Despite its nautical name, The Lighthouse and the Whaler was born in a field. It was a warm day in Northern Ohio, and three local musicians – Michael LoPresti, Aaron Smith and Evan Storey – had gathered for an outdoor photo shoot. While waiting for the photographer to arrive, the ad hoc trio took up their instruments and tried their hands at a musical collaboration. “We went into the field, set up some chairs and started playing some chords, layering them on top of an original melody line,” explains LoPresti. “As we played, we were blown away by how catchy it was.” So were the people passing by the field—people who parked their cars on the side of the road to listen and take pictures of this newly formed band. “That’s the first moment we realized this is something we should do.”
Since its founding, The Lighthouse and the Whaler has continued its grassroots approach. In late 2008 it self-produced its first EP, A Whisper, A Clamour. The band’s blend of ethereal folk and sweeping harmonies quickly caught the attention of Paste, which featured the band’s first single – “Field Song” – on its acclaimed CD sampler. The band also earned early praise and recognition from Under the Radar and FILTER, which in July 2009 declared The Lighthouse and the Whaler its “Unsigned Band of the Month.”
While holding odd jobs as graphic designers, grocery clerks and freelance musicians, the band worked for its rightful place in the Midwest music scene, before embarking on its first tours of the East and West Coasts. During these self-directed tours and local shows, The Lighthouse and the Whaler shared the stage with notable indie and Americana acts including Sufjan Stevens, A.A. Bondy, Alejandro Escevedo, Hallelujah the Hills, Ha Ha Tonka and Margot and The Nuclear So and So's.
These live performances gave The Lighthouse and the Whaler exposure to new audiences and offered a chance to experiment with and manipulate new songs before heading to the studio. After nine months of writing and tinkering in Cleveland, The Lighthouse and the Whaler released its debut, self-titled LP in 2010, just as they were named “Best Indie Artist” at the 2010 Cleveland Music Awards. Described as “colorful, eccentric and fantastically triumphant,” the album showcases the band’s ability to take seemingly simple instrumentations and layer them into something powerful and strong. “Windows” and “Of the Heavens and the Earth” offer punctuated melodies and sustained harmonies, while “Under Mountain, Under Ground” billows with energy and emotion.
“Our music is brewing underneath,” says LoPresti. “You won’t find the emotional thing you grab right away, but you feel the depth of where it comes from,” depth that is greatly influenced by the band members’ studies in literature, philosophy and theology, as well as their spiritual upbringings. The band also takes inspiration from other musicians, especially those of the 1960s who used rock and folk in countercultural ways. But even this band, which takes its name from Moby Dick, knows music is more than taking a chapter out of someone else’s book.
“I can draw back to certain songs or albums because they were meaningful in a particular moment,” LoPresti recalls. “We want people to interpret and correlate our music with experiences in their own lives: struggles, triumphs, good times and bad. We’ve equated music to be something by which people can really be changed and moved. There’s something beautiful in music and powerful in music and when faced with a choice of this or other things – other ways to make money or other ways to fill our heads – we would choose this every time.”
The Lighthouse & The Whaler on Facebook
The Mad Flight is Paul Cantrell, David Fountain and Heath Ladnier. I recently had the pleasure of asking Paul a few questions. You should really give it a read as the answers are well thought out and really portray a devoted view on the artistic world to which the band contributes. He has some good things to say about many Atlanta bands and whats going on around the city in the music community. The Mad Flight is an indie band with a really unique sound. As you'll find out below…these guys have been working and perfecting their sound for some time and they are on the verge of making things happen for themselves. They have an indie sound with what I call a Sinatra twist throughout. They have a sort of dream effect to many of their songs which puts off a real sense of passion in the music. They say below that they wail, howl and croon and I think that just about describes it perfectly. They will be replacing the lower quality demos on their myspace with higher quality stuff really soon and I can't wait for that. I'm also hoping to book them at the beatlanta house soon. They are playing at 529 on October 1st for the It's Elephants fair well show so make it out to that….I think beatlanta will. The pictures were provided by the band and they were nice enough to include links to all the bands they mention. The video is not beatlanta video but just one I found on youtube shot by Matthew Walker, In Stereo Photography. Sit, look, read….
B: When did The Mad Flight form? Who plays what? How does everyone know each other?
Dave and I met the summer we turned 18. We recorded and played shows for a few years, mostly acoustic. Then I moved John, my best friend from Baltimore, down here to play drums. Before long, Dave went off to NYU for grad school, and I went back to Baltimore to finish a novel. When the two of us moved back here, we agreed to reform the band as two bands—one for my songs, one for Dave’s. Then our best friend, John, was murdered in the bar where he working. The Mad Flight formed two months later, in March of 2009. That was around the time that Heath and I met, but he didn’t start playing drums with us until recently. I’m pretty sure that Heath and Dave met on a Fur Bus that my friends rented for my birthday last year, but that’s another story. I howl and croon and play guitar. Dave wails and soars and plays bass. Heath doles thunder.
