Car Party

Charming and infectious, Car Party’s latest EP High and Low Places stands on its own as a great introduction to a band you may not know quite yet. With a guest spot from Ace Enders gracing the opening and most catchy track “Please Me, we guarantee they won’t go unnoticed much longer. Through four short tracks, Car Party manages to set the stage that has been all but worn out by their contemporaries. Usual lyrical fodder for this bob your head style fuels the four tracks. “Forever Family” adds some sass and passion to the EP with more bouncy melodies and a crowd sing along. “Dear Son” invokes the old days The Academy Is…with vocalist Michael Natzke slightly channeling William Beckett. Predictably, Car Party ends the EP with a more soft soaring tune, “Anniversary”. The closer is the most heart shown on the EP and even rivals the allure of the first track, but in a completely different way. TheBaltimore natives have been drawing comparisons to the likes of Go Radio and The Early November, bands that have been known for breaking the mold of pop rock just enough to stand out in a genre more ubiquitous than any other these days. Car Party has the chops to join the ranks of the bands they have been likened to but it would be hard for anyone to foretell the future too far in advance just based off this EP, though it’s a promising release to keep your eye on.



Review by Jameson Ketchum - Substream Music Press

For lack of a better description, Car Party sound a lot like an early 2000’s era alterative rock band. Gruff vocals, fuzzy guitar tones, and captivating hooks propel High & Low Places. Produced by the beloved Ace Enders, this sophomore EP couldn’t have been placed in better hands, allowing Car Party to be heard in the best fashion possible.

The opening “Please Me” is a light-tempoed, mellow cut that could easily be played on modern pop-rock radio. “Forever Family” picks up the pace a bit – courtesy of Jim Luparello’s guitar work – having a bit more of an “emo” sound to it due to the up-tempo vocal delivery. It’s pop, not rock that makes “Forever Family” stuck in your head. On the other hand, distorted guitars drive the raw “Dear Son,” paced by the controlled drumming of Taylor Hughes as Natzke delivers a superb vocal performance, channeling Patrick Stump at times. Simply put, the final “Anniversary” is a poignant finale. Soft guitar plucks and acquiescent drum taps resonate over the absolutely stunning vocal delivery as High & Low Places ends on the highest note possible.

As one of the biggest – and best – surprises of the year, Car Party will remain on my radar come 2012, as it’s clear big things are to come for the group. Channeling various styles ranging from 90s rock to early 2000s emo, not unlike The Swellers or Hot Rod Circuit, Car Party aren’t about to let genre ties hold them back. High & Low Places may just be the starting road for the band, but it cements the fact that the future looks bright ahead, with their brimming potential and talent paving the way. - AbsolutePunk.net

please click the link below to find the press clipping - Alternative Press

Hi, MD friends, I’m Taylor Hughes, and I play drums in the band Car Party. I’ve been drumming for the past five years, but my musical experience goes back sixteen years. I’ve always loved music and always wanted to play the drums.

When I was five years old I asked for my first drumkit. Instead, for my sixth birthday my parents gave me a Fender Stratocaster. (What parents really want their six-year-old making that much noise?) A few years later I started playing piano, and when I was in the fourth grade I joined the orchestra and focused primarily on the violin. When I got to high school I switched to bass and cello. When I was sixteen, I finally got my first drumset, a Pulse Percussion kit from Musicians Friend.

As a graduation gift my parents got me a Pearl Masters kit, and after a few years of playing drums, guitar, and orchestral instruments, it felt so different to me playing drums—freeing in a way. It felt right. So I put all of my focus on drums and looking for potential bandmates. A few years later I received an endorsement from Chicago Custom Percussion. They are an absolutely amazing company, and I’m very happy to be working with them. I’ve been touring exclusively with my CCP kit since 2010.CCP drums

Over the years I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from numerous bands and drummers, but my biggest influences are Radiohead, Silversun Pickups, and Death Cab for Cutie. Music has always been in a big part of my life, and in 2009 I founded Car Party. It’s been such a great experience, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Thank you for reading!

For more on Taylor Hughes and Car Party, go to http://carpartyband.com/fr_home.cfm. - ModernDrummer.com

Car Party has been featured on SubstreamMusicPress.com, ModernDrummer.com, AbsolutePunk.net and many more please view www.carpartyband.com/press for complete press coverage. - www.carpartyband.com/press

Car Party was listed in Upcoming Releases alongside of Arcade Fire, Cobra Starship and Fountains of Wayne

