SICK OF SARAH and THE MELISMATICS
SICK OF SARAH
When the girls of Sick of Sarah jumped on the stage of Minneapolis’ prestigious 7th Street Entry on April 7, 2010, the room was shaking with excitement. The sold-out crowd pushed to get closer, waiting for a glimpse of the ladies that had only months earlier departed for a tour across country. After touring behind their self-titled debut LP for most of 2008/2009, Sick of Sarah had built some anticipation for their homecoming, “This was our final Minneapolis show before making the new record, we felt this was the end of the first chapter, and we couldn’t wait to show everyone what was coming next,” says Lead Singer, Abisha Uhl.
TUMBLR :: MYSPACE :: FACEBOOK :: TWITTER
That new chapter, 2205, was recorded in May 2010 at The Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX, a studio made famous for its indie-rock clientele such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Conor Oberst, Portugal The Man, Taking Back Sunday, Trail of The Dead and its extensive amp and guitar collection including guitars from the Stevie Ray Vaughan estate. “We were able to just live, breath and sleep this album 24/7, a luxury we didn’t have our first time recording,” says bassist Jamie Holm. “Most of the songs had been demoed before we recorded, but we had to arrange the songs and write lyrics on spot.” Some of those lyrics were inspired by the rumors of ghosts haunting the studios and housing, pet raccoons, and mementos discarded by previous artists. According to Uhl, “Karen O left behind a piece of paper with the number of a therapist and masseuse in a dresser in our bedroom.” The band’s house and rehearsal space, 2205 Grand Ave, has served both as a rotating home for each member of the band over the last few years and as a central creative hub. This location has become such an important symbol to the band’s identity that every member has a tattoo “2205” on their inner wrist. The address now lends its name to the new LP, 2205. With this simple gesture, the band has taken an important part of their own lives in order to present it to old and new fans alike in the form of a wild, raucous, catchy new album. The excited Minneapolis fans at the 7th Street Entry may have given Sick of Sarah a welcome homecoming, but with 2205 the band are welcoming fans into their own home.
THE MELISMATICS
The Melismatics formed at the turn of the century in the fertile ground of the Minneapolis indie-rock scene. Their debut album Postmodern Rock quickly caught the attention of college radio stations around the country and garnered favorable reviews from critics around the world. Shortly thereafter, Minneapolis indie-rock king pin Ed Ackerson (Polara, The Jayhawks, Limbeck, Sing It Loud) signed the band to Susstones Records and produced their next two albums New Infection and Turn It On.
OFFICIAL SITE :: MYSPACE :: FACEBOOK :: REVERBNATION
The Melismatics toured the country numerous times over and continued to win loyal fans with their high-energy and unpredictable live shows. After releasing three albums, having their music featured on MTV's "Laguna Beach," NBC's "Windfall," and numerous extreme sports videos, The Melismatics released their latest effort The Acid Test on CC Entertainment/Koch. Renowned producer John Fields (Jimmy Eat World, Rooney, The Jonas Brothers, Switchfoot, Clay Aiken, etc) caught the band performing at 2007 SXSW in Austin, Texas and signed on to produce the album. The Acid Test takes The Melismatics in a stunning new musical direction and features the co-lead vocals of Ryan Smith and Pony. The new album also highlights the rock-solid bass work of Mark Wade and inventive drumming of Ron Caron. The Melismatics have found a sound all their own that is familiar yet unique, euphoric and adventurous. As students of rock history, they have taken the best elements of the past and mixed them with their own modern vision; They fuse such influences as New Order, The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Kinks, Big Star, David Bowie, The Cars, and many others. The Melismatics' sound is constantly evolving and developing-- as The Onion put it, "no one ever accused The Melismatics of being predictable."
VAUDEVILLE
Keeping true to the term 'Vaudeville,' this Minneapolis quintet strives to keep a unique variety in their music. After winning a Battle of the Bands, Vaudeville was given the opportunity to record their debut album Dismantle The Sky in Nashville. The disc captures the band's energy and unique sound, solidifying them as a force in the Minneapolis music scene. Vaudeville has been growing their fan-base and reputation, selling out venues and becoming one of the most well-known and enjoyed live bands in Minnesota.
