Chasing Arrows

By Joseph Fitzpatrick, Contributing Writer
Published On February 6, 2008 in Volume 39, Issue 14

For most musicians, the debut of their first CD is a moment they will never forget.

Hosted by McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon in Hampton, Va., the official release of Chasing Arrows’s debut album, “Transparent,” to the general public marked a monumental moment in the lives of these five young men.

Chasing Arrows is composed of Graham Todd (vocals), Nate Fender (lead guitar), Walter Pierce (guitar/keys), Joe Hamm (drums), and Damien Wade (bass).

With this turning point in their careers, the guys of Chasing Arrows are leaving the memory of Atlas, their former band, in the past.

The first track, “Intro,” is an all-instrumental piece that serves as a precursor to the energy that is to come on the record.

Hamm starts out with a heart-pounding drum solo and is followed by an intense guitar riff by Fender and a breathtaking piano score by Pierce. Wade then fills in the gaps with his bass to round the song out.

The second track “Stranger than Danger,” starts off with the energy that was built up in “Intro,” shifts to a mellow verse, rebuilds to the energy and repeats. This back and forth of lows and highs is a good example of how versatile Chasing Arrows are as musicians and how dynamic this record is.

The third track, “Transparent,” which is the title track off the record, has such an infectious chorus it is difficult to keep from singing along. The band members harmonize so well that it makes you entranced in the song.

Both the fourth and fifth tracks, “My Addiction” and “Unaware” are very piano-driven songs with great vocals to complement them.

The sixth track, “Down and Out” is the “rock out song” of the record. In traditional Chasing Arrows style, it combines all genres of music, especially rock, metal, funk and soul. The band lets out all their aggressions in this song, which I am sure all audiences will enjoy.

The band closes the record with the seventh track, “Look Ahead,” which is about new beginnings. It is a very emotional song as evidenced by Todd’s vocals. The transition to reggae style guitar fits perfectly with the mood of the song and Fender’s solo serves as a celebratory note to this stage in the band’s career.

As the band continues to jam on the last song, the CD fades away into silence. However, this CD is evidence that Chasing Arrows will be around for a while and they have loads of potential for greatness.

This album can be purchased on iTunes. - Captain's Log

CHASING ARROWS(formerly ATLAS) is hoping to spread the news worldwide since they have made a name for themselves up and down the East Coast. Now it’s their time to make the journey to the big scene with their latest offering “Transparent.” Their sound could be called a mixture of THE WALLFLOWERS meets MARS VOLTA meets COLDPLAY with its prime enhancement created by the elevation to another level.
CHASING ARROWS has a hit on their hands with the title track “Transparent” a song that is mindboggling in the way that Graham Todd makes anyone listening an instant CHASING ARROWS fan, by doing a phenomenal job on the vocals. The song is catchy and smooth yet the key to its success is the charisma set forth by Todd.
These boys have nailed down the ability to write great songs and you can hear that throughout “Transparent” CD.
I can’t express enough my belief that these guys are on a path to success. They have all the key personnel in place to make an impact on fans far and wide. While listening to the CD you may be lulled into thinking you have their sound burned into your memory. But they change the pace with the hard-edged tune “Down and Out.” The pace change though unexpected is and one thing is for sure, with just one listen to this CD it should be staying in your player for sometime.
- RockEyez Webzine

"Now, you really need to take notice [of Chasing Arrows]," says Daniel Settle, contributing writer for the Arts & Entertainment section of Christopher Newport University publication The Captain's Log. "MTV has been a staple in mainstream music for over twenty years, and when a local Hampton Roads college band is involved in a contest sponsored by MTV, you really need to take notice."

Chasing Arrows debut album, "Transparent" will officially be available to the public Thursday January 24, 2008, following their ALBUM RELEASE PARTY at McFaddens Restaurant and Saloon in Hampton. This up and coming band, and winner of the summer 2007 MtvU¨ "Best Music on Campus" competition, has performed up and down the east coast including an invitation to open for the Billboard Chart topping artists PLAIN WHITE T'S (best known for their hit "Hey There Delilah"), in Austell, Georgia. This song held a spot on Billboard's Hot 100 list for 22 weeks. CHASING ARROWS has also opened for such national acts as Uncle Kracker, Carbon Leaf and the Influence.

