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Featured Artist Media Kinesis 6/05
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KUbist Hall (strange name if I've ever seen one!) is one hell of a group. 3 artists that really soun...KUbist Hall (strange name if I've ever seen one!) is one hell of a group. 3 artists that really sound like a full 5 member or more band. Thank god for the piano, it carries the rhythm and lead lines of there songs adding depth and quality that no "guitar rock" band can compete with.
Our favorite track "In Wonderland" is an inspiring piece, mellow and melodic -while taking you to the edge of emotion, featuring quality lyrics and the lead singers range from "hard edge" to "soft" adult contemporary stylings. Toward the end of the track you'll notice a wailing guitar...ok, we don't much care for that, but in a track like this- it fits and its OK. I also want to give credit here to the percussionist, it could be so easy in some of these tracks to go "Neil Peart" on the group, but he maintains the emotion of the tracks- adding his own touch and feeling with soft symbal rolls in just the right spot.
They have diversified there style from the "mundane, programmed formula of common rock" giving them quite the edge in the industry. They claim to sound like: "Radiohead, Coldplay, Tori Amos, Snow Patrol"...this could be pretty close. We would also add U2 and a little Edwin McCain to the list.
All they need now is for the right person/label to find and sign them!
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KUbist Hall: Brandon Nolte for The Boise Weekly
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"Finally, a band I'd get off my lazy ass to go see. The self-titled debut album of KUbist Hall is, ..."Finally, a band I'd get off my lazy ass to go see. The self-titled debut album of KUbist Hall is, hands down, a winner. Combining robust yet yearning melodies with exquisite piano work, this Los Angeles trio makes the music Tori Amos used to make, except Andrew Kurtz (incidentally, a '98 Boise High graduate) can sing without sliding into preciousness. Kurtz comes off as sensitive without being a wuss, and that's damn hard to do.
There really isn't a weak track here, but "The Rose", "Coming Back Home" and the beautifully sweet instrumental "The Dancing Courtesan" are the highlights. Working mainly with piano, drums and bass, the trio achieves a rich, clean sound that manages to be luminous with just a whiff of menace, I know that sounds freakin' wierd, but it's one hell of a combination.
Everything about this disc is sharp: The sound, the production, even the cover art, which displayes a low-budget but stylish sensibility. I do have one complaint, though. This album is only 37 minutes long. That ain't nearly long enough, but hey, that's why bands go on tour, which is why they're stopping by the Record Exchange. Go see them and be enthralled.
- Brandon Nolta, The Boise Weekly, July 13th, 2005
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KUbist Hall in THRIVE Weekly
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Dan Kouba talks with KUbist Hall band member Andrew Kurtz
Related Links
Learn more about KUbist Ha...Dan Kouba talks with KUbist Hall band member Andrew Kurtz
Related Links
Learn more about KUbist Hall and download some of their songs for free
Additional Information
boise shows
Catch KUbist Hall live at:
July 13: Ha' Penny. 9 p.m.
July 15: Record Exchange, 9:30 p.m.
July 16th: Crystal Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.
listen to kubist hall
Visit kubisthall.com for more on Andrew, Alexandra and Alexa, and be sure to stop by thriveweekly.com for a link to three of their uploaded tracks.
"It's been a hell of a journey, but we finally found what we wanted to try and say through our music."
Andrew Kurtz
Dan Kouba
Edition Date: 07-05-2005
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Boise singer/songwriter Andrew Kurtz has traded in his black leather coat and soft- spoken, brooding alternative folk act for something that caught even us off guard.
When Thrive first came across Kurtz in a mid-2003 interview, he was fresh off the plane from an extended European "tour," and taking his solo act around Boise's smaller and more tame venues like the Kulture Klatsch and Dawson's Downtown coffeehouse. But in a town where the "solo performer with guitar" category is already overflowing, the likes of Kurtz can face a tough row to hoe. It was time to move on to bigger and better things; Kurtz next performance was a vanishing act.
