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BIOGRAPHY
Chicago natives, The Redwalls, have been on a rollercoaster ever since their formation six years ago. In 2001, the four high school’ers, originally dubbed “The Pages,” began playing various shows in the Chicago area with a sound that was inspired by the British Invasion. After developing a rabid fan base throughout the Chicago area, The Pages created enough buzz to garner major label attention, catapulting the band out of a small Chicago suburb into to the West Coast, showcasing for a number of major labels. Just prior to the release of Universal Blues, their 2003 debut on Undertow Records, The Pages were signed to Capitol. Two years later, The Pages became The Redwalls, and began recording their debut for Capitol Records, DE NOVA.
DE NOVA, perfectly highlighted their signature sound, insightful lyrics injected with rock n’ roll swagger and a fierce rhythm section. The album was fine-tuned by veteran producer Rob Schnapf and released by Capitol in June 2005. Performances on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in support of the album helped build up a buzz that lead to features on MTV’s “You Hear it First” and tour dates with Oasis, Ryan Adams, Hot Hot Heat, Ok Go and Regina Spektor. Their success on the road precipitated appearances at various festivals including Lollapalooza in 2005 and 2006.
In September 2006 The Redwalls traveled to Sweden and began recording their follow up to DE NOVA with producer Tore Johansson (Franz Ferdinand, The Cardigans). Soon after the mixes were completed, a merger between Capitol and Virgin Records left The Redwalls without a label, but not without hope. In May 2007, the band released the self-produced EP, THE WALL TO WALL SESSIONS, and armed with the rights to the follow up to DE NOVA, the band started looking for a new home. Fast forward a few months, and you’ll find The Redwalls smack dab in the City of Brotherly Love via MAD Dragon Records (Ryko/WEA). The independent, student-run faculty administered record label, affiliated with Drexel University, is set to release The Redwalls new eponymous album on October 23rd, 2007.
THE REDWALLS cross-pollinates their UK inspired roots with American rock and pop influences that span from the 1950’s to the present. “Our approach to writing songs on this record was different than on our previous releases”, explains vocalist/guitarist and dynamic frontman, Logan Baren “we sat in a rehearsal room together and worked on all of the material as a cohesive front.” Vocalist/Bassist, Justin Baren continues, “we wrote over 30 songs for this record and picked the best to record with Tore”. The result, the most ambitious endeavor this band has partaken to date. The Redwalls expand grittier sonic territories meshed with wistful plaintive lyrics and unforgettable choruses. It gives the listener an intoxicating blend of melody and attitude. Guitarists/Vocalist, Andrew Lager suggests, “we really came into a sound of our own. We’re not discounting our influences, we just felt like this rough, unpolished approach helped us find ourselves.”
Traveling to Sweden to work with producer Tore Johannson to record THE REDWALLS, the band was isolated and more focused than ever. Tore’s idea was to capture the essence of the song by tracking live in the studio. THE REDWALLS is filled with urgent, brash guitars (Modern Diet, Put Us Down) and the faint, ever-present sneer that characterizes Logan’s vocal approach (Hangman, In the Time of the Machine). When they slow it down and smooth it out (You Can’t Forget Yourself, Each and Every Night), you find traces of everything from earnest soulful Motown grooves to the wispy eeriness of a David Lynch soundtrack. On the albums’ anthemic masterpiece (The Game of Love) The Redwalls find all parts come together forming an epic, ever-expanding sing-along.
THE REDWALLS is an album that is marvelously eclectic, both musically and emotionally, and will continue to establish the band as a significant voice in popular music. |
