AutoVaughn

AutoVaughn is the cream-in-the-coffee, the gem-in-the-donut of indie rock. - Hostage Radio

AutoVaughn plays indie rock with a little more shimmer than the bands we’re used to -
slightly smoother vocals and a vague '80s glow that makes them quite the guilty pleasure. - Out The Other

AutoVaughn - Music City's "most likely to succeed" according to many of the clubs and
agents lurking around the saturated wasteland of dime-a-dozen has-beens and never-will-
be’s. These guys should prove to be one of the very few success stories coming out of
Nashville with that signature indie rock sound and the talent to pull it off long-term.
- Maroon and White Magazine

What? This band isn’t signed yet? Radio-ready, polished, charismatic, mesmerizing, the total package. If you like Snow Patrol, Coldplay or Puddle of Mud, you’ll love this band. - On Tap Magazine

Watch out for these Nashville kids! - Denver Post

AutoVaughn Delivers a Stunning Performance, and Raises the Bar for Nashville's Alternative Rock Scene

On Friday night, February 15, to say that AutoVaughn "rocked" merely scratches the surface in describing the high level of energetic, guitar-driven, alternative rock delivered by this talented quartet. To be sure, AutoVaughn's Exit/In performance promises to be one of the best in Nashville for 2008. Indeed, what began as a quirky white-shoes wearing clean-cut indie pop quartet back in 2004 has evolved into a gritty (Brit-sounding) heavy-hitting alternative rock band that has risen to the top of the Nashville heap of possible break-out bands.

Those of us who were teenagers during the mid 1980's will recognize AutoVaughn's influences, as they weave together some of the best of 80's era alternative rock, and make it their own with driving guitars and dynamic vocals. Indeed, Darren Edwards' powerful vocals recall the fist-pumping energy of The Alarm's "68 Guns," while his instinct for melody draws from the irresistible hooks of Corey Hart ("Sunglasses at Night"). Add the political awareness of early Bono and the punk edge of Billie Joe Armstrong and you've got Darren Edwards— the vocal force of AutoVaughn (see photo).

Guitarist Stephen Wilson is a shredder, and he's taken The Edge's technique and penchant for effects-laden riffs, and turned it up a few notches. Indeed, any guitarist who wraps duct tape around the upper horn of his Strat must be a bad-ass—oh yeah, he is. Wilson's playing is what you might get if The Edge attended a Van Halen rock 'n' roll camp for a week (see photo). His pick speed on the set-ending, ten-minute version of "Hell of a Place" put the audience in a frenzy. Stephen Wilson is my new favorite Nashville guitarist—the man is intense.

But it's not just Edwards and Wilson. Each member of AutoVaughn contributes to the glorious whole. Bassist Benjamin Blake (see photo) and drummer Andrew Grooms are a tight, heavy-hitting rhythm section. As a whole, this talented quartet is raising the bar for Nashville's indie alternative rock scene. There are easily a couple hundred outstanding acts in Nashville alone, many of whom I've seen live and reviewed on this site. But AutoVaughn's live show sets them apart from the crowd. If you missed the Exit/In show, the good news is that AutoVaughn's anxiously awaited EP will drop in about 30 days, followed by a slew of concert dates. If you have not seen AutoVaughn live, do not miss your chance in the next few months as they tour in support of the new EP. I'm betting AutoVaughn will become your new favorite band - Vincent Wynne

AutoVaughn posess some very English-sounding chirpy pop harmonies that would go down perfectly at next year's festivals. They come across like Editors with a little less of Ian Curtis' Salford groan and a bit more Southern grit, or The Killers if they hadn't disappeared up Bruce Springsteen's arse. It's a fair bet that this gang will be flown over to their spiritual home here in the UK to win you over next year. - NME Magazine

Named one of the top 5 bands to watch for 2008. - Nylon Magazine

The Cycles is easily one of those mini-albums you'll listen to from start to finish (Yes, with the "repeat all" function on.) ... I wager there will be few still bodies at AutoVaughn concerts during these numbers!
... AutoVaughn has solidified their characteristic sound (e.g. winding and ethereal guitar riffs and echoes, karaoke-worthy vocal lines, and well-tailored—Haydnesque even—thematic design). - Michael Vine - NowPublic.com

Every song flows seamlessly to the next, from the throbbing entrance of “Intertia” to politically- and ethically-conscious songs like “Missing Something” (seems to be about the misfortunes of war) and “Our Confidence” (a proclamation of falling confidence in the way we live). All six songs on the EP are tightly written, blending a pulsating bassline with complimentary drums and fiery guitar. These four dudes, originally from parts of Ohio and Indiana, are going to be huge – and you read it here first. - Colleen Griffiths