1090 Club
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1090 Club

| INDIE

| INDIE
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The best kept secret in music

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"1090 Club- Shipwrecked on Shores"

Right off the bat, 1090 Club will show you that they are going to throw you an album that is largely rock based, but it is not solely a rock album. It is a rock indie experiment of sorts and all around a handful of songs that flow effortlessly and really test what basic rock has to offer.

When I read in the bio that this band had a violinist, I was wondering how they were going to incorporate such a stiff instrument. Look what happened with Yellowcard… cheese! But wow! The violin soars alongside the piano build ups and really adds to the thick melodies that loop through each song. The drums run the show for the most part and nicely lead raunchy guitars, harmonized vocals, and uplifting choruses.

Female vocalist, Megan Dibble, really pairs up elegantly beside the male vocals. Each tune is unique and has juicy hooks waiting for you to sing along to. “Second Hander� will give you a taste of what a bold catchy rock song done right feels like: really gripping! Huge chant choruses in “It Starts With� are motivating for any musician to want to pick up their instrument of choice and jam along.

The vocal elements bring about comparison to Rainer Maria, but the backing music is just so much more aggressive. “Sunk,� a husky piano ballad that later picks up drastically, uses group vocals to stay along the theme of shipwrecks… it says, “like a lighthouse you shine� They use some layered instrumental verses much like Canada’s Broken Social Scene, to electrify the almost-not-there vocals on “Some=1� and further more show their versatility on “Little Known Fact,� a shimmery sway evoking song.

If you know me, you will know that first and foremost I love music. Secondly, I love music that brings something new to the table. Though I respect all shapes of music with a passion it just really excites me to see artists doing something new and different than their peers. I always turned to my fellow Canadian’s for a brand of mind-blowing indie but I am happy to see some cats south of the border cranking out tunes this original. It makes me wonder what I have been missing while at the same time; wish I had the talents to make a piece of art this beautiful.

- For The Sound


"1090 Club "Shipwrecked on Shores""

With Shipwrecked On Shores, the pride of Billings, Montana (seriously, look it up, Billings doesn’t really have much going for it) has really put together a winner. The band, as a whole is fantastic musicians with superb talent.
Members Mike Galt, Sean Lynch, Megan Dibble and Steve Serfazo all contribute on vocals throughout the album and sing well in melody. Their unity provides a truly unique sound, thus making it hard to draw comparisons to genres and other bands. This combination of vocals mixed with the eclectic sound of their guitar-drum-violin-piano quartet makes for interesting listening.
The only possible quarrel about Shipwrecked On Shores is that finding a single may be hard. Plucking a song off of the album and playing it on its own would only take away from the value of the song as the album.
-Dan Bilicki
- Tangible Sounds


"1090 CLUB "Shipwrecked On Shores" (Side Cho)"

Over the past year or two Side Cho Records has done a fantastic job in changing the landscape of their roster. Once home to rather generic bands like ANADIVINE, THE BEAUTIFUL MISTAKE, and MC LARS, the new Side Cho has taken shape around indie-based bands such as SOME BY SEA, THE PALE PACIFIC, and SHERWOOD. Even TOKYO ROSE released a pretty good album for the label last year. Keeping the Side Cho lawn fresh as ever are Montana's latest (first?) indie rock band, 1090 CLUB. On their debut record, Shipwrecked On Shores, the band does their best to please fans of bands such as MURDER BY DEATH, CURSIVE, THE APPLESEED CAST, and even THE ARCADE FIRE.

The primary instruments here include guitar, drums, piano, and violin. While the band does not have a permanent bass player, bass is heard in just about every track as played by an additional musician. While the combination of the piano and violin often propel 1090 CLUB's songs, there's no doubt that the vocals are the dominate force. All of the band members take turns singing, often all in one song. At times, the quartet song's echo big-band indie such as in the awkwardly enjoyable "Business End" or in the rowdy, stomping "Second Hander." At others, like in the melodramatic "Some Equals One" or the truly beautiful "Little Known Fact," 1090 CLUB sound as if though they'd easily fit in with the orchestra-loving band THE VELVET TEEN (or to a lesser degree, IN PRAISE OF FOLLY). One of the biggest surprises comes in the latter half of "Sunk," a song that sounds a lot like the rambunctious piano-rockers in SOCRATIC or PISTOLITA. The best part about the band's songs is that they keep them short and sweet; there's none of that grandiose flair that several of their predecessors rely heavily on. The longest song, "...It Starts With," is a tad over four-minutes in length, and the performance here is one of the best on the disc. It seems as if everyone in the band sings at some point or another with the highlight coming when Megan Dibble gets the chance to belt a few lines here and there.

