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Press
Singer/Songwriter Kenny Fleetwood and bassist Alex Parker moved from small-town Riverton, WY (population 10,000) to Missoula last summer with an un-mastered demo and an idea for a band. Shortly upon arriving the two teamed up with guitarist Dennis Webber and drummer Kevin Froines, both formerly of Simple as it Seems and Four Reasons Why. The result of this sudden arrangement is AutomaticBoy's debut full-length, Airstrips Attract Airplanes, a quintessential DIY effort that follows in the footsteps of emo rock acts like Brand New and The Early November. The albums tempo runs the gamut from nearly manic on the aptly named "Ready to Go" to the slow and mellow musings of "Best Excuse." It bogs down a little in the latter, but Airstrips Attract Airplanes takes off when the band stays upbeat, such as on the catchy "Communists" and "Only the Best," which starts with a casual guitar riff before exploding into a vocal barrage from Fleetwood, who sounds like a dead-ringer for Say Anything's Max Bemis. Airstrips Attract Airplanes is a promising debut, and if AutomaticBoy continues with more of the rock and less of the placid emo, the band may attract a loyal local audience. (James Laber) - The Independent, Missoula, MT
Singer/Songwriter Kenny Fleetwood and bassist Alex Parker moved from small-town Riverton, WY (population 10,000) to Missoula last summer with an un-mastered demo and an idea for a band. Shortly upon arriving the two teamed up with guitarist Dennis Webber and drummer Kevin Froines, both formerly of Simple as it Seems and Four Reasons Why. The result of this sudden arrangement is AutomaticBoy's debut full-length, Airstrips Attract Airplanes, a quintessential DIY effort that follows in the footsteps of emo rock acts like Brand New and The Early November. The albums tempo runs the gamut from nearly manic on the aptly named "Ready to Go" to the slow and mellow musings of "Best Excuse." It bogs down a little in the latter, but Airstrips Attract Airplanes takes off when the band stays upbeat, such as on the catchy "Communists" and "Only the Best," which starts with a casual guitar riff before exploding into a vocal barrage from Fleetwood, who sounds like a dead-ringer for Say Anything's Max Bemis. Airstrips Attract Airplanes is a promising debut, and if AutomaticBoy continues with more of the rock and less of the placid emo, the band may attract a loyal local audience. (James Laber) - The Independent, Missoula, MT
Discography
"Airstrips Attract Airplanes" - 2007 (BMI)
Single - "Hollywood"
Photos
Bio
Singer/Songwriter Kenny Fleetwood and bassist Alex Parker moved from small-town Riverton, WY (population 10,000) to Missoula, MT in the summer of 2007 with an unmastered full length album, very little cash, and a dream. Shortly upon arriving the two teamed up with guitarist Dennis Webber and drummer Kevin Froines, both formerly of Simple as it Seems and Four Reasons Why (two long-time favorite local acts that had since parted ways). After completing the lineup and arranging what has come to be known as an almost manic live show, the band set out to take the Montana music scene by storm.
With the release of Airstrips Attract Airplanes -- a DIY effort that follows in the footsteps of emo rock acts like Brand New and The Early November -- Automatic Boy quickly joined the ranks of Missoula's most demanded local acts. With nothing holding them back except winter weather and high gas prices, Automatic Boy plan to tour for the rest of their natural lives.
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