Newspaper Page Text
HELLO
GOOD
BYE KEYBOARDIST
Venice Is Sinking Continues Its Progression Of Evolution
V enice is Sinking's beginnings are both a
common story and a historically good
sign around this town. *1 have been
playing music, writing songs and using the name
Venice is Sinking since high school/ explains
singer Daniel Lawson, “This incarnation
of Venice is Sinking started sometime in
the fall of 2003. [Organist-pianist] Alex
[Thibadoux] lived across the street from
me for a while and he started having
these infrequent jam sessions at his
house. I guess everything evolved from
there/
What evolved was a uniquely soft and
charming sound with some sort of dark
undercurrent—something akin to Mojave
3 or former Athens group The Mendoza
Line. 'Our music is heavily melodic due
the fact that Daniel (bassist] Steve
[Miller] and I are all melodic players/
elaborates Karolyn Troupe. '[My] viola
coincidentally goes well with Daniel's
guitar tunings and I think that's how the
darker sound developed/ Both the har
mony and contrast become immediately
apparent when the band is on-stage.
At first one might be struck by the dif
ferences in appearance between bandmem-
bers. In fact, they all pretty much look like
they should be in completely separate bands
that wouldn't be in the same dub, much less
join forces musically. “Steve, our bassist is a
metal guy to be sure, but he has a really
open mind and an amazing breadth of musical
knowledge, and he is in the Ginger Envelope/ says
drummer Lucas Jensen, going on to explain how
the band learned to play together. “We starting off
by 'jamming' for days and days and days. It
seemed pretty pointless at the time, but you learn
each other's idiosyncrasies and patterns/
They soon began playing a mix of house par
ties and club shows—the first being with the now*
defunct band Reading. “We had a great turnout for
our first show," Troupe says. 'A lot of that had to
do with their big following. People liked our music
and that was really encouraging/ Soon after,
Venice is Sinking booked time with Chris Bishop at
Radium Recording and began wnat would prove to
be a
lengthy recording
process that would ultimately produce both an EP
and a full-length LP for future release. “It was a
slow process, but well worth it* explains Troupe.
During that time period. Venice is Sinking
began to make a name for itself playing out on a
regular basis. “For a long time, we would play in
town at least every two weeks and sometimes
more/ explains Lawson. Jensen expounds, 'I think
that, basically, we are all pushovers. We can't say
'no.' Well we're getting better with that* In addi
tion, the band created a sampler of music from its
upcoming LP (not to be confused with the
upcoming split EP release) and started selling CD-
Rs at shows in an attempt to raise money to com
plete the
project The plan
worked, but in the meantime, the band got a good
deal of radio airplay on WUOG out of the sampler.
Ultimately they were able to complete the
album, for which the band is seeking a distributor,
as well as an additional split EP with Atlanta-
based band What We Do Is Secret this week's per
formance serves as a release show for the split EP.
As for touring plans, the band plans to keep close-
by for the time being. “We'd really like to tour
more once the full-length comes out* Lawson
explains. “So far, we've only been able to do short
little weekend tours in the Southeast, but we've
Will Brooks
WHO: Venice is Sinking,
Murder Beach, Count
WHERE: Tasty World
WHEN: Saturday, May 21
HOW MUCH: $5
been talking about maybe going out for a bit in
the fall with the Ginger Envelope."
For now, the band continues to evolve its live
performance. “We've really begun to be able
to read each other while we are playing/
says Troupe. “I think its easier for us to
determine what someone will do next and
that allows us to play more loosely. During
shows, I used to try to listen to Daniel but
most clubs don't have monitors and vocals '
can get lost Now, we wear earplugs during
shows and just trust that the other person
knows what to sing and hopefuUy it works
out* And somehow, it does all work out—
Venice is Sinking's vocal harmonies are
among the best in town.
Sadly, the band is about to lose a
member as Thibadoux will soon be moving
to New York to pursue a career in land
scape architecture. 'Our AthFest show will
likely be the last I play with the band. It's
going to be heartbreaking to stop making
music with the best friends that I have/
he says. “But I could end up back at
some point. Athens has a way of doing
that' That bit of news aside, between
their EP, LP and nearly completed video
for the song “Pulaski Heights/ the band
is looking forward to the coming
months. Tm pretty happy to have
finally finished the record/ Lawson
explains. “We spent over a year working on it off
and on, and it feels really good to be done/
NOW SERVING SUNDAY BRUNCH!
SUNDAYS, 7 A.M. - J PJA., WE WILL NOW
OFFER OUR DELICIOUS BREAKFAST MENU
PLUS NEW BRUNCH SPECIALS
INDULGE WITH OUR..
O DECADENT FRENCH TOAST
0 HEARTY BREAKFAST BISCUITS
0 CRUYERE CHEESE OMELETTE
0 SO MUCH MORE*..
ATHENS GREEN MARKET
-*>
LOCAULT-OOOWN PRODUCE 6 WARES
BM Cm BREAD COURTYARD
SATURDAYS 7:50 AM. - 12:30 PM
393 N. FINLEY ST • OFF PFHNCE AVE
<706) 543-1 187 • BicCityBrcad.nct
7am-6pm MON-SAT * 7am-3pm sun
A COPY STORE
► VOUJME DISCOUNTS ► COIOR COPIES
► RESUMES ► FAX ► FLYERS
► NEWSIETTERS ► BINDING ► OVERSIZE COPIES
► FUL-SERMCE COPIES ► SEIP-SERVICE COPIES
► ANNOUNCEMENTS h INVITATIONS
FREE PICK-UP AND DEUVERT
'COPY/PRINT
16) EAST BROAD STREET ► DOWNTOWN ► 548)648
^Jhe'rFood Is Our Reputation,
Diie li Or Taka Oat
Rhjfc Lunch Buffet jM
l Cl> Ert* liciitfts Sift Briik) TJ& j
abSk $6.95. md
^Pekiflg Dick $12.95^
Salt ari Pepper Shrimp
21 pc Jiabi Shrimp $9.9S
10 pc JiBba Shrimp $5.95
IicIiOii lie* aid Sup
FREE DELIVERY
^706-549-0274^
MAY 18, 2005 • FLAGPOLE.COM 21