‘FROM OUT OF NOWHERE’ – ONE LAST FAREWELL…
2005 was quite an eventful year in my life. A year that brought lots and lots of new people into my world. I think if we all look back at that year, we can agree that 2005 was an electric year. Things were happening, and in our world we were the people that were making them happen. The music industry had not yet reached the low point that it’s at today, and there seemed to be more bands than ever putting on some great live shows not just in LA but all around the US. They were determined to get noticed and many were actually putting forth the effort to take their act to the next level. Obviously, I’m not talking about the musical mainstream, I’m talking about the local bands from all around the world. It seemed that every town had it’s own clutch of bands that were working hard to leave their hometowns to make an impression on the rest of the population, taking risks left and right.
This year of taking chances, was also the year that I met the members of the band Jealousy Curve hailing from Philadelphia. As I was re-organizing some stuff around my home about a month back, I actually came across an advanced copy of what would become their “Life as an Addict” freshman release in a box full of EP’s that I’ve accumulated over the years and have yet to part ways with. Jealousy Curve was a finalist in a “Best Unsigned Band Search” that a company I was a part of put on via their website. The votes poured in for this band, and we around the office agreed that they were definitely deserving of this status after listening to a few of their tracks. Part of their prize was to play a set during our SXSW showcase, where the winner would be decided.
None of us had seen their live show, nor any footage of it. I will mention though, that these guys were on a lot of industry people’s radars due to their own hard work and merit. It was safe to say we weren’t sure what to expect that drizzly March day in Austin. Our expectations (if we had any) were completely blown away as soon as this band hit the stage and started their first song, the music from their instruments filled the room and none of us could move. We were completely enraptured as their lead singer Leavy (Mike Leavy) not only belted out their songs (for me standouts had to have been “Selfish Thing,” “The World is You,” and “Gravity”) but also proved to be an amazing front man unexpectedly turning the bar counter into a stage, not an extraordinary thing, but a move that caught all of us off guard. For the duration of their set no one moved, no one ordered drinks, we all just watched as Fash’s (Steven LaFashia’s) guitar made sounds we may not have heard before and Mike O’ Brien’s (this was pre-Dave Sikorski time) bass filled the room. I think we were all a little scared that somehow Shane Rozum was going to kill his kit with the intensity with which he was drumming, I’ve met a lot of drummers in my life and I have to admit
that Rozum has got to be one of the best technically that I’ve seen, possessing a mastery on the kit that only comes from a combination of natural talent and lots of sweat equity. As if that wasn’t enough they closed with an amazing (signature) cover of “Purple Rain.” So, it’s safe to say the band was declared our Best Unsigned Band in the U.S. for 2005. Even the venue’s staff and owners all ended up crushing hard on this band, inviting them back to play whenever they wanted. I’m positive that no one that was at this show ever forgot this live performance. This was the type of performance you hope to witness during events like SXSW.
The best part of this band was that all of these guys were just the nicest guys. I recall after this show somehow, Rozum’s splintered drumsticks ended up with a confused me. (more…)