Grand Hallway
Winter Creatures," the third album by Seattle band Grand Hallway, was recorded over several weekend sessions this past winter at Scenic Burrows in Portland, Oregon. The band holed up in the tiny studio (where the latest albums by Dodos, Castanets, Richmond Fontaine, and the soundtrack of “Portlandia” were also recorded) with producer Cory Gray over many rain and snow filled days, and worked into the wee hours of the morning fueled by endless cups of coffee. Sometime before sunrise each night, they would retire with a bottle of whiskey to sneak in a game of Baseball Stars 2 on NES and maybe sleep for a couple hours in the apartment (a former dentist’s office) right above the studio.
The relaxed atmosphere belied the frantic productivity of the recording sessions (a couple of the songs were written entirely in the studio, mere moments before they were committed to tape), and provided a welcome contrast to the heaviness of the past year which inspired the album. The illness and death of chief songwriter Tomo Nakayama’s grandparents, the birth of guitarist Jeramy Koepping’s baby, and the closing of the beloved Seattle landmark Neptune theater (where Nakayama worked for the past decade), were just a few of the events that informed the writing of "Winter Creatures'" nine songs, which explore themes of life cycles, mortality, and family.
After the release of 2009's critically lauded Promenade (which received airplay from NPR, KEXP, and The Current, and features from Amazon, City Arts, and numerous blogs), and constant touring including a successful stints at SXSW, CMJ, Bumbershoot, and Capitol Hill Block Party, Grand Hallway endured several lineup changes and turned their focus full-force back to songwriting. Aided by Scenic Burrows’ (and its sibling Type Foundry’s) vast collection of unique instruments such as pump organ, synthesizers, tack piano, and tympani, Nakayama and company found themselves immersing themselves in a world of sound far beyond the chamber-pop genre which came to define their last record. The band once known for collaborating with a 50 piece orchestra and children's choir chose this time to deliberately shrink in numbers and distill their sound into its bare essence.
The starkly intimate soundscapes of the title track, and the gentle finger picking of album closer “Roscoe (What A Gift),” show the influence of Nick Drake and Arthur Russell, while the dream-like experimentalism of “Fourths” and intricate string arrangements of “Father’s Clothes” and “Little Sister” recall Vespertine-era Bjork and minimalist composer Steve Reich. Elsewhere, the ebullient vocal harmonies on “Wildfire” and the epic album-centerpiece “North Cascades” recall Pacific Northwest contemporaries like Fleet Foxes and the Moondoggies. Producer Cory Gray, one of the busiest session musicians in Portland whose own work as Carcrashlander marries left-field influences with modern pop, provides reggae-like space echoes, vintage synth textures, and layers of horns that could have come straight out of Sketches of Spain-era Miles Davis. Added to that are contributions from members of both Seattle and Portland’s vibrant musical communities (members of Portland Cello Project, Nick Jaina Band, and Heatwarmer all make appearances) and SF multi-instrumentalist Goh Nakamura.
"Winter Creatures" finds a band maturing and developing their sound, while at the same time exploring and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, tearing apart and redefining their identity along the way.
---
Goh Nakamura
Goh Nakamura is a San Francisco Bay Area based musician who writes ditties about parking tickets, impossible crushes and faraway dreamlands. With one foot in the traditional troubadour world and another in the digital age, he performs at venues small, large, and virtual, to an enthusiastic and ever growing audience. A fortuitous 2007 feature on YouTube's front page brought his music videos over a million views and earned him a huge new fanbase from all over the world.
Goh's talents have also found a home in the film industry. Goh's vocals and guitar work are featured prominently on the scores to Ridley Scott films A Good Year and, most recently, American Gangster. His song "Daylight Savings" is included on the soundtrack to the Robert Benton film Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear.
----------
Scrabbel
Scrabbel was formed in 1999 by two old high school friends, Dan Lee and Becky Barron. On the strength of their debut show in 2000 at a sold out event for the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, they were approached by a label to make a record. They released their first full length in 2001 on Kittridge Records. The music was full of imagination and incorporated unconvential instruments such as a Speak n Spell. The self titled CD was rated 4 out of 5 stars in the All Music Guide and the SF Weekly's review called it "a Sgt. Pepper's for the twee set".