Hailing from Christopher Newport University, the original sound and unique rock-and-roll style of CHASING ARROWS has made the band a campus phenomenon, and a regionally recognized name. Graham Todd (lead vocals), CNU Senior Walter Pierce (guitar, keyboards, back-up vocals) and Nate Fender (guitar, keyboards, backup vocals) are the three original group members, known at the time as Atlas, and have been playing together for over two years. CNU Junior Joe Hamm (drums) came on board a year and a half ago and newest member, Damien Wade came in the fall to replace Cody Zimmerman as the bassist. Zimmerman will pursue his PhD in International Relations at Old Dominion University.

Chasing Arrows began recording at Power Plant Studios in October and worked through the month finalizing their CD. Rodney Mills Masterhouse in Atlanta put the final additions on the CD, and gave it a real professional sound. Rodney Mills Masterhouse has also worked with Stone Temple Pilots, Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Journey, REM, Lil John and the Eastside Boys, Patsy Cline and others.

The members are very pleased with the outcome of their CD in its entirety, and are especially proud of their single "Transparent" (Track 3) which is also the name of their CD. "My addiction" (Track 4) is one of the first songs ever written by the band in 2005, and consistently one of their most popular.

Stranger Than Danger (Track 2), was written in early 2007 about George W. Bush. Singer Graham Todd wrote the lyrics of the song out of frustration, he was "tired of his lies [and] tired of his presidency." Down and Out (Track 6), is the newest song penned by Graham Todd, and is based on the expression "down and out drunk." "It is about drinking and hanging out with your boys," says Todd. The album consists of seven tracks, runs for a little less than half an hour.

Their music can be described a new sound within a genre defined by bands like Matchbox 20, Foo Fighters and Audioslave. CHASING ARROWS has performed up and down the east coast, winning several competitions along the way. This includes winning The Battle of the Bands in New Jersey and the University Band Competition at Christopher Newport University.


Chasing Arrows will be having their album release party on January 24th, 2008 at McFaddens Restaurant & Saloon in Hampton. You can visit their website at www.chasingarrows.com to hear their single "Transparent." Their music will also be available online after the 24th of December 2007 on CDBaby.com. - Splash Magazine

There’s a special kind of satisfaction in recognizing the potential of a particular individual or group and seeing years later that it hasn’t gone to waste. Clearly past their days of playing covers around the Christopher Newport University campus, the members of Chasing Arrows have graduated (or dropped out) to become a proper rock ensemble, playing the kind of radio-friendly tunes that lack only a station to sufficiently broadcast them. Having already released a self-produced debut album, garnered some accolades from MTV-U (the college version) and even opened for national acts such as the Plain White T’s, you can witness the group’s further fruition at 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at Capital Ale House. $5. 780-ALES. - Style Weekly: Richmond's alternative for news, arts, culture and opinion.

"It's the type of stuff where if you turn the radio on and you're not a big music enthusiast, you're still going to enjoy it," drummer Joe Hamm said of their music. Link met the band at MacArthur Center before a gig at The NorVa in Norfolk.

THE NAME:
The band started as Atlas. They ditched the name about a year ago, but coming up with something new wasn't easy. "We compiled a list of like 200 names, and we just yelled at each other for two weeks over it," guitarist Nate Fender said.

Ultimately, they picked a name the old-fashioned way - paper, rock, scissors.

THE SOUND:
The band seasons each song with rock, jazz, blues and hip-hop, and each is filled with different musical textures. "As instrumentalists, we aren't just supporting the vocalist. We're providing interesting music behind it," Fender said.

THE ORIGINALS:
You won't get one theme with Chasing Arrows. "We can get really rocking, but we can also get pretty sensitive," Hamm said.

The guys show off their sensitive side on "Unaware." "I see you there with your eyes and your dark hair. In time I stare, hoping that you're unaware," Graham Todd sings in a shy tone. The single layer of piano keys with simple drum taps adds emotion to each verse.

THE SILLY SIDE:
Band member Damien Wade likes to play his bass with a drumstick. "One time I threw a drumstick at Joe and it hit him in the face," Wade said.

Hamm didn't go down without a fight. "I'm playing with one hand and stabbing him with the other," he said. "That stuff doesn't happen every show, but it's definitely a fresh show to watch. If you see our shows, you'll see we enjoy what we're doing."

Reach DeAnne M. Bradley at 222-3897 or deanne.bradley@link757.com. - The Virginia Pilot

By Joseph Fitzpatrick, Contributing Writer
Published On September 3, 2008 in Volume 40, Issue 1

As classes came to a close Friday afternoon, the weekend state-of-mind set in all over the CNU campus. Students had one thing in mind – party time.