B: Do you have any albums out now or coming soon that we should know about?
We plan to record an album in the next few months.
B: Do you have any upcoming shows and/or tour plans?
On Friday, October 1st, we’re playing a free show at 529 with our good friends, It’s Elephant’s. It will be their last show together, and it means a lot to us to be a part of it.
B: What are your goals as a band?
To live out our years in heat of blood.
B: Describe a Mad Flight show.
Garrett, from It’s Elephant’s and The Letters Organize, once described our sound as “towering, romantic.” He’s a kind man. There’s also the bombastic element to what we do, but it’s all within what feels like a pretty sturdy melodic framework.
B: What experience above all others do you hope fans take away from the show?
I think that if you’re going to take time in your life to see a band, then that band should do everything it can to give you the time of your life.
B: Tell us about your writing process.
Usually I’ll play with the words for a while, working out the relation between sound and sense. On a good day, that relation will be informed by the melody and by what the entire band is doing in the arrangement. As for the music, I try to have all of the parts worked out first. Then Dave and Heath find better parts to play.
B: Describe your music in one word.
In a fit of headiness, I once asked Dave what the aesthetic constant was. All he said was, “Rocking.”
B: Are there any major influences that influence your sound or made you want to start your band?
Any given song will have its own set of influences. Some people have said that we sound like a mash-up of early Smashing Pumpkins, Jeff Buckley, and Radiohead—them in a bar fight, or some such. And by “bar” they mean Robert Pollard’s basement. Those are flattering comparisons, but they probably have more to do with tone than with the songs themselves.
B: Are there any major influences the entire band shares, music or otherwise?
I think we all agreed on early Weezer. Heath has been known to call people over late at night to perform the blue album in its entirety. I recall that at one point we also agreed on the early, piano-driven Muse material, like “Absolution.” Dave’s a walking encyclopedia of music, and I haven’t heard of half the bands that Heath references. Our individual influences run the gamut, but they meet in unexpected ways that we like.
B: Describe the Atlanta music scene in one word.
Lush.
B: What local bands would you recommend to your fans and fans of local music?
I admire the ways that Abby Gogo and The N.E.C. are expanding shoegaze. Howlies, Gold-Bears, CAN CAN, All the Saints, Mermaids, and Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun all put on a hell of a show. This Piano Plays Itself, Mice in Cars, Imagination Head, and Lacuna M. are doing impressive things in terms of conceptualization and structure, albeit in drastically different ways. The same goes for what Dave Daniels is doing with Americana. Anything involving Tom Cheshire is going to make for a great night. I’ve also made no secret of my hope that The Long Shadows will reunite. There are too many to list. I openly defy anyone to try shaking a stick at how many amazing bands are in this city.
B: What are your favorite non-local bands?
Damion Suomi & The Minor Prophets is a great band out of Florida. Sleeping in the Aviary. Deleted Scenes. The Dead Science. Heath just turned me on to Colour Revolt. They’re great, too.
B: Whats your favorite place to hang in Atlanta?
Probably East Atlanta Village. Wherever there’s a good show in town that night.
B: What was the last album you bought?
That Tenement Halls album from a few years ago.
B: How do you advertise your shows?
Word of mouth and the usual websites. We’re on Facebook.
B: Any closing statements or thoughts or anything about the band or your music you want folks to know?
This band has been a long time coming. The old rehearsal demos we have online don’t do anyone much justice. We’ll have better, proper recordings available soon. In the meantime, come see us for yourselves.
Interview by Adam Keen of BeAtlanta.com
The Mad Flight on Facebook
Man Made Sea is a folk-rock/indie band that hails from LaGrange, Georgia. This high energy band consists of four close friends who have been playing music together for over 5+ years in many different genres, and who separately have been in several local bands performing throughout Georgia and neighboring areas. The band draws influences from Hank Williams to Modest Mouse to The Felice Brothers. With each his own musical talent, the band has its own consistently unique style drawing fans from all backgrounds, and delivering memorable performances every time. Each song and performance speaks with a level of maturity uncommon in such young voices.
As a new band we're still new to this, so cut us a break. We'll play anywhere really, a venue, a bar, a house, your friend's backyard, your friend's parent's barn house, you name it. We're willing to travel too, so don't hesitate.
Man Made Sea Facebook
$5, 21+
Doors @ 9 pm
An interview with the Lighthouse & The Whaler @ Atlanta's A List
