MUSIC

Whale Fire to kick off album at White Water

Little Rock band Whale Fire — Will Vick (from left), Matthew Steel, John Steel and Clay Grubbs — celebrate the release of their debut album Before You Run at White Water Tavern on Saturday.
Little Rock band Whale Fire — Will Vick (from left), Matthew Steel, John Steel and Clay Grubbs — celebrate the release of their debut album Before You Run at White Water Tavern on Saturday.

After releasing an EP in 2010 followed by a digital single and a 45 (7-inch record) last year, Little Rock-based indie rock band Whale Fire has released its first long-player, Before You Run.

The band - John Steel, guitars and vocals; brother Matthew on bass and backing vocals; guitarist-vocalist Clay Grubbs; and drummer Will Vick - will celebrate the album’s release with a show at Little Rock’s White Water Tavern on Saturday. Fellow Little Rock band The See will open the proceedings.

Whale Fire’s potential was evident on those initial singles (“Wild-Eyed Mistake,” “Dream of Me” and “The Fabric”), and Before You Run is proof that those tracks weren’t flukes. The LP is a fabulous debut, filled with soaring, glimmering pop songs kicked off by that fierce triumvirate of singles and continuing to build throughout its nine songs. Think Kings of Leon with a little Radiohead mixed in and you’re getting close to Whale Fire’s charging, expansive vibe.

Early inklings of the group can be traced back to cover song jam sessions with Matthew Steel and Clay Grubbs when they were North Little Rock High School students in the late ’90s. John Steel, three years Matthew's senior, began sitting in with the nascent band when he was home from college. By 2008, the group was more or less official and Vick, who endeared himself when he showed up at an audition in a Radiohead T-shirt, had joined the fold.

Before You Run was recorded piecemeal at the studio of band pal Michael Stephens, John Steel says, with band members dropping by together and also separately to add parts.

“It’s been a long process,and I’m glad the album is finally done,” Grubbs says.

Like a lot of classic pop, Whale Fire’s fantastically catchy melodies, with their vocal harmonies and echo, often hold lyrics that are darker than their initial sheen would suggest. “The Fabric,” for instance, seems to reflect on a life falling apart, while the album closer, the nearly 10-minute “All Gone, All Along,” sounds like a paean to love until you realize there may be something violent happening as well.

“Lyrically, I guess it is kinda dark,” Steel says. “But I like that we have poppier melodies. It’s very honest.”

“I’ve always liked that idea,” Grubbs says of sunnier melodies wrapped around more ominous lyrics, “but we’re also pretty happy guys.”

All of the band members contribute to the songwriting, Steel adds: “Some of the songs just come from Clay and Will jamming on something and we’ll add to it.”

As for the album’s title, which shows up in the driving, insistent “Wild-Eyed Mistake,” Steel says the group wanted a line from one of the album’s songs and that one stuck.

The self-released album is available for download at iTunes and Amazon.com and is streaming on Spotify. Physical copies will be available at the show, along with other merchandise. And while the band doesn’t have a label, they are open to offers, Grubbs says, while Steel expresses hope that Whale Fire can tour beyond regional shows.

The group has been working on new material, so recent practices have focused on getting back on familiar terms with the Before You Run tracks before the record release show.

“We went back to working on the live material last week,” Grubbs says, “and it’s been a lot of fun playing that stuff again.”

Whale Fire Record Release Show Opening act: The See 9:30 p.m. Saturday, White Water Tavern, 2500 W. Seventh St., Little Rock Admission: $5 (501) 375-8400 whitewatertavern.com, whalefiremusic.com

Weekend, Pages 33 on 05/02/2013

Upcoming Events