1090 CLUB definitely owes a lot to those before them that have made similar music. However, they are in a situation where they've taken their influences and made something positive out of them on Shipwrecked On Shores. Perhaps this could be looked at as a surprise record, but considering what Side Cho has been doing during their reinvention, Shipwrecked On Shores is just another quality album released by a label that is slowly doing things the right way.

www.sidecho.com
- Pastepunk


"1090 CLUB "Shipwrecked On Shores" (Side Cho)"

The one thing that has to be said about Shipwrecked on Shores is that the compositions present are all very controlled and crafted carefully for the enjoyment of the listeners. There
are a number of things that happen during each of the songs on this album that will take listeners multiple passes to properly "get." The disc may only clock in at thirty minutes, but the band has skillyfully arranged each of the tracks here to make the album have a high replay value to it. The density of the track bumps the effective runtime (that listeners perceive) to well over and hour. The meandering compositions on the disc, like "Second Hander", are really dances, with each member of the band contributing the next step in what really is something marvelous to look at. I would have to say that the 1090 Club is the next Desert City Soundtrack, creating something in the "emo" side of things that follows perfectly from the tempestuous style of earlier acts like Fugazi and Dag Nasty. - James McQuiston
- Jersey Beat


"1090 CLUB "Shipwrecked On Shores" (Side Cho)"

Tastefully contorting and melding an eclectic jumble of genres, Billings, Montana-based quartet the 1090 Club have a sound as expansive and varied as their state’s topography. Lazy critics will be quick to categorize the band under the useless indie-rock umbrella, but the rarely invoked ambient-industrial-punk-folk-pop-rock label is far more appropriate.

S.O.S. is an album whose rock roots branch in unexpected directions. Featuring one full-time violinist and pianist, in addition to a drummer, a guitarist, and various fill-in bassists, 1090 Club uses irregular instrumentation to build lush soundscapes. Every member of the group contributes vocals too, including a welcome female presence. Individually, the vocalists are perfectly fitting without being exceptional or displaying spectacular range, but regular harmonizing and multi-tracking provides the vocals a rich sound a la Minus The Bear and Death Cab For Cutie.

1090 Club exercises diversity from track to track without becoming an incoherent mess. Songs like “Some Equals One� and “Cheers To Us� find the band doing its best Death Cab impression, layering detached, monotone vocals over simple, hypnotic melodies and light electronic elements, calming piano and violin whisking in and out. “Hooray� rises from a whisper to an all-out rocker, with punk drumming and a frantic violin that soars above the roaring guitars and multi-tracked vocals before fading back out on a whisper. “Second Hander� is a track that could easily have been awkward, with its jerky, music-to-a-strobe-light procession of heavy keystrokes and drumbeats, but smooth choruses of guitar and violin bridge the song nicely, countering the mechanical feel appropriate for a song whose lyrics mention “machines.� Similarly improbable and impressive is the Tom Waits-ish “Gypsea,� an ominous march whose throbbing bass, slow-and-steady beaten drums, and drawn-out bow strokes engage in a merciless procession, toward a sluggish guitar-laden chorus of heavy notes, distortion, and tinny vocals.

The key to appreciating the 1090 Club’s nuanced music, like nature’s subtleties, is surrendering all expectations and preconceptions, allowing the subject to expose its exquisite ripples of beauty. You’ll say, “So what if 1090 Club’s S.O.S. is a best-of Montana? It’s competing against rocks, rivers, and trees!� I say, “Have you experienced Montana’s landscape firsthand?�

- Geekburger.com


"1090 CLUB "Shipwrecked On Shores" (Side Cho)"

The quad group 1090 Club, hails from the small burg of Billings, Montana and has quite an interesting set up. They have three guys and one girl that make up the band, all of which play their own unique instrument. Their sound takes shape with the help of guitars, drums, violins and pianos. This helps them start off with a fresh beginning and opens up different windows and doors that might not be there for standard structured bands. Being represented Side Cho records, and having shared the stage with some pretty amazing bands, they are on their way to the top.

The jump into the album makes waves with, "Hello" which shows their anxiousness by starting directly with sparks and energy. Their vocals carry well together as free falling lines of pianos and violins help to structure the light hearted guitars and pounding drums. Like many groups with girls, they help with the over all tone of certain songs and melodies. A daring and bright example of a burlesque show piano expresses its raw power in "Second Hander." Synth indulged pianos criss cross with the original as shouts of passion are spoken in anthem form for the crowd. Guitars seem to take a second seat to the wily drums and pianos. Sharp witted lyrics are fed with compositional vocal styling as the percussion marches on with the ever ready beat. "...It Starts With" is begun with calm hymns of voice from multiple angles, each with their own different touches. Drums tap on with violin iridescence as crashes of instruments collide with their progression to manifest a single band of energetic indie sugar-sweet treat. Down trodden beats shout out with angry vocals for the building of the stormy "Gypsea." This digging element is tapped into heavily for this song as soft undertones of bells and soft acoustics give way for thunderous collapses of guitars and drums. "Sunk" involves a cautious piano and wavy vocals into its functions. As the intro of the song gives way, the former outlook is dashed and made way for a Yellowcard like catchy melodies, with firm riffs and subtle aggressiveness.

