Local Band of the Day

State Song

(Experimental/Indie Rock/Post-Punk)

Every so often, a band comes around that just completely blows your mind. When you witness them in concert for the first time, it feels as if they have put a stop to time. You're standing there amongst the crowd, almost lifeless, gazing up at the band members, trying to comprehend how in the hell they are creating the sounds you are hearing. One such experience occured to me at this past weekend's CincyPunk Music Festival. That band was State Song.

A band that formed in November of last year, State Song have only done so much as release a three track demo. According to their MySpace page, they practice a lot, however, they only have a handful of shows under their belt. They'll be celebrating the release of their full-length debut on July 11 at Northside Tavern.

While I wish I could go back in time to relive their set from this past weekend, you'll just have to settle for what I'm hearing now, as I listen to the demo over and over.

The three tracks on the demo are all over the place. But don't take that the wrong way. In my opinion, a great demo is supposed to showcase everything that you can do. This is a great look of what is to come of this band.

We begin with "Highway Machine." Fuzzy, distorted guitars, hypnotic drum beats from George Jesse and scratchy Thom Yorke-like vocals from Scot Torres.

The second track, "4 to 6 PRN", has a clean guitar sound, while Scot's lyrics become a bit softer and more clear. George is riding the cymbals, which seem to build up, leading the song into an almost metal band feel. The only thing I've noticed thus far, is that the bass playing of Matt Hemmingway seems to get lost amongst the guitar, vocals and drumming.

The last track is what I guess you would call their ballad. "Skeleton Key", unlike any of the previous tracks, is based around the piano, a lead guitar lick that cries out and Scot's soft-spoken lyrics. There's a sorrowful, melancholic feel in the lyrics, especially when Torres cries out, "The thing's that matter don't matter anymore...the keys hit the floor." The track changes in both mood and pace, showing one of the stronger points of the band, going from quiet and slow, to loud and fast. It's at this point, when the band goes into a noisy, beautiful symphony of sound, much like you will find with the band Explosions in the Sky.

If there's anything to learn from this fairly new band, it's that Cincinnati is full of amazing talent that just seems to pop out of nowhere. I wouldn't be suprised if these guys are nominated, or win for that matter, at the 2009 CEA's for "Best New Artist."