While everyone was getting ready to go to their favorite party spots, the five members of Chasing Arrows were preparing to play a show for their home crowd at Schooners Bar and Grill.

Chasing Arrows, the soulful rock group most CNU students are familiar with, includes Lead Singer Graham Todd, Guitarist Nate Fender, Guitarist and Keyboardist Walter Pierce and Drummer Joe Hamm. All members of the assembly are graduates of CNU with the exception of Hamm, who will graduate in the fall of 2009. The band seeks to make this their full-time job and once Hamm finishes school, this will truly begin to take effect at a rapid pace.

Unfortunately, Schooners would only admit those 21 and older, with the payment of a $3.00 cover fee. Nevertheless, there was still a large audience. According to Fender, “We feel that Schooners has a wonderful location. It is unfortunate that more of the campus can’t enjoy the excitement at shows there as a result of the age restrictions.” When asked about changes Schooners could make to change this policy, he responded, “We would like to see more of a cooperative effort between Schooners and CNU made in the future to cater to students of all ages.”

Their three 45-minute sets included originals such as “Stranger than Danger” and “Unaware,” as well as a slew of crowd pleasing cover songs, such as “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis, “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest, “My Hero” by Foo Fighters and “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley.

This past summer, Chasing Arrows has been busy playing lots of gigs at places all over Virginia, including Chichos, the NorVa and the Sandbar. They also were interviewed by HRmusic.tv and a webcast of that interview can be found online. They also were featured in an article in the Virginian Pilot. In addition, they have built a home studio in Kiln Creek where they will be recording their new demo.

Currently, the band is in negotiations with a booking agent that will guarantee many more shows in North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. In addition, several management firms have approached them but the band is still looking for one that has their best interests at heart.

The CD sales for their debut album, “Transparent,” are going great according to Hamm, and the album itself is available on iTunes for $6.93. The band’s most-downloaded tracks include “Down and Out,” “My Addiction,” and the title track, “Transparent,” all of which they played during their three-part show.

As the smoke filled the room and the beers kept being poured, the band played on, keeping the energy upbeat and exciting with every note. Chasing Arrows always comes out with the same amount of energy no matter where they are playing, be it a small bar, on a college campus, or in a concert arena.

With the increased amount of bar shows the band is playing, some may wonder if they are moving away from their younger audiences and the CNU community. Hamm responds emphatically, however, that this is not the case. “We love our young audience,” explains the Chasing Arrows drummer, “and we want to play music that everyone can enjoy.” To stay connected to their young fans, Chasing Arrows are still interested in playing shows on campus.

They have been talking with the Residence Hall Association to try to put together a benefit show, the cause of which is still undecided, and they are also talking with the Campus Activities Board to open for the big band that will be coming next semester.

With their eyes on the prize, Chasing Arrows’s long-term goals include to play shows consistently and to get radio play. They have had some exposure on online radio and XM satellite radio, as well as the local alternative rock station 96X WROX, which can be found on 96.1 FM.

Their next show will be Sept. 27 at the Ashburn Village Pavilion in Ashburn, Va. For more information on upcoming shows, the progress of their new demo, or when you will be able to get their new t-shirt, stay tuned to http://www.myspace.com/chasingarrowsmusic. - The Captain's Log

By Debra Russell, Contributing Writer
Published On October 29, 2008 in Volume 40, Issue 8
In a cramped room to the side of the house sit guitars, a drum set, keyboards, amps and half-stacks, while littering the floor are coils of cords, making the carpet barely visible. In this room, Newport News’ Chasing Arrows do what they love to do—make music.

Not only do the members of the band love their music, but proven by their popularity campus, city, state and now nation-wide, fans love it too.

This year, Chasing Arrows has been nominated for mtvU’S Woodie Award, which pits campus bands across the nation against each other. Chasing Arrows beat out thousands of bands to make it not only to the Top 25, but now the Top 5 in the country.

Online fan votes, as well as a panel of MTV judges, rank the bands in this competition. Thanks to fans on campus, Chasing Arrows has reached the Top 5. “I’m very grateful to all the people who have been voting for us,” said lead singer and CNU Alumnus Graham Todd.