A hymnal is over lapped with a trendy beat that is blended with coats of delicate indie rock for "Some Equals One." Calling guitars commiserate with the sonic beat and create a picture frame for the lyrics to do their talking and to show off their stuff. This seems to be the most innocent of the songs, with its carefree attitude and simplistic shell. "Hooray" continues with the linked singing that create a whole spectrum of vocals that provide the filler to the pie of the song that is surrounded by infectious beats and over looked instruments. Violins chirp and slide with grace and flare as this enjoyable song takes flight into the warmth of the rising sun. The main riff of "Little Known Fact" stays at the forefront of this song, even as it slides to the back of beat. This short song is refreshing and also makes me wish it was a full song so we can hear where the progression would take it. As it finishes just as quickly as it sprout out from the stereo. Shouts lead "Business End" with fast racing choruses and slow paced middles that build constantly with violin cries and commendable guitar work. Hasty vocals cheapen the song in certain spots, but the overall presence of their strong words, withstand all the tests. "Cheers to Us" finishes off strong with a old fashioned violin tune that sets the late night mood that adds comfort to everyone’s mind. Subdued vocals engage and set you into a sleeping mode at the same time. They are able to put a spin on the final song, as most bands try to end with a bang, 1090 Club ends with a quite beautiful slumber.

This selection of dreamer indie rock takes strong roots in some pretty influential shadows, but this doesn’t cheapen their music one bit. As they offer their caressing implementation of a kind touch to your ears, you are able to appreciate that someone was able to unearth them and give them a shot for greatness. With their fresh start, their creative step has been taken in this album and like most bands they have many steps left. Their soon will come the produced step, which consists of them being introduced to what their style can be molded into with a bigger production budget. I am always interested in seeing what next sound a great indie band can make with their talents. 1090 Club needs not fear a sunken ship, because they are flying in the right direction.

~ Pernell Fowler
November 08 2006
- Skyline Press


"1090 CLUB "Shipwrecked On Shores" (Side Cho)"

Montana-based quartet 1090 Club's eclectic grab bag of indie rock yields an exquisite listen. Thanks to their multi-vocal (male and female) strategy and captivating instrumentation including full-time violin and piano, the unorthodox style demonstrated on this disc reveals a clever change of pace. SHIPWRECKED ON SHORE's wide array of off-kilter harmonies that range from sullen to wistful ("Sunk", "Some Equals One", "Business End") and poppy yet intricate arrangements found on cuts like "Second Hander" and the perfect closer "Cheers to Us" capable of jarring your senses. Doing it mostly sans bass guitar and a solid yet unemphasized level of guitars, 1090 Club's vast soundscape and compact arrangements allow this band to stand out as something special above the average indie rock example. If you dig Modest Mouse, Talking Heads, and The Cure, there's something here for you.
www.sidecho.com
- Mike SOS - 3:16 Productions


"1090 CLUB "Shipwrecked On Shores" (Side Cho)"

CD released on September 19th, 2006 by Side Cho.
When I was a wee lad I was asked if I would like to accompany my best friend (at the time) and his family to their camp for a few days; I gladly accepted. The drive out there was long, the boat ride to the remote island was longer but exciting, we traveled via a mid-sized fishing boat. Upon arrival to this beautiful little island I was overwhelmed with the fun in store for me and my bud, rope swings into the water, pellet guns, cabins upon cabins to goof around in, bush to hide in and anything else we could imagine.

We ate a lot of delicious Kraft Dinner, we rope climbed, swung on another rope into the water below, jumped off the top of the fishing boat, shot my first gun, wrote my first letter in a bottle sealed with wax (which we subsequently shot 30 minutes later thinking it was a floating piece of wood), learnt my first lesson guns are danger (by taking a repelling pellet right above my right eye almost blinding me).

We had canoed to a near by island and peaked into the empty cabin freaking out when we saw a bear approach, went fishing, explored all the rock islands and all life on them, hell, we even snuck into my friends uncles cabin where I witnessed my first porno magazine and my next 17 or so to follow (which my friends parents knew about and had told my mother who made fun of me recently).

The getaway was one hell of a time, it was so many things at once, and almost too much to handle, but so very fun regardless. Upon packing up we had to hurry as a storm was brewing, but unfortunately we were not fast enough. The rain poured down, thunder cracked, lightning lit the sky and the waves sure came a crashing. They pounded upon our fishing boat with great force, the hour and a half boat ride back seemed to take an eternity, and us kids were thrown below the boat to shelter as we rocked viciously with each solid impact from the wave’s gang beating us.