Fast forward. Thrive gets an e-mail from Kurtz who is living in Los Angeles and playing venues like the famed Key Club as one-third of a much edgier and "harder" act — joined by girlfriend Alexandra and drummer Alexa — called KUbist Hall. Their sound retains a small portion of Kurtz's Euro/American sound, but for all intents and purposes, it's almost a complete 180 from his days playing in Boise vegan sandwich shops. To listen to the before and after, you'd never guess it was the same person, and after our phone interview with Kurtz, it was apparent it's not. Before we begin: KUbist Hall. What's up with the name?
It's sort of a secret with the band. My bandmate is sitting here on the left, "Don't tell him; don't tell him," so I think I'm gonna take the Fifth. We like to tell our fans it's whatever you feel it means. I promise to be more expressive on the other questions.
So you done packed up and went to the big city. Was it the selection of venues, money, for a girl or just getting up one day and getting the urge to blow town?
I was invited over to L.A. as a songwriter, and it ended up not being fulfilling because of people in the industry, particularly large companies. I was hoping for big things right away, and it didn't exactly work out that way. It was more like a series of letdowns, and people not coming through for me, and it was also some poor decision making on my part. So I decided to redirect myself instead of concentrating on getting the big deal or big person, and focus on learning the business and doing it myself. I kind of left the old myth of "Once you get the deal, you're all set," because that's not the case anymore. You need to do things on a business level yourself. That's when things started happening for me.
You've lived pretty much everywhere, but L.A. is like a whole other planet. How overwhelming was/is the music scene for an indie alternative rock band?
It's not overwhelming at all to me or us because when you have a product that's great, and you're in a place with more competition, it really doesn't matter because you're not competing against the other bands. (If your music is good) it's going to succeed on its own. People are not stupid. They know what they like, and they know what rises to the top.
I think in L.A. it's a misconception that the music is better. That's not true. You can find the best band in Scotland or Boise, it's just that there's more people and competition here, obviously. In our experiences in L.A., the cream always rises to the top.
Now the one thing about L.A. is that it provides a lot more opportunity. We have industry people after every gig, and you don't have that in Boise.
You met Alexandra in Sun Valley. Where'd Alexa come into the picture?
We were looking for a drummer, and we knew we wanted a female, because Alexandra and I knew it was time to take it to the next step. So anyway, we found her on Craigslist; we posted the ad, and she was the fourth person we interviewed (normally you get 75 or 100 applicants). It was perfect for things, and she has that kind of look. It was literally one audition. Alexa studied at Berklee College in Boston.
And Alexandra is your girlfriend, right?
(Pause). Yes, and she is the heart and soul behind KUbist Hall. Alexandra — you know, for a long time I didn't think Alexandra was right for a rock band, but for some reason it fit perfectly because it was such an odd approach. When we were producing this album, I really didn't have to tell her anything. She just got it. It's why we sound so unusual because of Alexandra's piano playing.
We are a piano driven band. A major indie review once described (our sound as something) that no guitar band can compete with. It's like combining Tori Amos with Radiohead, that's the most common thing we get.
So you didn't think your own girlfriend would fit into the band?
No. I'm being honest.
"The Rose" was on your playlist while in Boise, so obviously not all of the old Andy was left behind. How much of KUbist Hall is brand new as a trio? You were folk alternative. Alexa is classically trained, etc.
I redid (The Rose with) KUbist Hall because it needed a little more oomph to it. We did this album in two weeks to the day. We knew exactly what our sound was, and how we wanted it to sound. We literally went into the studio and did it. And that was it.
And it all adds up to a very clean, crisp European-influence sound, kind of like your 2003 playlist, but a little edgier.
Absolutely, but on the other hand it's American rock as well. The most common comparison we can have is like a Radiohead, Coldplay, Tori Amos, Flaming Lips. It's easy to understand why they compare us to Radiohead, but nobody sounds like them, so that's kind of a compliment.
Do you all have day jobs? I mean, there's the nice Web site, CD, postcards and much more to pay for.
We have a lot of things going on. Zlata Entertainment LLC, which is in Idaho, is a team of investors, and basically they sponsor us because they believe. They're kind of like a record company, but we sort of have a mutual agreement that we don't want to be signed to a record company because we want to do everything ourselves right now. By the way, in L.A. we have turned down two major labels for signing. We want to remain on our own right now because ... in today's music industry, nine out 10 bands get dropped from a major label, so even though there's this misconception, they're the enemy, it's not true. A band is much more likely to get a reasonable and sensible deal from a record company if they've already established themselves. That's no secret. The misconception with bands is "Once I get a record deal, I'm made," and that's not true.