(August 2011 issue) - Alternative Press

see photo of magazine in link - AMP Magazine

If you’re no stranger to this website, then you should already know of our love in Car Party. Their last EP, Excuses, was a grand wonder and achievement from all angles.
Though “Love Online” had been our favorite track for quite some time now, “Please Me” may just have what it takes to grab that number one spot. For those of you unfamiliar
with Car Party, this four piece from Baltimore play an alternative rock blended with some subtle electronics to add extra substance to the atmosphere. Constantly impressive
and beautiful sounding, their music will quickly find a place in your heart and play list for months to come. Hell, we’ve been stuck on “Love Online” for over a year now
However, as anyone would probably agree, you can’t always hang in the past without observing the future. Luckily for fans abroad, Car Party’s future is ever bright. “Please
Me”, which features Ace Enders (known best from The Early November), is a very easy going love song of sorts that is crafted brilliantly. It swims as it plays, flowing in and
out of your ears and tickling your senses. Car Party have, to no surprise, done it yet again. If this is a look into the band’s next album, then definitely count us in (even though
we were already aboard long before this single). “Please Me” is soothing, catchy, and memorable; don’t pass this one up (or the band for that matter). - Lexington Music Press

Almost in homage to the 'emo' era of music, Baltimore, MD natives, Car Party blend pop and alternative rock beats over driving guitar chords producing a dark and sharp sound. They are reminiscent of many indie bands of the 90’s and it works for them. They bring back a sound not often heard in today’s music scene and the result is “Excuses”, a four song EP that is full of declarations of emotion, longing, and desire.

The opening track, “Someone Like Me” contains a driving beat and desperate crooning vocals. Lead singer, Michael Natzke, pours his heart out, filling each lyric with brutal, honest emotion. As his voice swells singing, “If you want me to, I’ll lie through my teeth", the listener feels his desperation and longing.

Keeping with the energetic and frenzied sound of the first track, songs like “Love Online” and “Pittsburgh” use accentuated percussion and haunting beats to further paint the portrait of a broken heart and troubled soul. With lyrics like, “Four weeks since you left my bed, I know that I am inside your head, Oh but it’s not enough” and “But I can still see you, an icon of my delight”, the track “Love Online” is riddled with intense emotion.

“Excuses” is an album that allows the listener feels what this band is feeling, every emotion and every crushed hope. It’s an intensely driving and chaotic blend of honesty. - Alright, I'm Wrong

Almost in homage to the 'emo' era of music, Baltimore, MD natives, Car Party blend pop and alternative rock beats over driving guitar chords producing a dark and sharp sound. They are reminiscent of many indie bands of the 90’s and it works for them. They bring back a sound not often heard in today’s music scene and the result is “Excuses”, a four song EP that is full of declarations of emotion, longing, and desire.

The opening track, “Someone Like Me” contains a driving beat and desperate crooning vocals. Lead singer, Michael Natzke, pours his heart out, filling each lyric with brutal, honest emotion. As his voice swells singing, “If you want me to, I’ll lie through my teeth", the listener feels his desperation and longing.

Keeping with the energetic and frenzied sound of the first track, songs like “Love Online” and “Pittsburgh” use accentuated percussion and haunting beats to further paint the portrait of a broken heart and troubled soul. With lyrics like, “Four weeks since you left my bed, I know that I am inside your head, Oh but it’s not enough” and “But I can still see you, an icon of my delight”, the track “Love Online” is riddled with intense emotion.

“Excuses” is an album that allows the listener feels what this band is feeling, every emotion and every crushed hope. It’s an intensely driving and chaotic blend of honesty. - Alright, I'm Wrong

Car Party, a brand new Baltimore band, threw out their first work, “Excuses,” in the fall of 2010. Influenced by bands such as “Hot Hot Heat,” and “The Academy is,” their freshman release carries four songs that sound so unique, but similar to the sound you’ve always wanted more of. And who better than Car Party to give it to you? Perfect example, we’ve all heard countless bands whine about “significant others.” But like pros already, Car Party’s catchy line, “The promises you make to break are getting old, and I can't take, another day with hazel eyes, lying to my face,” offers a metaphor that we all can appreciate. With just 11 short months under their belt, the band’s first single, “Someone Like Me,” already has local radio play. With another EP and single on the way, things are only looking up for Car Party in the future. Having strong vocals, catchy riffs, and steady beats throughout, (especially found in “Debra”), it’s safe to say the quartette definitely put together something worth grabbing. Be sure to catch their show on their next tour, and look for their sophomore effort around next spring. - Shockwave Magazine

Baltimore’s Car Party have a lot going for them, mainly due to the fact that they’re playing a sorely missed genre. In an age of shitty music left and right, these guys are playing a mix of pop and alternative rock that would have done wonders during the 90's. As a result, Car Party would be a perfect band to put on tour with Third Eye Blind, American Hi-Fi, or even Coldplay. Their debut, Excuses, is composed of four brilliant tracks. Their most popular single, “Someone Like Me”, has a vocal croon to it that plays over a simple, sexy beat; “Debra” is polished by a chorus that soars without taking away focus from the rest of the track; “Love Online” is as addictive and catchy as they come; and “Pittsburgh” has a naturally bouncy vibe to its verses, that then lead into a heartfelt chorus. As a whole, this is an extremely well executed EP that offers up a lot. While it’s true it’ll probably appeal to ages over twenty (that grew up during the 80's and 90's), there’s a lot here that scene bands are attempting and failing. Not Car Party, however. Excuses is quite genius. (NL) - Lexington Music Press