In 2002 the duo split up, but Dan Lee continued to work under the name Scrabbel. Highly influenced by all things '65 to '75, Dan drew upon his love for bands like The Beatles, Love, The Who, The Zombies, David Bowie, and T Rex to create the follow up. He took time off in 2003 to become the keyboard player for the Aislers Set, and toured extensively around the US and Europe. In between tours, Dan worked hard writing new songs and building a new live band to perform as Scrabbel. The new recordings sought the help of guest musicians: Alicia Vanden Hueval (Aislers Set), Pete Nguyen (Total Shutdown), and Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor). But the most important change was the addition of Hellen Jo, whose cello is featured throughout the CD.
Released by Three Ring Records in 2005, the follow-up CD titled 1909 is leaps and bounds beyond the first record. The music embodies new arrangements to accompany the standard guitar, bass, and drums lineup. There are 808 beats, clarinet, and of course, cello and violin to add a unique layer of texture to these songs. Every song promises to be different from the last, but still manages to be a cohesive collection of songs that make up the album 1909.
show less
Winter Creatures," the third album by Seattle band Grand Hallway, was recorded over several weekend sessions this past winter at Scenic Burrows in Portland, Oregon. The band holed up in the tiny studio (where the latest albums by Dodos, Castanets, Richmond Fontaine, and the soundtrack of “Portlandia” were also recorded) with producer Cory Gray over many rain and snow filled days, and worked into the wee hours of the morning fueled by endless cups of coffee. Sometime before sunrise each night, they would retire with a bottle of whiskey to sneak in a game of Baseball Stars 2 on NES and maybe sleep for a couple hours in the apartment (a former dentist’s office) right above the studio.
The relaxed atmosphere belied the frantic productivity of the recording sessions (a couple of the songs were written entirely in the studio, mere moments before they were committed to tape), and provided a welcome contrast to the heaviness of the past year which inspired the album. The illness and death of chief songwriter Tomo Nakayama’s grandparents, the birth of guitarist Jeramy Koepping’s baby, and the closing of the beloved Seattle landmark Neptune theater (where Nakayama worked for the past decade), were just a few of the events that informed the writing of "Winter Creatures'" nine songs, which explore themes of life cycles, mortality, and family.
After the release of 2009's critically lauded Promenade (which received airplay from NPR, KEXP, and The Current, and features from Amazon, City Arts, and numerous blogs), and constant touring including a successful stints at SXSW, CMJ, Bumbershoot, and Capitol Hill Block Party, Grand Hallway endured several lineup changes and turned their focus full-force back to songwriting. Aided by Scenic Burrows’ (and its sibling Type Foundry’s) vast collection of unique instruments such as pump organ, synthesizers, tack piano, and tympani, Nakayama and company found themselves immersing themselves in a world of sound far beyond the chamber-pop genre which came to define their last record. The band once known for collaborating with a 50 piece orchestra and children's choir chose this time to deliberately shrink in numbers and distill their sound into its bare essence.
The starkly intimate soundscapes of the title track, and the gentle finger picking of album closer “Roscoe (What A Gift),” show the influence of Nick Drake and Arthur Russell, while the dream-like experimentalism of “Fourths” and intricate string arrangements of “Father’s Clothes” and “Little Sister” recall Vespertine-era Bjork and minimalist composer Steve Reich. Elsewhere, the ebullient vocal harmonies on “Wildfire” and the epic album-centerpiece “North Cascades” recall Pacific Northwest contemporaries like Fleet Foxes and the Moondoggies. Producer Cory Gray, one of the busiest session musicians in Portland whose own work as Carcrashlander marries left-field influences with modern pop, provides reggae-like space echoes, vintage synth textures, and layers of horns that could have come straight out of Sketches of Spain-era Miles Davis. Added to that are contributions from members of both Seattle and Portland’s vibrant musical communities (members of Portland Cello Project, Nick Jaina Band, and Heatwarmer all make appearances) and SF multi-instrumentalist Goh Nakamura.
"Winter Creatures" finds a band maturing and developing their sound, while at the same time exploring and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, tearing apart and redefining their identity along the way.