Chasing Arrows was formed in the fall of 2005. Lead guitarist Nate Fender met lead singer Graham Todd during CNU’s CAB Open Mic Night, and have been playing together since. Through a mutual friend, Fender met keyboard and guitarist Walter Pierce.

Drummer Joe Hamm met the band during his freshman year at York Fest while playing with his punk band. “I ended up jamming with them, and I still am,” said Hamm. Bassist Damien Wade of Virginia Beach met the band at another show and eventually joined.

Chasing Arrows is no stranger to competition, however, beating out several bands last year to win the title, “Best Music on Campus” in the South Eastern United States region by MTV. They won the chance to open for the Plain White T’s at Six Flags in Austell, Ga., and did so despite the hindrances along the way.

“It was 116 degrees and there was an advisory for people not to leave their homes, but we left, drove to Atlanta. Walter’s car broke down the night before, and we ended up getting there around 1 a.m., sleeping seven in a two person hotel room,” said Fender. The concert, however, was a huge success and accomplishment for the band.

“The night before, we burned 500 demos and came home with none. People were clawing at me to get them, it was overwhelming. We were really happy that our music was well received because the Plain White T’s are a very different genre from us,” said Hamm.

Opening for the band really boosted the popularity of Chasing Arrows. “My 7th graders love the band and always ask if we really opened up for them. It definitely legitimized us as a band and put CNU on the map,” said Pierce, who is a CNU graduate student and middle school math teacher.

With each member of the band involved in the writing process, they agree that they are inspired so much that they cannot narrow their influences down to one band or genre. “Each of us has pretty diverse musical influences, so we don’t sound like a lot of bands out there,” said Hamm.

Clearly, the diversity of the band’s influences has greatly affected their success and leaves their fans wanting more. “We really want to emphasize how grateful we are to the fans, and the campus-wide support. They have come up with creative ways to vote, they tell their friends and people they meet to vote, and we really appreciate it,” said Fender.

As for the future of Chasing Arrows, the band mates plan on making it their full time job by next summer. “Chasing Arrows is going to pay the bills,” said Pierce. Busying themselves with writing new songs, the band will be playing Friday, Dec. 5 at Schooners Bar and Grill, 21 and up, debuting their recent work.

You can also check out their YouTube page for new songs and videos at http://www.youtube.com/chasingarrows. Voting for the mtvU Woodie Award has been extended to Nov. 5, and you can vote at http://www.bestmusiconcampus.com. The winner of the competition wins prizes such as a paid trip to New York, the opportunity to write the theme song for a new MTV show, as well as $5,000 to jumpstart their career.

“We make music primarily for ourselves, but you want to make music for the world and spread it,” said Hamm. “Thanks to MTV, they’ve made it possible. The more people vote, the more we can play music.” - Captain's Log

By Brittany Franklin, A&E Writer

Issue Date:Friday February 29, 2008 Section: Arts & Entertainment Section

For a band to create a unique sound, it must draw from diverse influences. That was the goal of Chasing Arrows, a band that has drawn inspiration from Dave Matthews to Miles Davis.

On its MySpace profile, the band states that its “intricate yet aggressive instrumental parts complement strong vocal melodies to create a fresh sound of rock ’n’ roll we’ve been missing in mainstream music. Chasing Arrows is that complete sound.”

Upon visiting its MySpace page, the viewer is greeted by the song “Unaware,” with a keyboard introduction that sounds like the opening of an Augustana track, only better. The vocals are stronger, weaving into the instrumentals to create a perfect balance.

The band is comprised of five members who met while in college at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.

Formerly named Atlas, the band has been around since 2005 and originated with three members, Graham Todd (lead vocals), Walter Pierce (guitar, keyboard, back-up vocals) and Nate Fender (guitar, keyboard, back-up vocals).

Since then, the band has undergone a few changes. Aside from the name, the group has changed its lineup as well, bringing in drummer Joe Hamm last year and bassist Damien Wade this past fall. Wade replaced former group member Cody Zimmerman, who is perusing his doctorate degree.

Although the majority of Chasing Arrows’ success has been in southeastern Virginia, the band has gained exposure in other parts of the state, as well as several other areas along the east coast and has played shows as far away as New Jersey.

On a national level, the band competed at Six Flags and in mtvU’s Best Band on Campus competition in the summer of 2007, where it scored a major victory and the opportunity to open for the Plain White T’s in August 2007 in Georgia. Chasing Arrows has also opened for Uncle Kracker, Carbon Leaf and The Influence.

