began to search for something new. Two events, a few months apart, led to the beginning of the Mandate's recorded output. The first event was a four track recorder as a birthday present. The second was the shoplifting of the Guided By Voices box set from a Syracuse University record store. Pier had already been experimenting with recording himself as a full band, tracking drums, bass, guitar and vocals seperately and mixing down to cassette. Guided By Voices, who Pier might have earlier dismissed as pothead bullshit, proved that you could express yourself and create a finished product without money, time, expertise or equipment. Pier began writing and recording on a daily basis. The best of those hundreds of early recordings were released as On No Evil Star in 1999. Although most copies were given away rather than sold, and it would be some time before Pier could put a band together to play his songs live, people began to take notice in a town that had largely given up on indie rock. The first lineup was essentially the same lineup as the Fiascoes, an outfit that Pier had been drumming in for some years. The shift from Fiascoes material to Mandate material led to friction with the Fiascoes' frontman, Josh Loomis, resulting in that group's breakup. The next lineup consisted of future THURSDAY keyboardist Andrew Everding on drums and Dave Kane on bass. That lineup lasted for a year or so, playing BROWNIES and the KNITTING FACTORY in New York city before Everding left to tour with Thursday full time, and Dave Kane had a baby with his girlfriend. During this time, the second MofH record, REAL: DEVIL MUSIC was remixed several times and released. At this point Dave Kane's brother Bob had begun to fill in on shows here and there. Being preoccupied with a career in the cover band circuit, Bob Kane ceded the drum throne to Steve Cerio, famed illustrator and former member of Matador recording artists RAILROAD JERK as well as DRUNK TANK and the solo projects of DEE DEE RAMONE. Joined by Chris Swisher on bass, this lineup lasted until 2003, when Pier moved to Brooklyn after releasing two more home-recorded records, ARISEN EYE IS FEUDIST FIEND and THE EIGHT TALKER MOUTHS: SSSUPERHUMAN. While still in Syracuse, Pier had recorded an enormous amount of material in his home studio. At Coyote Studios in Brooklyn, Pier mastered an lp's worth of this material which was released as WE NEED A SUBSTANCE NOW TO MAKE US AFRAID. The remainder of the material was shelved until Pier returned to Syracuse, where it was released as FADING HECTOGRAPHS WERE THEIR FACT SAWS. An introvert by nature, and possessing limited financial resources, Pier found Brooklyn to be very infertile ground indeed for music, contrary to its reputation. Pier worked as a line cook, mover, and bike messenger, struggling to pay Williamsburg rent. The only exposure of his talents came from playing the subways a couple of times a week for beer money. After too many close calls "messing" in Manhattan, Pier decided to return to Syracuse and record an album that could be promoted in a more widespread manner. Bob Kane, one of the most talented drummers in the State, was growing tired of playing Bel Biv Devoe and Godsmack covers for 50$ at weddings. He offered to play on the new record, marking the first time that Pier had collaborated with another musician on an MofH recording. The album was recorded at More Sound in Syracuse and produced by old friend Jason Randall, a rising star in the recording industry and producer of such bands as FROM A SECOND STORY WINDOW and HEATSEEKER. The album, which you are holding in your hands hopefully, was named HUN IN THE SUN after a tactic of WW1 fighter ace BARON VON RICHTOFFEN and released September 28th, 2006. Dave Kane returned to the live lineup recently, as his daughter has entered preschool. Rachel Bass of Syracuse prog-punks LADIES AND EVERYONE was added on second guitar to fill out the sound.
Ironically, now that Mandate of Heaven finally has a professional sounding record, virtually no structure exists to promote it. The Lo-Fi/Medium Fi fad has become mainstream, and bands are touring internationally on records that don't sound much better than the first few MofH recordings. Fortunately, Pier's songwriting transcends the whimsical indie rock fad cycle. HUN IN THE SUN shows traces of Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and W. B. Yeats in its songwriting style. The music itself makes no attempt to be avante-garde or abrasive; it is pleasing to the ear while emotive and stirring. This is not a "scene" record, written for the taste of record store geeks. It is music for people, and it is the response of people, not organizations, which will ultimately propel this release forward.

FROM WWW.HANGINGHEX.COM
Finally, local rock gets it's day in the sun... in a matter of speaking. For years now, Greg Pier has been making amazing records under the name Mandate Of Heaven. Most of these records have been home-recorded and very limitedly distributed, generally by himself to friends around town. He's probably got at least 6 or 7 records out (that I know of). But for the last year he has been in and out of local 4-star studio Moresound to perfect the songs that make up this new cd. And for the first time it is professionally recorded, mixed, and packaged up, and manufactured at a reputable place. Hell, it's even got one of those fancy little stickers on the topspine. And it's all still self-released. Whatever the case, Mandate Of Heaven is finally doing something that these songs deserve. For the most part they show an even more melodic and, for lack of a better word, accessible vibe. While all previous Mandate material had some pop sensibilities these 10 tracks showcase that in a diverse way. re-recorded older songs "Sacrifice For the New Planet" and "City Of Slaves" have an almost boogie rock sound to them, while "Empty Parking Lots" and closing dirge "American Fighter Jets" take a slow, repetitive feel that is half stoner-doom fuzz and psychedelic melodica. But it might be the track right in the middle, "Apology" that is the true standout on this record. It's slow and melancholy beauty is accented by the poignant lyrics and subtle backgrounds scrawls reminiscent of "Daydream Nation"-era Sonic Youth. It's a true tearjerker and once I hit the play button for the third time the goosebumps were there upon the first note. The rest of the record tends to hit a sort of middle ground- combining the melodies true to other Mandate material, keeping a general mid-tempo feel, and Greg's always unique voice, which I have always felt is not only a bold move, but an acquired taste. He always hits the mark whether it's lower octaves or a higher register that has always reminded me slightly of Tom Veraline of Television. Personally, I really hope this garners MofH some well-deserved attention as it is a wonderful record full of beautiful songs that finally get the great recording they deserve. And from there I hope new listeners will explore some of the other material they have a well because it's all good. (Neon Witch, www.mofh.com, www.myspace.com/mandateofheaven)