---
Goh Nakamura
Goh Nakamura is a San Francisco Bay Area based musician who writes ditties about parking tickets, impossible crushes and faraway dreamlands. With one foot in the traditional troubadour world and another in the digital age, he performs at venues small, large, and virtual, to an enthusiastic and ever growing audience. A fortuitous 2007 feature on YouTube's front page brought his music videos over a million views and earned him a huge new fanbase from all over the world.
Goh's talents have also found a home in the film industry. Goh's vocals and guitar work are featured prominently on the scores to Ridley Scott films A Good Year and, most recently, American Gangster. His song "Daylight Savings" is included on the soundtrack to the Robert Benton film Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear.
----------
Scrabbel
Scrabbel was formed in 1999 by two old high school friends, Dan Lee and Becky Barron. On the strength of their debut show in 2000 at a sold out event for the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, they were approached by a label to make a record. They released their first full length in 2001 on Kittridge Records. The music was full of imagination and incorporated unconvential instruments such as a Speak n Spell. The self titled CD was rated 4 out of 5 stars in the All Music Guide and the SF Weekly's review called it "a Sgt. Pepper's for the twee set".
In 2002 the duo split up, but Dan Lee continued to work under the name Scrabbel. Highly influenced by all things '65 to '75, Dan drew upon his love for bands like The Beatles, Love, The Who, The Zombies, David Bowie, and T Rex to create the follow up. He took time off in 2003 to become the keyboard player for the Aislers Set, and toured extensively around the US and Europe. In between tours, Dan worked hard writing new songs and building a new live band to perform as Scrabbel. The new recordings sought the help of guest musicians: Alicia Vanden Hueval (Aislers Set), Pete Nguyen (Total Shutdown), and Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor). But the most important change was the addition of Hellen Jo, whose cello is featured throughout the CD.
Released by Three Ring Records in 2005, the follow-up CD titled 1909 is leaps and bounds beyond the first record. The music embodies new arrangements to accompany the standard guitar, bass, and drums lineup. There are 808 beats, clarinet, and of course, cello and violin to add a unique layer of texture to these songs. Every song promises to be different from the last, but still manages to be a cohesive collection of songs that make up the album 1909.
Grand Hallway
Winter Creatures," the third album by Seattle band Grand Hallway, was recorded over several weekend sessions this past winter at Scenic Burrows in Portland, Oregon. The band holed up in the tiny studio (where the latest albums by Dodos, Castanets, Richmond Fontaine, and the soundtrack of “Portlandia” were also recorded) with producer Cory Gray over many rain and snow filled days, and worked into the wee hours of the morning fueled by endless cups of coffee. Sometime before sunrise each night, they would retire with a bottle of whiskey to sneak in a game of Baseball Stars 2 on NES and maybe sleep for a couple hours in the apartment (a former dentist’s office) right above the studio.
The relaxed atmosphere belied the frantic productivity of the recording sessions (a couple of the songs were written entirely in the studio, mere moments before they were committed to tape), and provided a welcome contrast to the heaviness of the past year which inspired the album. The illness and death of chief songwriter Tomo Nakayama’s grandparents, the birth of guitarist Jeramy Koepping’s baby, and the closing of the beloved Seattle landmark Neptune theater (where Nakayama worked for the past decade), were just a few of the events that informed the writing of "Winter Creatures'" nine songs, which explore themes of life cycles, mortality, and family.
After the release of 2009's critically lauded Promenade (which received airplay from NPR, KEXP, and The Current, and features from Amazon, City Arts, and numerous blogs), and constant touring including a successful stints at SXSW, CMJ, Bumbershoot, and Capitol Hill Block Party, Grand Hallway endured several lineup changes and turned their focus full-force back to songwriting. Aided by Scenic Burrows’ (and its sibling Type Foundry’s) vast collection of unique instruments such as pump organ, synthesizers, tack piano, and tympani, Nakayama and company found themselves immersing themselves in a world of sound far beyond the chamber-pop genre which came to define their last record. The band once known for collaborating with a 50 piece orchestra and children's choir chose this time to deliberately shrink in numbers and distill their sound into its bare essence.