In October 2007, the band began work on its debut album, “Transparent,” which was released on Jan. 24.

According to an article on the band in Splash Magazine, “Rodney Mills Masterhouse in Atlanta put the final additions on the CD, and gave it a real professional sound. Rodney Mills Masterhouse has also worked with Stone Temple Pilots, Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Journey, R.E.M., Lil John & the Eastside Boyz, Patsy Cline and others.”

Although the album is short, with only seven tracks, each song is strong, with no unworthy tracks creeping in. Each song is unique and deals with different themes. While the track “Stranger than Danger” may make a political statement, the song “Down and Out” “is about drinking and hanging out with your boys,” Todd said to Splash Magazine.

“Transparent” is currently available on iTunes and at cdbaby.com.

Although the band is currently unsigned, it is only a matter of time until that changes. With the band’s growing notoriety and obvious potential, this won’t be the last of it. As its MySpace aptly states, “Chasing Arrows is ready to take on the world and bring a fresh sound to weary ears.”

brittany.franklin@mail.wvu.edu - The Daily Athenaeum

From Newport News, Virginia comes Chasing Arrows—a quintet well versed in the broad swath of Rock music thatburns through their 2008 EP Transparent. Basing their style on a delicatebalance between pristine piano parts that carry the eardrums and an immenseguitar tone that jives from the distant obscure to the present and lucid. Beyond a complex lead arrangement,Chasing Arrows builds on a strongly locked rhythm section and the pressingvocals of Graham Todd.





Now in their second year of topcontention for an MTV U Music Award for best campus band, these five workhorsesfrom Southeastern Virginia have repioneered a full sound that incorporates thelost of art of clean musicianship and unobtrusive tones that rely on solidplaying instead of immense effects to pack a punch. All Things That Rock editor sat down with guitarist NateFender to discuss the merits of their expansive sound, well-balanced groupdichotomy and their rekindled MTV romance with thousands of music fans acrossthe country.



ATTR: Chasing Arrows has a really unique sonictexture. Between your thunderousand expansive guitars on songs like “Down and Out” and “Stranger Than Danger”and intricate and delicate piano parts throughout the entire Transparent EP,Chasing Arrows creates a kind of conflicted but healthy dichotomy. How do you guys work together tosynthesize that balance?



NF: Well really, it’s interesting because a lot of timesin the past its been one of us with a chord progression for a verse, chorus,bridge, then we’ll play it out. Afterwards we go back through the material and ask how we want thosenotes voiced. Guitars? Piano? What frequency? We’re always asking‘what do we want to accomplish’? Some of the time it’s this emotional up and down in the song that buildsat the end into a climax. The ideais that you’re going from the beginning of the song to the end and trying allthe while to have a steady build towards the end so that when you pinnacle youcouldn’t have done it any better. What you find yourself getting is the devilin the details—the subtleties of music that elevate it. Many people don’t notice the changesbetween the first or second verse. But it’s the small way the high hat goes from quarter notes to eighthnotes and the way the piano chords shift.



ATTR: This year you guys released a seven song EP,Transparent. How do you guysapproach recording? Is everythingset in stone when you walk into the studio or do you prefer a more fluidprocess?



NF: When you want to be creative in the studio it costs awhole lot of money. We wouldprefer to be fluid and that will come, but where we were at last year we had tobe exactly prepared to record what we wanted. Being an independent artist we don’t have that luxury, butthat’s not to say we don’t spend a lot of time on writing. I have a studio in my house and that’swhere the fluidity of writing in the studio takes place. Yes, we prefer spending time writing inthe studio, but what you’re listening right now is a product of a rehearsalspace and limited studio time.



ATTR: You play a Fender Stratocaster. Besides the ironic name, what do youlike about that model guitar?

NF: I use an American Fender Strat with a dark fretboard, which gives it a fatter sound. For some reason mine gets an unusually fat sound. More so than a typical single coilpickup guitar. Above that, I playthrough a Marshall 60 watt triple super lead combo with a 12-inch speakerextension. The result is a raresound. I have always liked the Strat because of the Blues. I originally played througha fender hot rod in a similar amp, but you need to modify that tonality forRock and Roll. So I’ve had to messa lot with my tones, but it’s given me a uniquely interesting sound.



ATTR: How do you write your guitar parts, do you have amethodology?