We're sort of taking the Dave Matthews approach where we're going to tour all over the world for the next year to establish our fan base, and from there we don't even need a record company because we can sell from our tour and Web site. Once we get to a certain point, they're gong to come to us, and we're going to have negotiating power.
So what's Boise going to think about the new Andrew and KUbist Hall when you visit your old stomping grounds for shows here this month?
I think they'll see this album and band is really about the journey of a person, the development of people, and it's really about the development of this band and the story behind it. It's been a hell of a journey, but we finally found what we wanted to try and say through our music. And that's what it's about.
Andrew Kurtz
vocals, guitar, sound effects
Alexandra Stavrovska
piano, keyboard, organ, orchestration, bass and back-up vocals
Alexa Brinkschulte
drums and percussion
All content Thrive©2005 • The Idaho Statesman
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KUbist Hall: Music Ghost
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This melodic, atmospheric rock album from KUbist Hall grabs you by the scruff of the neck and doesn'...This melodic, atmospheric rock album from KUbist Hall grabs you by the scruff of the neck and doesn't put you down until it's done making you fall in love with the sweet yet powerful vocals layered brilliantly over the strong piano tones.
- Music Ghost
July 8th, 2005
www.musicghost.com
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German Review
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KUBIST HALL
SAME (37:12 min.)
EIGENPRODUKTION / US-IMPORT
Ich bin mir nicht wirklich sicher, ...KUBIST HALL
SAME (37:12 min.)
EIGENPRODUKTION / US-IMPORT
Ich bin mir nicht wirklich sicher, ob Kubist Hall stilistisch ins Obliveon passen, andererseits wollen wir ja durchaus eine relative große Spannbreite abdecken und insofern hat auch der poppig-melancholische Sound des kalifornischen Trios seine Berechtigung auf unseren Seiten. Wobei „kalifornisch“ nicht ganz zutreffend ist, denn das Trio ist zwar derzeit in Los Angeles beheimatet, aber außer Sänger und Gitarrist Andrew Kurtz, der von seinen ausgiebigen Europareisen anscheinend einige BritPop-Einflüsse mitbrachte, ist niemand in der Band Amerikaner. Alexandra Stavroska, die hauptsächlich für das Piano, respektive die Keyboards zuständig ist, und mit ihrem klassischen Piano Background Kubist Halls Musik durchaus ein ums andere Mal in die Nähe von Tori Amos rückt, kommt gebürtig aus der Slowakei.
Alexa Brinkschulte, die erst Ende Mai 2004 als letztes Mitglied zur Formation stieß und für Drums und Percussion zuständig ist, stammt aus Bremen. Die Band selbst beschreibt ihre Musik als eigenständig, aber mit Einflüssen von Radiohead, Coldplay, Snow Patrol und Tori Amos versehen. Da ich aber mit der Musik der erstgenannten drei nicht vertraut bin, kann ich dies nicht weiter kommentieren. Fakt ist sicherlich, dass das Trio eine sehr emotionale, melancholische Musik spielt und dabei auch sehr viel Wert auf Atmosphäre und die Integration des Pianos legt. Die Akkorde scheinen ein bisschen über oder mit der Musik zu schweben und schaffen so die Grundvoraussetzung für die melancholische und in (eher härtere) Pop-Gefilde driftende Musik. Für Only Metal-Fans heißt es somit Finger weg, aber wer auf anspruchsvolleren Rock-Pop steht darf die CD ruhigen Gewissens für 10 US-$ erwerben. Herausragend ist für mich das bedächtig beginnende, dann aber härter werdende „Hey You“ sowie das gefühlvolle, an – na klar! – Tori Amos oder Kate Bush erinnernde Piano-Outro „The Dancing Courtesan“. Sieben Punkte dürften okay sein. http://www.kubisthall.com
7/10 - SBr
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS & AWARDS
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1. TOP LOS ANGELES BANDS: www.garageband.com
KUbist Hall has been ranked as One of Los Angeles's To...1. TOP LOS ANGELES BANDS: www.garageband.com
KUbist Hall has been ranked as One of Los Angeles's Top Bands on the City Charts of garageband.com for the week of May 29th, 2005 - June 4th, 2005.
