By ANDREW FICKES
If you've circulated the many clubs in Seattle and paid attention to the sign posts littered with band posters, then you're likely to have noticed an up and coming band To The Sea.
The act have played such bills as Neumo's and the Columbia City Theater. Now, they'll hit another milestone with an 8:30 p.m. performance at The Tractor Tavern Wednesday, May 18.
On indie pop/rock To The Sea's debut release "Circles, Patterns and Wires," the quintet blasts the doors open with the opening track "Conquer the North," marching forward like Vikings with guns blazing, taking no prisoners.
The band shouts in unison several times throughout the song that they'll conquer the north, clearly a message that they plan to conquer the Emerald City.
On this album, you'll find this band being very creative in song titles. Take "United Nation," a song that gets under your skin like an awesome Hives or Strokes' song. Jon Fickes' melodic lick really adds a catchy vibe that propels you to get out of your chair and rock out.
In some respects this album falls in sort of a nerd indie rock category. It's very intelligent and thought out. Each note and vocal track carefully placed and crafted like a visionary architect would build a high rise tower.
This is all due to songwriter/lead vocalist Danny Payne's expert songcraft. But at the same time, you also have to give props to the other musicians in the band: guitar wizard Brandon Smith, Jon Fickes on lead who gives voice and body to many of Payne's songs, the reliable beat provided by Kyle Kamrath and the solid foundation executed by George Samaras.
And while Payne is the lead songwriter of the band, Fickes (full disclosure: Fickes is my younger brother) is also a very accomplished songwriter and performer in his own write.
And he proves that in spades with the closing track, "A View of Earth from the Moon." Fickes' epic anthem in a way catches the listener off guard. In some respects, the track is a clear departure from Payne's solid rock tracks. The lyrics are different, the melody different. But different in a good way.
In one song, Fickes creates a new dimension to the band and takes the listener to another setting.
Fickes and Payne in one band is a hard act to follow.
Keep this band on your hot list and check them out at The Tractor.
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