Clouds On Strings
Chico, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Little needs to be said about Chico, California’s Clouds on Strings, because once you catch even a small portion of their music, you’ll know what they are about. They are not metal, in any way really, but prog rock is an integral part of metal, and vice versa, so presenting the meta world with a fantastic group of pure, progressive rock should do wonders for your ears in between those Kataklysm and Pantera CD’s. Clouds on Strings is a seamless unit with a soul that has never really been explored that much, which is what makes them stand out from the pack quite dramatically. For a somewhat similar comparison, see Bigelf combined with Yes, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. This is a treat for all you progressive fans, I guarantee it. - All Metal Resource
Cafe Coda was in the clouds Friday, orchestrated by progressive rock band Clouds On Strings.
Formed in the dorms of Chico State two-and-a-half years ago, the band of music industry and technology majors, now seniors, had the crowd and Cafe Coda staff dancing by the encore.
It's all about having fun on stage, violinist Matt
Weiner said.
Accompanying Weiner is Michael Bone on guitar, Matt Franklin on drums, Josh Hegg on keys and Randall Jangula on bass.
Furlough Fridays from Chico and The Hard Way from Olympia, Wash., opened for Clouds On Strings with an alternative rock style that set the lively tone for the night.
It was an electric performance that engaged the audience with their energy, said Donovan Melero, a Chico graduate with a degree in music industry and technology.
The headlining band's performance displayed how the members' diverse musical backgrounds enhance their sound, Melero said.
The five members of Clouds on Strings have separate tastes in music ranging from classical to experimental, Hegg said.
Influenced by '70s progressive rock, like Yes, Kansas and King Crimson, Clouds On Strings pushes rock's technical and compositional limitations in creation of their own abstract style, Hegg said. The progressive rock in the '60s and '70s was a movement that redefined rock and took it from Chuck Berry's rock ‘n' roll style to incorporating classical and jazz.
"It's a modern retelling of that '70s mentality," Hegg said.
Their reformation of rock allows them to help make the Chico music scene more encompassing, Hegg said.
With a common love of eccentric music, members bring their own style to the songwriting process, Franklin said.
The separate ideas are thrown into the Clouds On Strings "blender" where they become collective, Hegg said.
Their first album, "For You, For Me, For The Sake Of A Name," was released summer 2009, he said. Their record told a seven-part tale of a young woman's struggle with celebrity life and fame.
"The Strangest Thing We've Ever Seen" followed in December 2010 with a nine-song lineup.
As for the story behind the name of the band, it changes with every telling, Hegg said.
"It's a name that means nothing," he said. "Every band picks a name and eventually hates it."
Although the name has no significance, it definitely fits the wacky and strange personalities of Clouds On Strings, Weiner said.
"Everyone needs a good dose of weird," Hegg said. - Chico State Orion
Discography
2009 - For You, For Me, For The Sake Of A Name (Self Released EP)
Notable tracks include Gameshow Jesus and Thin Lizard Dawn which have seen significant radio airplay in the North State
2010 - The Strangest Thing We've Ever Seen (Self Released LP)
Notable Tracks include Heading Home, Down To Alaska
2011 - Pomology (Self Released EP)
Notable Tracks include Apple, Banana
Photos
Bio
Clouds On Strings is a 5 piece progressive rock outfit dedicated to creating music that is exciting, technical, heartfelt and original. Situated in the town of Chico, California, the band has worked to perfect their eclectic style and to surprise concert goers with their outlandish stage shows. Influenced equal parts by Frank Zappa, Mr. Bungle, The Dear Hunter, and Gentle Giant, Clouds On Strings’ work seamlessly incorporates many styles of music in a way that can be enjoyed by listeners of all genres. Each member of Clouds On Strings is grounded in a different type of musical background and each persons individuality can be felt in the music. Influences range from country, metal, avant-garde and everything in between and allow the band to create a sound entirely their own.
Since their inception, the band has independently released 3 unique concept albums. They have toured up and down California, and have attracted a following across the region of both musicians and non-musicians alike. December 2, 2011 saw the release of their most recent album, “Pomology,” and in order to promote the work, a DIY tour spanning nearly three weeks from Seattle, WA to San Diego, CA will follow in January 2012.
Clouds On Strings was born when Michael Bone (Guitar) and Joshua Hegg (Keyboards) began writing music together in Chico in December 2008. The duo instantly hit it off because of their shared interest in classic progressive rock and modern experimental music. They wrote music together in the dorms at CSU Chico, but soon found their music confined because of the limited palette of sound offered from two instruments. This was remedied by the incorporation of drums (Matt Franklin) and bass guitar (Randall Jangula) into the mix. Now with a substantial rhythm section the band continued their musical expansion, adding Matt Weiner on electric violin.
Links