2. WEEKLY TOP FORTY -#1
www.mediakinesis.com
KUbist Hall, during the week of June 5th, 2005 - June 11th, 2005, had a song, "In Wonderland" in the number 1 spot of the Weekly Top Forty in MediaKinesis, an independent music review and site.
RATED #5 out of TOP 100 Unsigned Bands on Isound.com - July 26th, 2005
3. AWARDS ON GARAGEBAND
www.garageband.com
Alternative Rock:
TOP TRACK OF THE DAY: In Wonderland, July 8th, 2005.
May 23rd-
Best Keyboards in Alternative Rock, week of 23May2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
May 30th-
Best Keyboards in Alternative Rock, week of 30May2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Rocking Track in Alternative Rock, week of 30May2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Chill-Out Track in Alternative Rock, week of 30May2005 (ROSE)
Potential Soundtrack in Alternative Rock, week of 30May2005 (ROSE)
Best Keyboards in Alternative Rock, week of 30May2005 (FIRE)
June 6th-
Best Male Vocals in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Best Keyboards in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Best Production in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Most Original in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Potential Soundtrack in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Best Keyboards in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (THE GLOOM)
Best Melody in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (THE GLOOM)
Best Mood in Alternative Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (THE GLOOM)
Pop Rock:
June 6th-
Potential Soundtrack in Pop Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (STRANGE WINDOW)
Potential Soundtrack in Pop Rock, week of 6Jun2005 (WONDERLAND)
#4 on the Top 10 Viewed EPK’s June 6th, 2005 on Sonicbids.com
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REVIEWS from People, Fans, and Professionals
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hi Andrew, Alex, & Alex;
I saw you play at southwestern college this past tuesday and i must than...hi Andrew, Alex, & Alex;
I saw you play at southwestern college this past tuesday and i must thank you all for doing so. Music is a big influence on my life and what i saw on tuesday was remarkable; music is higher than the self it can transcend you to a place where the problems of the world can fade out-if only for a moment. From the heartfilled cries of your lyrics and the relaxing yet intreguing patterns of the drumming to the erie piano chords playing in front of a synthesizer letting out a buzz in the back ground- well done! and done beautifully not like a lame rock band trying too hard. i wish the best for you partly for a selfish reason I would like to hear more of your music! please come back and play our campus. Could you send me the when and wheres so I can chill with some of those characters whom i coulod learn alot from musically and you three are truely inspired!
Best regards,
Louie B.
Student body president
(green hair)
circle of life
this reminded of Perfect Circle. The music was tight, the vocalist was right on during the entire song. The production and the mix were excellent. The band clearly put time into this recording. Good job. I think that this song will definitely appeal to fans of the Perfect Circle genre.
- simonscreams from Coxsackie, New York on 5Jun2005
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The dangers of effects
The tension in the beginning has great momentum, this is a driving color that transitions smoothly into the verse. The vocals are high-quality-- great attack, I like the strength and yet the effortlessness of your voice.
The drumming is f'n right on. Use of kick is engaging and fulfilling. I am a big fan of the use of a piano in this song.
This song is marketable. I think you guys have a legitemate shot at it. Great chorus going on my playlist.
- Distraction from San Diego, California on 4Jun2005
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cool drums
i like the drums in the intro. the piano makes a very dramatic sound. sounds very classical at the first impression. nice
- schlechterdrummer from Gmunden, Upper Austria, Austria on 4Jun2005
atmosphere I love a party with one.
OK, great intro really liked it got my attention maybe a bar to long but very good, loved the dynamics of the band drums very nice you created a good vibe even if it was a bit of a dark one, made me shutmy eyes and I got into the whole sound, it keep my interest even without the vocal.
Piano reminded me of some tori amos which is great, the only thing was the ending which seemed to depart from the feel of the song a bit didnt really like the minor notes at the end. really pro sounding band though would like to see what else you could do.
- Bennyfrontman from Unspecified on 4Jun2005
orchestra?
very tori amosesque, nice use of strings... Lovely piano sounds.. dark..