NF: Normally I’ll find something in my head, a chordprogression, that sounds suitable and I’ll extrapolate it and sometimes you getit right and sometimes you get crap. It takes a lot of misses to hit on something good. I love to experiment a lot on the pianoas well. Switching back andforth. It depends on whathappens. Much of the time, Ieducatedly guess around on my guitar. A lot of times its me just jamming. Other times, I’ll get a rhythm stuck inmy head and I’ll sit down and play a beat with my drummer and we’ll build. It’s haphazard but it’s fun.

When I was younger I took formal music lessons and I wasso resistant even though I loved music. I felt like I was forced to approach music a certain way. Whereas now I’m starting to understandwith a decent amount of music theory you can harness melody without letting thetheory control you. Sometimes mydrummer, who has a background in jazz studies, will say a part doesn’t reallywork under the rules of formal music. But, does it sound good? Then that’s all that matters. Its an art not a science. Well it is science, but at its mostbasic, its creative expression.



ATTR: When Chasing Arrows started you were known asAtlas, a nod to the figure from Greek Mythology who has to bare the weight ofthe world. Besides being anexhausting namesake, what went into the name change?



NF: After some research, there were well over 50 Atlasbands in the country. Wereobviously not going to have 50 groups change their name and its confusing noisein our marketing. We’ve got somenew music, were trying to retain our fan base with a new image a new name andnew music. We came up with a list with about 150 to 200 names and we spent twoweeks crossing them off. ChasingArrows was on the list. It turnsout Apollo was the Greek god of music and his weapon of choice was thearrow. We’re all chasing ourdirection in life to try and figure out what were doing here and that’s ChasingArrows.



ATTR: Where are the collective musical roots of ChasingArrows? You have an incrediblywide breadth of covers in your repertoire including a blistering version of“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. How doyou go about negotiating the tastes of five musicians?



NF: Those covers are all songs that we all agree on. We have an incredibly diverse mix ofmusical tastes in the band. Ourdrummer is a Jazz studies guy, but his background is in Punk bands. He’d never been in a Rock band beforeChasing Arrows-- what he listens to is Punk Rock and Jazz. Our singer, Graham, likes Hip Hop, Rapand Classic Rock. His tastes areincredibly broad. Walter(keyboards and guitars) is an 80s Rock fan. Motley Crue, Poison, 80s Metal. Every time he makes a musical reference he’s in his ownlittle world. Our bassist was alsofrom a Punk Rock background. Heplayed with a touring Punk band for a couple of years. Jazz background. For myself, it’sinteresting, but I like what people often deem shallow or commercialmusic. But I’m interested in whypeople like pop. It’s theincentive of learning this, but what I call real classic music is trendstarters like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. The popular music I listen to is how I have more of anunderstanding of what the masses are doing and thinking.



ATTR: Perhaps one of the greatest elements of ChasingArrows is the contrast between a real honest style with clean piano and bassand a precociously broad ribbon of explosive guitars and vocals. It would seem that your music embodiesthe romance between a band rooted in a close knit community but simultaneouslybeckoning its listeners to a far more expansive world. How does your music integrate yourhistory in Newport News, Virginia with a message and destiny locked in aninfinitely wider vision of your own future?



NF: We go off of the notion that where we started andwhere we live now will always be central to our message. We live in Hampton Roads, Virginia,which is a conglomerate of several different major cities: Virginia Beach,Norfolk, Newport News, Williamsburg and other cities that run into eachother. What you end up with is anarea of over a million people. We’re on a peninsula. Toget to the larger parts of the area, you have to cross the water, leave thepeninsula, go under the water and enter a whole nother world. In broad terms, 90% of the musicbusiness is across the water. We know we make music that has something to saybecause we know what we enjoy listening to and we write music we enjoylistening to. It’s instilled anattitude that we’re not moving to your scene, but you must know we havesomething to say. The mindset, we are in a small community, but our musicclearly appeals to a mass audience as we’ve shown in the market here. Now aftertwo years in a row where we’ve competed for an MTV U Award, they’re starting torecognize that we have something to say. We can be here and transmit ourmessage anyways. We play at bigvenues like NORVA in Norfolk, Virginia where we get huge audiences and a greatresponse.



ATTR: As you mentioned, Chasing Arrows was recentlycertified as one of five finalist bands in MTV U’s “Woodie Award” for bestcampus band in the nation. Howmany bands did you beat out and how does evolving your collective style on anational stage elevate Chasing Arrows?



