|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fair to Midland |
|||
|
By DJ Ivie |
|||
Fair to Midland has circumvented this by signing with a smaller label, Serjical Strike, which is backed by Universal Music Group. It has enabled the band the best of both worlds. There’s artist development that a smaller record company provides and a budget you only get when dealing with the suits. In 2007 they released their full-length debut, Fables From a Mayfly, to much critical acclaim and impressive sales. It was an exercise in being progressive without being proggy, heavy without being metal and featured a singer that would go from the highest of notes to the lowest of growls in the same breath. The band built their rabid following by constantly touring with their record label owner and System of A Down frontman, Serj Tankian, Dir en grey and many others. They played festivals like Coachella alongside Rage Against the Machine and did shows in Europe with the likes of Chris Cornell and Queens of the Stone Age. After two years of constantly being on the road, the band is set to write and record their follow-up. “It’s definitely going to be darker than the first,” keyboardist Matt Langley says. “There may be leftovers, but most of it will be where we are right now.” There are self-described Dimmu Borgir meets The Beatles parts in the new material. “We were assigned to do a project - to write five songs in an hour, and that’s what came out,” he explains. “At first we were a little pressured to write fast,” vocalist Darroh Sudderth chimes in. “But then we decided to do it on our own terms.” This will also be the first batch of songs written entirely with bassist Jon Dicken. “He brings an earthy element with his country and southern rock influences,” notes Sudderth on the creative process with the former low end of The Timeline Post. “One thing’s for sure,” laughs Langley. “These songs will undergo more scrutiny before they reach public ears.” “Yeah, Jon is as bull-headed as me in the studio,” Sudderth remarks. This should make for even more interesting FTM shows at home and abroad. It has been quite a chore for promoters to book such a unique sound with other like-minded bands. “It’s a good problem to have,” according to Sudderth. “But we have been spit on with boogers and had everything else thrown at us.” “There were kids in the front covering their ears,” says Langley of a stint with As I Lay Dying. “It’s like melody is their kryptonite!” Sudderth has been known to climb lighting rigs, speakers and anything else that might support him while performing. That backfired when they opened for The Smashing Pumpkins in San Francisco. “Billy Corgan didn’t take kindly to me crawling on his PA,” he remembers. “We had words... not directly, but I heard he was pissed.” FTM had to change their clothes in the restrooms despite the venue’s amenities. “It’s not anything I didn’t expect, but it was a surreal experience nonetheless. I am a huge Pumpkins fan.” Langley smiles. As for now, these good ol’ boys, originally from east Texas, are on a mini-tour playing new songs mixed in with older favorites. On this night at The Door, the crowd response is typical for FTM - a chaotic blend of moshing, dancing and people just standing there in a trance, taking it in. These songs may be different by the time they are recorded, but the hometown fans are eagerly lapping up anything the band throws at them. “We don’t really know how to write music,” Sudderth states. “That only makes us work harder. But we’re too damn stubborn to quit.” Note: the band is currently recording their new album with Alex Gerst at Indian Trail Recording Studio. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|||