Vox surprised me, i was expecting female, obviously an acomplised comfortable vocalist.
SOunds very good. Nice production, Gotta say love the PIANOS!! hmmmm
is that a string sample or an orchestra? Sounds great
- spacecadet1975 from Lowestoft, United Kingdom on 4Jun2005
Dark
I like the very beginning. Very dark. When the drums come in with all the swirling, it's good. The dark piano riff also builds up the atmosphere. I really like the piano chords accompanied by the droning guitar in the background. The drums utilize a good beat and the piano works well with all of it. I love how dark it is while still yet using the piano. It might be good to have a heavy distorted guitar driven part in the whole song, but that might not be what you were going for. The vocalist is very talented and really expresses himself and flows well with the song. I like some of the electronic sounds swirling in the background.
- jnlouie from Hillsborough, California on 3Jun2005
Superb Rock Track
Cool atmospheric start, nice kinda flangey effect on the opening cymbals and the guitar line. Really creates a tense mood, and builds anticipation to the song.
Going into a more mellow bit feels like an anti climax but the verse is definitely well written. A really strong singer who makes use of dynamics and tone to really get a grasp of the songs overall feel. Really carries the lyrics home!
The piano actually really works in this piece, punching out melody lines. This is one of the best produced rock songs I've heard in a while, and that singer! Wow
The ending is great too, I would have liked to have been indulged with some lead guitar, but thats just a selfish whim. This track definitely rocks.
- d_arrangements from Belfast, N Ireland, United Kingdom on 25May2005
Awesome
Nicely produced, the piano is used to fabulous effect. I've never heard piano used like this, it's a really great effect, a real grungy sound.
The vocalist is really good, when he starts all reflective you hope that he'll break out into somethign stronger which is exactly what he does. Got lots of control and emotion, he deserves a lot of credit.
The pad effects are also working and not used for the sake of it. Also I didn't meantion, the drums are absolutely smashing, the timing is awesome. There's such a class to the drums there. Wow.
This song is real quality, it takes you places, picks you up and keeps you interested. It has a lot going on,
Well done, I really like this.
- MikeGam from Ireland on 21May2005
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the Edge meets the Bad Seeds.
I immediately like a combination of souped-up guitar and pure piano; they mingle nicely for an original sound. The singer is strong and highly marketable -- in the context of overall, professional sound, this sounds highly polished in a positive way. It sounds like it's coming off a CD purchased from a store; this is a testament to the production, performance, songwriting together. Very dramatic sounding; it also sounds as if it could be on a soundtrack to a movie or a television show. I like the creschendos and variation in dynamics between loud and soft, which is especially notable in the singing. cool sound effects towards the end, like a Radiohead song. i liken this to the bad seeds but with nick cave replaced by a more radio-friendly, polished singer. well done.
- P_Dignity from Davis Park, New York on 31May2005
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Cold play meets Muse
Interesting opening which left me wondering where this was going to go. Seems like a mix between Muse & Coldplay though when the vocals come in they seem more Rock in style & tone of voice. All instruments are played well & vocals are good. The drummer has a good feel and i like the tremolo picking. The arrangement works well. An Epic pop/rock crossover tune - could be really popular - good work guys.
- richhall from Coventry, Warwickshire, United Kingdom on 31May2005
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I liked a lot
I like the drums, how they come in sounding like all the other crappy production for all the wannabes on garageband.com (a second listen sounds like some kind of flanger/phaser effect on it, right?). So when good production came in it really threw me and I loved it. You always get extra points for acoustic piano too. It really sets up for a mood that is dark but works very well for me. I dig the vocals... good command and seems to have power when you put the gas to it. Musicianship is really good. Great chorus. I like the arrangement... this song works for me and I'm glad it does. I'm so sick of trashing no-talent hacks... you guys are NOT one of them. Congrats.
- DanHB from Sioux Falls, South Dakota on 26May2005
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3 Thumbs Up!!!
This song is frikin' awesome. That's all I have to say. But if you want more, your singer can definitely sing, the drums are solid, the bass is solid, the piano is incredible.
- rusilio from Hershey, Pennsylvania on 31May2005
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supersonic
