LITTLE ROCK — What follows are eight reasons for you to leave the comfort of your home on a Saturday night and venture out to see - stand back - The See, a Little Rock-based indie-rock band that is celebrating the release of its staggeringly awesome new LP Pretending and Ending at Stickyz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack in Little Rock.
1. This list could actually stretch to 15 reasons:
That’s because there are 15 tracks on Pretending and Ending, which follows the 2009 EP Bars of Gold, and they are all pretty stellar. The See manages to meld influences like Sonic Youth, Built to Spill and others into a criminally catchy and intriguing record.
2. It’s accessible:
You can hear traces of Kings of Leon and even Cold War Kids throughout the album, but The See definitely stands on its own sound. This is the kind of indie rock that would sound perfectly at home on the radio, on an episode of Breaking Bad, or blasting from the stage of some arena.
- The See approaches songwriting the old-fashioned way, democratically: Singer/guitarist Joe Yoder and drummer Tyler Nance say the band(which also includes guitarist Eric Morris and bassist Dylan Yelenich) writes collectively.
“I write the basic idea for the song and we flesh it out together,” Yoder said.
All of the members contribute lyrics, Nance and Yoder said.
4. They sport beards and flannel with authority:
Just cast your gaze on that photo over there.
- Pretending and Ending
is a do-it-yourself thing:
The See is putting this album, produced by Jason Weinheimer (Boondogs, Isaac Alexander, Loveghost), out on its own. “Some of the smaller local labels were interested, but we just figured what can they do for us that we can’t do for ourselves,” Nance says, adding that he and his band mates plan to tour regionally and nationally and will shop the album around to larger labels. (Want a copy of the album? Grab a CD at a show or download at Amazon.com, iTunes, ReverbNation or the band’s site, wearethesee.com.)
6. This is a legitimate album, not just a couple of decent songs surrounded by filler
: “The [music] industry is moving more toward singles,” Nance said, “but we wanted to make a record where all of the songs work in relation with each other.” The themes of life and death course through the album, Yoder said, with the beginning of the record focusing on playful and childlike images - “Met a fish and he tried to eat me,” goes a line in “Storytelling” - and growing darker as the album progresses.
7. Restraining orders and John Steinbeck: “ Lenny”
is one of the catchiest stalker songs ever. It’s right up there with “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get,” by Morrissey. “I’m gonna love you’til it makes you kill me,” Yoder sings, which may make a listener pause, though we’re too busy bopping around to the song’s infectious melody. Nance and Yoder crack up when it is asked - in jest - if Ho-Hum frontman Lenny Bryan was the inspiration for the title. No, Yoder assures. He had someone more like Lennie Small from Of Mice And Men in mind.
8. Name that band:
Childhood pals Yoder and Yelenich formed The See back in 2008, with Nance joining later that year, on his first day in Little Rock, after overhearing Yoder and Yelenich talking about their need for a drummer.Morris came aboard in 2009. Searching for a name that was simple, memorable and not already taken, the group settled on The See. Yoder says he and Yelenich, both products of Catholic schooling, were leaning toward The Holy See, although it was eventually shortened. “I hate it,” Nance says, laughing.
The See
8:30 p.m. today, Stickyz
Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken
Shack, 107 River Market
Ave., Little Rock
Opening Act: Sea Nanners
Admission: $5
(501) 372-7707
stickyz.com
Weekend, Pages 30 on 03/22/2012