NF: There were thousands of bands eligible for the MTV Uaward. It’s interesting becauselast year we won the Southeast region for best music in the MTV U competitionand we opened for the Plain White Ts in Atlanta. MTV connected with our name and in some instances it lendsour band a sort of Midas touch. You’re not any different as a band, but when you can tell your fan basethat MTV is nominated for an award, all of a sudden they get enthusiastic andthey shoot through the roof. Aesthetically, people pay more attention when your name’s on an MTVwebsite and, in turn, peoples’ responses are amazing.

Financially speaking, when you’re not on a label, youwage a marketing war against professionals. The amount of free publicity ispriceless with just our fans talking about MTV. We study, we read books, we talk to people all thetime. We’re anxious, we’recurious, we’re not just standing in our garage playing music hoping someone’slistening. We’re going to securethis. We’re going to get people tohear our message. Can we pay ourbills with our music? Can weafford ourselves the opportunity to learn life through music? The exorbitant things celebrities do…we don’t care about. One pant legat a time. Its silly how peoplereact and respond to celebrity. “So you want to be famous?” no not really, I just want this to be myjob. You have to keep pushingforward to make that happen.



ATTR: What do we have to look forward to from ChasingArrows in the near future?



NF: There’s a lot more music in the works. It’s a lot more sophisticated than thelast EP. We’re coordinating a lotmore shows and spending 24 hours, awake or not, thinking about music. If all goes well this could become areality. With these hopes, the writing process has changed. Inevitably therewill be unaccountable variables in our career, especially the variable ofchange. You have to be strong inwhat you’re doing.





Chasing Arrows is currently recording material for asyndicated radio single to be released late this year. For more music and videos from ChasingArrows check out www.chasingarrows.com or to vote for Chasing Arrows in the ongoing MTV U competition, log on to MTV U - Written by Dan Johnson - ALL THINGS THAT ROCK.com - November 04 2008

In the end, Chasing Arrows didn't win a Woodie. But the Arrows came oh-so-close.

Last week, the Newport News rock band traveled to New York City, where it was in the running for a mtvU Woodie Award. As one of two finalists picked in the cable channel's Best Music On Campus competition, the musicians received an all-expenses-paid trip to the Big Apple and were part of the taping of the 2008 Woodie Awards on Nov. 12. MtvU, MTV's subsidiary aimed specifically at college students, broadcast the awards show last night.

Chasing Arrows finished in second place, behind New York University's The Bride Wore Black. But Arrows guitarist Nate Fender says the whole experience left the band members feeling like winners.

The taping was held at New York's Roseland Ballroom. There, Chasing Arrows got to rub elbows with big-time musicians including Debbie Harry from Blondie, Q-Tip, Moby, Santogold and the bands Paramore, Vampire Weekend and All-American Rejects.

"It was a very cool experience," Fender said. "We didn't win the award, but I feel like we went up there and accomplished something. This industry is all about networking and we came home with a slew of business cards. We didn't go up there and goof off."

The band's journey started about three months ago when Chasing Arrows entered the Best Music on Campus contest online. Based on voting from fans, the group advanced to the competition's top 25. In October, mtvU told the group it had earned a spot in the Top 5. Just two weeks ago, the band learned that it was one of two finalists. "All of a sudden it got crazy," Fender said. "We were asking 'How do we get off work?' "

Besides Fender, the band includes Joe Hamm, Graham Todd, Walter Pierce, Damien Wade. Two members attend Christopher Newport University. Fender, 23, currently works as an assistant manager for retail at the Williamsburg Winery.

Having savored a taste of big-time show business, returning to work was tough, Fender admitted. "Let's just say reality hit me smack in the face," he said. "It brought me back down to earth. But it's one step at a time."

Chasing Arrows is currently putting finishing touches on a new version of its song "Unaware." Fender is hoping it will get local radio play soon. The recent blast of national attention should help, he figures.

At the taping in New York, major-label musicians and industry insiders offered the young band bits of career advice. Fender hopes those words of wisdom will keep Chasing Arrows on an upward trajectory.

"Everyone was very encouraging," he said. "I thought I would meet some real conceited people, but that didn't happen."

News to Use
To watch video from mtvU's 2008 Woodie Awards, go to www.mtvu.com

For more on Chasing Arrows, go to www.myspace.com/chasingarrows or www.chasingarrows.com
- Sam McDonald - Daily Press - November 21 2008