The starkly intimate soundscapes of the title track, and the gentle finger picking of album closer “Roscoe (What A Gift),” show the influence of Nick Drake and Arthur Russell, while the dream-like experimentalism of “Fourths” and intricate string arrangements of “Father’s Clothes” and “Little Sister” recall Vespertine-era Bjork and minimalist composer Steve Reich. Elsewhere, the ebullient vocal harmonies on “Wildfire” and the epic album-centerpiece “North Cascades” recall Pacific Northwest contemporaries like Fleet Foxes and the Moondoggies. Producer Cory Gray, one of the busiest session musicians in Portland whose own work as Carcrashlander marries left-field influences with modern pop, provides reggae-like space echoes, vintage synth textures, and layers of horns that could have come straight out of Sketches of Spain-era Miles Davis. Added to that are contributions from members of both Seattle and Portland’s vibrant musical communities (members of Portland Cello Project, Nick Jaina Band, and Heatwarmer all make appearances) and SF multi-instrumentalist Goh Nakamura.
"Winter Creatures" finds a band maturing and developing their sound, while at the same time exploring and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, tearing apart and redefining their identity along the way.
---
Goh Nakamura
Goh Nakamura is a San Francisco Bay Area based musician who writes ditties about parking tickets, impossible crushes and faraway dreamlands. With one foot in the traditional troubadour world and another in the digital age, he performs at venues small, large, and virtual, to an enthusiastic and ever growing audience. A fortuitous 2007 feature on YouTube's front page brought his music videos over a million views and earned him a huge new fanbase from all over the world.
Goh's talents have also found a home in the film industry. Goh's vocals and guitar work are featured prominently on the scores to Ridley Scott films A Good Year and, most recently, American Gangster. His song "Daylight Savings" is included on the soundtrack to the Robert Benton film Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear.
----------
Scrabbel
Scrabbel was formed in 1999 by two old high school friends, Dan Lee and Becky Barron. On the strength of their debut show in 2000 at a sold out event for the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, they were approached by a label to make a record. They released their first full length in 2001 on Kittridge Records. The music was full of imagination and incorporated unconvential instruments such as a Speak n Spell. The self titled CD was rated 4 out of 5 stars in the All Music Guide and the SF Weekly's review called it "a Sgt. Pepper's for the twee set".
In 2002 the duo split up, but Dan Lee continued to work under the name Scrabbel. Highly influenced by all things '65 to '75, Dan drew upon his love for bands like The Beatles, Love, The Who, The Zombies, David Bowie, and T Rex to create the follow up. He took time off in 2003 to become the keyboard player for the Aislers Set, and toured extensively around the US and Europe. In between tours, Dan worked hard writing new songs and building a new live band to perform as Scrabbel. The new recordings sought the help of guest musicians: Alicia Vanden Hueval (Aislers Set), Pete Nguyen (Total Shutdown), and Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor). But the most important change was the addition of Hellen Jo, whose cello is featured throughout the CD.
Released by Three Ring Records in 2005, the follow-up CD titled 1909 is leaps and bounds beyond the first record. The music embodies new arrangements to accompany the standard guitar, bass, and drums lineup. There are 808 beats, clarinet, and of course, cello and violin to add a unique layer of texture to these songs. Every song promises to be different from the last, but still manages to be a cohesive collection of songs that make up the album 1909.
read more
Winter Creatures," the third album by Seattle band Grand Hallway, was recorded over several weekend sessions this past winter at Scenic Burrows in Portland, Oregon. The band holed up in the tiny studio (where the latest albums by Dodos, Castanets, Richmond Fontaine, and the soundtrack of “Portlandia” were also recorded) with producer Cory Gray over many rain and snow filled days, and worked into the wee hours of the morning fueled by endless cups of coffee. Sometime before sunrise each night, they would retire with a bottle of whiskey to sneak in a game of Baseball Stars 2 on NES and maybe sleep for a couple hours in the apartment (a former dentist’s office) right above the studio.
The relaxed atmosphere belied the frantic productivity of the recording sessions (a couple of the songs were written entirely in the studio, mere moments before they were committed to tape), and provided a welcome contrast to the heaviness of the past year which inspired the album. The illness and death of chief songwriter Tomo Nakayama’s grandparents, the birth of guitarist Jeramy Koepping’s baby, and the closing of the beloved Seattle landmark Neptune theater (where Nakayama worked for the past decade), were just a few of the events that informed the writing of "Winter Creatures'" nine songs, which explore themes of life cycles, mortality, and family.
