MP3 The Vinyl Strangers - ROCK: 60´s Rock

Everly Bros. meet The Byrds meet The Beatles, Beach Boys and Big Star at Buddy Holly's house

11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: 60's Rock, POP: Beatles-pop



Details:
The Vinyl Strangers

The Vinyl Strangers are a classic incestuous Athens band - in a good way. Guitarist-vocalist Joe Guerzo explains: [Bassist] Tim Adams and I have played shows together for three years. [Guitarist-vocalist] Reid Howland has been one of my best friends over the past 10 years. [Drummer] Ian Werden was actually living at my place when we first started jamming. Never mind all the other bands that boast members of this four-piece, suffice it to say, the number closes in on double digits. As such, the Vinyl Strangers may be little more than a labor of love by four guys who get along swimmingly.

While the Vinyl Strangers harmonious personal history would make an exceedingly dull "Behind the Music," the band's sound is anything but a drag. An as-yet unreleased EP flies through five songs in 15 minutes flat. On the group's quickie Myspace description, the members call themselves The Everly Brothers meets the Byrds. Though that does get you close, those groups tended to add a melancholy tinge to their songs; with the Vinyl Strangers, theres nothing but good vibes on the horizon. When Guerzo and Howland harmonize about a breakup in Sweet Little Afterthought, they still manage to be upbeat.

The pop purity that comes through could be a result of the unorthodox way the band wrote and rehearsed the songs. We got together for Buffalo Bills games," says Howland. "Wed jam at the halves. As the band didnt have much time, and didnt want to annoy people in the next room, practices were short-lived and subtle. Howland explains: We play really quietly and the emphasis is really on the harmonizing. Adds Guerzo, I think that makes us listen to each other more. This Lunch Paper show marks the bands first time playing out, though, so the guys may have to crank things up a little.

-Tom Bavis Flagpole Magazine 4/19/06