| You are walking. You see a half-crippled sparrow struggling to get back into the air. He grasps at a gust of wind, soars for a moment, but the ground immediately pulls him back. The sparrow sings songs that teeter between ecstasy and frustration. The tug of war continues for a few minutes and you are not quite sure whether you should giggle at the game or come to the aid of one of the opponents. Suddenly you realize that you have stopped walking and can not stop watching; the struggle, the success, the falls, and the flights of varying length and grace.
This is amalgam.
Amalgam’s music is not extremely shocking or exotic. At first you are not even sure if it is worth stopping to listen, but then you realize that you have stopped and are fascinated with an undemanding attraction to its honesty. Their appeal lies in an ability to translate the tensions we experience while living life into interesting music. They ping pong from quirky pop songs about the simple joy in seeing a female smile to driving rock on regretting a mistake to head bobbing, hand clapping assessments of love and beauty to melancholy pleas of the confused and lonely. And just like in life, where every laugh is dotted in tears and traces of sunlight reach through the darkest rains, each song is sprinkled with elements of the others. The result is music that struggles and soars and waddles and limps and catches you off guard once you realize you are addicted to its flight.
After learning and playing music together for over four years, the four members of Amalgam (Erik Neave-lead vocals, bass guitar, mandolin; Nick DeMaster-rhythm guitar, bass guitar, vocals; Zach Vinson-lead guitar, piano, vocals; Joel Stokdyk-drums) have developed a style that is raw and unforced. Since Amalgam primarily learned to play and write as a group, as opposed to practicing for hours alone in their bedrooms, each individual musician draws from the others in an organic process that produces very characteristic compositions. They are not afraid to let whatever starts to bubble in their imaginations reach a full boil--even if it does not follow past conventions and patterns--because their biggest influence has been each other. Growing up in the Midwest has given amalgam a down-to-earth sincerity that is refreshing amidst crowds of pretentious “rock stars.”
Recently, Amalgam moved from their home town of Sheboygan, WI to Boston, MA to deliver their eclectic pop rock and roll to east coast ears. They spent most of March and April, 2003 recording at Renwood Messenger studios in Kenosha, WI. The new 12-track album was recorded/co-produced by Mike Middleton of the Dove nominated band Hangnail. Of All The Latest Trends combines the grit of Weezer, the quirks of Ben Folds, and melodies you can sing all day long. It is an album that speaks of life, love and faith in all their complexity and agony; simplicity and joy. They plan on supporting the new recording by performing at colleges and clubs in the area.
Amalgam began in 2000 with four friends and a rock and roll dream; they immediately began writing and performing original music. Within the first year they recorded their introductory collection of songs titled Closer, and the potential for great music was evident. They gained recognition locally and started to develop a modest fan base. With time, hard work, and determination, the band grew both in musicianship and popularity throughout the Midwest. Their second CD, Play The Man, established them as a significant contributor to local music and proved their maturation as musicians. While performing locally, Amalgam also competed and won several battle of the bands, including a grand prize trip to Denver, Colorado at a Pioneer/Road America sponsored competition. In May of 2002 two of the members graduated high school and spread across the country to continue their education, but the band persisted despite the distance. In December of 2003, the band regrouped and began working on new material for their latest CD. With new album in hand, they are eager to get off the ground. So stop for a second and listen to their music. |
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