We were scared, very scared but in the end we stuck it out and made it home safe, no need for S.O.S, our ship stayed afloat.
- Truthexplosion.com


Discography

1090club/thebrotheregg "split" cd (Bingo Lady Records)
1090club/The Front "split" 7" (Bingo Lady Records)
1090club/Forecast "split" cd (Thinker Thought Records)
1090 Club "Shipwrecked on Shores" cd (Sidecho Records)
Compilations:
"Home On the Range" vol 1 (Bingo Lady Records)
"Home on the Range" vol 2 (Bingo Lady Records)
"If It Plays" (Thinker Thought Records)
"Concert for a Cause" (CFAC Records)

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

With the nearest major metropolitan area ten hours away in any direction, Billings, Montana may not seem to be the most ideal or likely hometown for a respected up-and-coming indie rock act like the 1090 Club. Wedged between the Northwest’s Seattle and Portland scenes, and Midwest music meccas of Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio, Billings is an oft-forgotten location, which has been left to create and support its own musical community.

But the members of the 1090 Club are hoping they can faithfully represent the Treasure State that’s been crucial to their success as a band outside its own borders. After all, being a big fish in a small pond (and one of the state’s only signed rock bands) does have its advantages — something guitarist Sean Lynch learned, when he opted to move back to his hometown to open a café after living several years in Portland.

Upon his return to Billings, Lynch became an instrumental figure in the local music scene, actively promoting shows in the area and opening a recording studio. “Coming back to Billings was one of those things where I felt like I could add something back to a community that probably needed something,” he says. In 2002, Lynch also released two compilations of local Montana bands and included a contribution from his yet-finalized project on the disc with collaborator Mike Galt, which was dubbed The 1090 Club.

The band began to take form over the next year, with the addition of drummer Steve Serfazo and later, violinist Megan Dibble. But the major turning point came not with an addition, but the omission of a member — namely the band’s bassist.

“Before we were writing poppier songs, more shoegazer indie pop stuff,” says Lynch. “But we all started to sing and when that happened, the feel of the music started to change as well. It was a huge decision for us to decide that we weren’t going to play with a bass player, but we played a show without one and thought, ‘Wow, this is it right here.’”

Able to carry on without a bassist, the band began re-tooling its compositions to include vocals from all members and found ways to compensate on the lower register. “It took a few months to actually get used to playing without a bassist,” says Lynch, “and now there’s no looking back.”

With influences from bands like The Decemberists Death Cab For Cutie and Stars, the 1090 Club quickly began performing locally and regionally with a host of artists including Minus the Bear, The Gossip, Neva Dinova, Orenda Fink, Even In Blackouts and The Jealous Sound.

The band also launched its recording career via a series of split recordings with an eclectic mix of artists, including The Brother Egg (Lynch’s former band), The Forecast and The Front. Chalk it up to the “one scene fits all” attitude of its locale. “The scenes are all the same up here,” says Lynch. “There’s just an independent music scene. It’s not like, here’s the indie kids, here’s the ‘whatever’ kids. It’s just, here’s the music scene.”

Still working in the concert promotions business, Lynch became aware of SideCho after booking one of the label’s acts, Neva Dinova, at a local club. On a whim, he sent the label a demo and kept the label informed of the band’s progress. Next thing he knew, label owner James Cho was interested.

“James was very similar to us in the way we think,” says Lynch. “For him to call us and say he liked our demo, that was the best part to us. We went with our gut feeling on it and the label has a lot to offer.”

The 1090 Club immediately began work on its debut full-length, sporadically recording in Lynch’s studio throughout the entire year of 2005.

When it came to mix the album, the band had two excellent options of which to choose — so they selected both. Six tracks were mixed with veteran engineer Steve Fisk (Nirvana) on an extremely tight budget. “Because he liked the record, Steve did it for quite honestly, virtually nothing,” says Lynch. And three other tracks were mixed by Alex Newport (The Mars Volta), also on a “virtually nothing” deal.

The act christened the album Shipwrecked On Shores — a fitting title if you ask Lynch. “Billings, Montana is like being shipwrecked on shores. We’re out in the middle of nowhere. Still trying to get off this island, this isolated scene.” Shipwrecked On Shores fires off with “Hello,” of which Lynch says was written with an air of optimism about a big turning point in his life. Other key tracks include “Gypsea” of which Galt says, “I’ve got loads of stuff to pick through so I pieced together lines. I started to laugh about how tough it is at times to write a song, so that’s what the first lines are about — making sure everything’s all right, making sure everything’s supposed to be where they’re at.” “It Starts With” is a full-on collaborative affair between Lynch and Galt. “That’s a good song for us becaus