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Industry News
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Blindside
Howard says the band was ready to roll from their first meeting. �The minute I heard them I knew they had what it takes. We did a quick demo in the studio and I was immediately impressed by their sense of musicianship and by their understanding of the dynamics that went into the songs. Their style is simple but explosive, with a lot of complexity swirling around underneath the surface.� He�s talking about incandescent gems like �Sleepwalking,� complete with definitive Blindside undercurrents - searing guitar work and raw, plaintive vocals pouring from the heart of Christian, their charismatic lead singer. �That song really illustrates where the band is at right now,� he says. �We�re a rock band yes, but our lyrics and the personal way we try and relate to our audience is always in the forefront of our minds.� Christian�s probing lyrics are a defining trademark of Blindside. He points out that the teeming verses of a song like the aching �Pitiful,� - written at the very end of the recording sessions - are sometimes improvised during the vocal session. �I write everything down,� he says. �But the band can tell you that sometimes I will just come up with something while I�m singing, trying to connect the feeling and emotion of a particular vocal with the right words.� Guitarist Simon also points out the band will re-work material until they get it right. The thunderous �Caught A Glimpse,� is just such an example. �We had the verses but couldn�t get the chorus,� he says. �Howard came into the studio and pushed us to come up with something that made the whole song come together. We learned that you never throw anything away.� Formed in 1994, band members Christian � lead vocals, Simon � guitar and backing vocals, Marcus � drums and Tomas � bass, have known each other all their lives. �Growing up in Stockholm you tend to stick together,� says Simon. �Music is very important in Sweden, and we believed from the start that we could make an impact as a band.� And even though the group has been critically identified with a host of other Swedish rock groups currently making a splash in the U.S., they earned their stripes touring Europe and the U.S. long before American A&R reps discovered the overseas scene. �We were always kind of quietly plugging away,� says Simon. �We came to the states and played wherever we could. Even in Sweden, we weren�t known as much as some of the other bands that were starting to get attention, but we never stopped working out our songs live.� The hard work paid off. Blindside�s crucial audience-building treks throughout America have made them one of THE rock bands to watch this year � period! Fans in the know are already buzzing about them daily via internet sites. It�s exactly that kind of under-the-radar drive that has garnered them acclaim from American rock critics, as well. Said CMJ about their pulverizing 2000 release, A Thought Crushed My Mind: �A visceral forward thinking album�. it makes you want to hug your best friend and pound your fist into a wall.� Christian says the group�s own creed is simple, with every member of Blindside believing that music can be a vehicle for hope. �We keep it personal but also positive,� he says. �There�s enough depressing messages already out there. Our songs can be heavy, but if you listen closely, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.� | ||||||||