If the internet is a highway, as it’s often described, I often find myself standing by that road listening to the music that drives by; always hopeful for that one special “vehicle” that will pick me up and really transport me. But, much like the narrator of one the fantastic songs described below, I sometimes feel like I’m spending my time waiting around for a ride that never comes. When I am occasionally moved by something like the music of the band The Early Stages, I am reminded that the occasional lift is worth all the waiting.
Wow, did I just completely torture that whole driving/music metaphor? Sorry…let’s move on to the important stuff.
Among the influences The Early Stages cites on their Facebook page is “most Flying Nun stuff.” That legendary New Zealand record label is probably a good place to start to describe their music, but that’s just one small piece of the picture. For me, there’s also a healthy dose of Swell Maps in the mix not only in some of the sound but in the way several of their songs feel like they could fall apart at any minute, but they never do. I can also pick out subtle touches of The Embarrassment, Sonic Youth, Ride, A Certain Ratio, and many other great bands. I suspect everyone who listens will hear his/her own hints of other favorites, but don’t get bogged down in the “sounds like” game; this music stands very tall on its own.
There are three releases currently featured on the Music page of their website. Their most recent three-song offering starts with “Waiting Around for Rides”; it can be described as both shambolic and epic. It adds some nice flanged guitar to the mix about 2 minutes in that grabs me every time. “1992” is slightly more poppy but also slightly askew and features one of my favorite lyrics “You look like the Son of Sam, that’s before my time, oh man.” The third track “The New Sunrise” is, dare I say, Televisionesque?
Another 7-inch the band released includes “Wizard in the Fog” which, along with “Under the Overpass” features more layered instruments and vocals similar to the “Waiting Around…” tracks; the quality and vibe is consistent. The last song on this record, “Summer in Vermont”, starts off with a chord progression that to me brought to mind the opening of Patti Smith’s “Summer Cannibal.” I’m not sure if that’s an intentional homage or purely coincidental, but it’s a nice upbeat tune juxtaposed with some not-so-upbeat lyrics.
The oldest vintage here is the single “Silver Hills” which is a bit rawer musically, but maintains the strong lyrics and catchy melodies of the other songs. “I woke up at the base of the Silver Hills/I looked at you and you looked like Stephen Stills” starts off the recounting of a rough time, where things never seem to get much better. Meanwhile, the “B side” “The Next Time We Meet” would have put this band in good stead among the early Cherry Red label’s roster.
You don’t need to wait around for a ride that never comes: Check out their website…find them on SoundCloud…buy their vinyl…or go ahead and move to Austin if you have to and catch Ike, Alex, Josh and Bridget live. Just make sure to climb aboard.