After the release of 2009's critically lauded Promenade (which received airplay from NPR, KEXP, and The Current, and features from Amazon, City Arts, and numerous blogs), and constant touring including a successful stints at SXSW, CMJ, Bumbershoot, and Capitol Hill Block Party, Grand Hallway endured several lineup changes and turned their focus full-force back to songwriting. Aided by Scenic Burrows’ (and its sibling Type Foundry’s) vast collection of unique instruments such as pump organ, synthesizers, tack piano, and tympani, Nakayama and company found themselves immersing themselves in a world of sound far beyond the chamber-pop genre which came to define their last record. The band once known for collaborating with a 50 piece orchestra and children's choir chose this time to deliberately shrink in numbers and distill their sound into its bare essence.
The starkly intimate soundscapes of the title track, and the gentle finger picking of album closer “Roscoe (What A Gift),” show the influence of Nick Drake and Arthur Russell, while the dream-like experimentalism of “Fourths” and intricate string arrangements of “Father’s Clothes” and “Little Sister” recall Vespertine-era Bjork and minimalist composer Steve Reich. Elsewhere, the ebullient vocal harmonies on “Wildfire” and the epic album-centerpiece “North Cascades” recall Pacific Northwest contemporaries like Fleet Foxes and the Moondoggies. Producer Cory Gray, one of the busiest session musicians in Portland whose own work as Carcrashlander marries left-field influences with modern pop, provides reggae-like space echoes, vintage synth textures, and layers of horns that could have come straight out of Sketches of Spain-era Miles Davis. Added to that are contributions from members of both Seattle and Portland’s vibrant musical communities (members of Portland Cello Project, Nick Jaina Band, and Heatwarmer all make appearances) and SF multi-instrumentalist Goh Nakamura.
"Winter Creatures" finds a band maturing and developing their sound, while at the same time exploring and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, tearing apart and redefining their identity along the way.
---
Goh Nakamura
Goh Nakamura is a San Francisco Bay Area based musician who writes ditties about parking tickets, impossible crushes and faraway dreamlands. With one foot in the traditional troubadour world and another in the digital age, he performs at venues small, large, and virtual, to an enthusiastic and ever growing audience. A fortuitous 2007 feature on YouTube's front page brought his music videos over a million views and earned him a huge new fanbase from all over the world.
Goh's talents have also found a home in the film industry. Goh's vocals and guitar work are featured prominently on the scores to Ridley Scott films A Good Year and, most recently, American Gangster. His song "Daylight Savings" is included on the soundtrack to the Robert Benton film Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear.
----------
Scrabbel
Scrabbel was formed in 1999 by two old high school friends, Dan Lee and Becky Barron. On the strength of their debut show in 2000 at a sold out event for the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, they were approached by a label to make a record. They released their first full length in 2001 on Kittridge Records. The music was full of imagination and incorporated unconvential instruments such as a Speak n Spell. The self titled CD was rated 4 out of 5 stars in the All Music Guide and the SF Weekly's review called it "a Sgt. Pepper's for the twee set".
In 2002 the duo split up, but Dan Lee continued to work under the name Scrabbel. Highly influenced by all things '65 to '75, Dan drew upon his love for bands like The Beatles, Love, The Who, The Zombies, David Bowie, and T Rex to create the follow up. He took time off in 2003 to become the keyboard player for the Aislers Set, and toured extensively around the US and Europe. In between tours, Dan worked hard writing new songs and building a new live band to perform as Scrabbel. The new recordings sought the help of guest musicians: Alicia Vanden Hueval (Aislers Set), Pete Nguyen (Total Shutdown), and Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor). But the most important change was the addition of Hellen Jo, whose cello is featured throughout the CD.
Released by Three Ring Records in 2005, the follow-up CD titled 1909 is leaps and bounds beyond the first record. The music embodies new arrangements to accompany the standard guitar, bass, and drums lineup. There are 808 beats, clarinet, and of course, cello and violin to add a unique layer of texture to these songs. Every song promises to be different from the last, but still manages to be a cohesive collection of songs that make up the album 1909.
show less
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