Between them, the boys are aurally infatuated with:
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Bad Religion, Miles Davis, Dave Matthews, Ben Folds, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Death Cab for Cutie, Over the Rhine, Coldplay, Radiohead, Project 86, Dredg, Boys Night Out, The Spill Canvas, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Brand New, Ric Ocasek, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gavin DeGraw, Don Henley, Duncan Sheik, Bruce Hornsby, Billy Joel, Bright Eyes, Muse, Of Montreal, Halloween Alaska, Keane, David Gray, Jars of Clay, Caedmon's Call, Sondre Lerche, Doves, Aqualung, Copeland, Peter Gabriel, Aimee Mann, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, Josh Rouse, Sufjan Stevens, Travis, Rufus Wainwright, Sigur Ros, Guster, Switchfoot, The Mars Volta, REM, Tech N9ne, Laura Veirs, Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon, Ben Kweller, Monarch, The Shins, the books, The Weepies, Sheryl Crow, Phil Collins, Genesis, Travis, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Jack Johnson, Jamie Cullum, Joanna Newsom, Weezer, Wilco, The Cure, Spoon, Sting/The Police, The Jam, TV on the Radio, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy, Rogue Wave, Incubus, Pete Yorn, James Taylor, The Smiths, Sublime, The Roots, Leonard Cohen, Mat Kearney, Gabe Dixon Band, Talib Kweli, Mae, Feist, The Fray, The Format, Bob Dylan, Anathallo, Mayday Parade, LCD Soundsystem, Anberlin, Margot & the Nuclear So-and-So's, Editors, The National, Cold War Kids, This World Fair, Mason Proper
Sounds Like
grape soda
white-water rafting
and gleeful apocalypse
August 10th, 2007 marked the release of Common Shiner's sophomore effort, Viennas, a CD which "ventures inward, as the band focuses on making some of those familiar [pop-rock] streams sound better than ever" (Recoil Magazine, Aug 2007).
Common Shiner began with college friends of Morgan Foster, a songwriter "with witticisms to spare and surprising social commentary," (Recoil) who desired to create music that would serve to be both meaningful and fun. Morgan's acoustic rock dream is realized today with Michael James Brooks ..boards and vocals, Vijay Bangalore on drums, and Jake Chandler on bass. When that lineup was finalized, the boys gratefully and gleefully felt they had a satisfying set of serious musicians. Soon Brooks began to offer his songwriting talents to the group as well, and it wasn't long before this group of passionate artists was collaborating full-force to craft intelligent music and a tight live sound.
Common Shiner rose from the Michigan roots-rock rubble just a couple years ago. The group released their debut full-length, So Long..., in June of 2006, commemorated by an outdoor concert at Rosa Parks Circle. It was not long before the disc received accolades from local press and earned radio airplay in West Michigan.
In the fall of 2006, the band made leaps and bounds in their career, playing shows up to three times a week, and opening for national acts such as Tim Reynolds, Flickerstick, and This World Fair. They were also chosen to showcase at Midpoint Music Festival in September of 2006, and soon began playing multiple shows outside of the Grand Rapids area, going as far as Detroit, Chicago, and Cincinnati.
The band takes its name from a small, abundant fish found throughout streams and lakes in the Midwest and Northeastern United States. In the same scope, the band writes music seeking to highlight the beauty found in the common experience we all share. Love and hope to melancholy and anger—and all the humor in between.
The group's mission: clever songwriting and meaningful lyrics that appeal to a wide range of avid music lovers as well as casual listeners. Some have drawn comparisons to acts like Dave Matthews, Barenaked Ladies, and O.A.R., but many just say Common Shiner has an impeccable way of combining many elements for a sound that is "uniquely familiar." All can agree that the thing that sets Common Shiner apart the most is the quality and thoughtfulness of the songwriting, which encompasses just as many feelings and themes as their music does styles. Everyone who listens to Common Shiner comes away liking something different, and these boys wouldn't want it any other way.
Common Shiner spent the spring of 2007 in the studio recording some fan favorites from the past year of writing and playing live shows. Says Brooks of Viennas: "While the songs themselves may not be all that new to fans who have been following us, we hope these recordings will offer just a little bit more than what we may be able to do live. We wanted to sweeten the deal."
Hey There! How was your summer. I can’t believe it’s almost September can you? What’s new and exciting in your neck of the woods? Wishing you a prosperous fall. Talk to you soon.
I thought I was gonna make it to Red Line... not any more... I'm doing a show on a closer friend's roof tomorrow instead. Come on down to Hyde Park if you like... y'all would be welcome to play a couple numbers too. We will have a PA set up and some grills going. -eric
Yeah Grand Lake is nicely isolated. I hope it remains WAY up there for most of my life. How did the shoe in Michigan go? See you all at the Red Line Thursday?
Wow, what a compliment. Thank you. Um, I just found you guys while browsing through myspace music. I'm always looking for new music, and yours really impressed me. You guys are great.
It's really cool that you actually took the time to check out my page. I'm glad I found y'all.
haha. I was wondering the same thing. I went to comment on your page and it told me we weren't friends, haha. I had a great time the other night. I only wish I had bought a CD. I will indeed be at the show on August 1st. Ryan and I will be recording. Audio, Video, Photo, all that good stuff. It shall be good times.
