Go Analog

Go Analog, in accordance with its name, approached a recent Thursday performance at Spacebar as though it had entirely missed out on the digital revolution.

Instead, the quartet, which includes Eric Croft (vocals/guitar), Keith Kemmerer (guitar), Michael Osbourne (bass) and Matt Fisher (drums), tended toward a more timeless, throwback sound that blended elements of blues, pop-rock and roots music. “My edges are worn and round,” Croft sings on “Faded Smile,” the leadoff track on the band’s 2014 self-titled EP. On this evening at least, its music tended to exude the same comforting, lived-in feel.

Over the course of the group’s abbreviated, 30-minute set, the musicians worked through bluesy shuffles, comparatively simmering numbers, and, at the close, one rowdier tune that kicked like a wild stallion.

This human feel made for an interesting contrast with artsy Richmond trio Those Manic Seas, who performed before Go Analog and were “fronted” by a vocalist who appeared via a TV screen perched on the shoulders of a store mannequin, like Max Headroom if the digital talking head lost his stutter and developed a fascination with indie rockers like Modest Mouse.

For Go Analog, even new songs sounded as though they could have existed decades back. Such was the case on one unreleased number, introduced as “Inside,” which built around a shaggy guitar riff, dancing drums and Croft’s good-natured vocals, which at times called to mind a scruffier version of Old 97’s Rhett Miller. As with the music, the singer’s words appeared to hew to more traditional themes. On one song, Croft attempted to wipe his mind free of painful memories (“I try to forget,” he grumbled), and on another he fretted that even “time … is wasted on me” as tick-tock guitar riffs counted backward to zero.

Regardless, the music managed to maintain a sense of hope that bubbled to the surface as the set neared its end, Croft singing, “I’ll be ok.” The same could be said of Fisher, who was fighting off a wicked cold and hoped to be back at full strength by the time the band visits Brothers Drake Meadery for a concert on Friday, Oct. 16. - Andy Downing (Columbus Alive!)

Although the title of the group suggests otherwise, the rock band Go Analog doesn’t make use of throwback recording methods.

“Are you ready to be disappointed? So far we have just used Pro Tools (music editing software),” said Eric Croft, the band’s vocalist. “No analog tape for miles and miles.

“We liked the name. It made us smile.”

The Columbus quartet, which released an EP this month, will perform tonight in Rumba Cafe.

Q: What does your music sound like?

A: My instinct is to go with a sarcastic answer, simply because it’s a difficult question for me.

But we strive to be fun, melodic, catchy and rock ’n’ roll. I think it’s unique — and it is music written to please us.

Q: What shapes your lyrics?

A: Practical things — and boring and happy and sad and angry. I wish I could be a fiction writer and have a brilliant imagination like, say, Vonnegut, but it always comes back to me being literal.

Major themes are visiting the hometown, being manipulated, seeing a friend become an opiated mess, meeting a girl and falling in love.

Q: How do you write a song?

A: Basically, I develop a skeleton and Keith (Kemmerer) writes new parts, forces us to reach, tries new melodies and sometimes it turns into a song. We’ve recorded 20 like that. It’s very fun to hear the results when we think it works.

With Matt (Fisher) and Michael (Osbourne) here, we have begun experimenting with other methods. They have been awesome to play with, and we’re extremely happy to see where it takes us.

Q: Are you guys opposed to analog technology?

A: We definitely love the science and rawness of analog recordings. It’s something we plan on doing.

And I don’t have an iTunes account, so that’s pretty “analog” right there.

— Kevin Joy

kjoy@dispatch.com

@kevjoy - Kevin Joy (Columbus Dispatch)

LANCASTER – It’s been a busy time for Go Analog since the alternative-indie rock band formed 18 months ago.

Fresh off a recent opening stint for Barenaked Ladies at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion in Columbus, the band will open for Red Wanting Blue on July 17 at the Lancaster Festival.

“It’s going to be a privilege to play in front of that many people and so many that we know,” vocalist Eric Croft said. “We’re going to get a lot of our friends and family to come out.”

Go Analog only plays original music and has been in the recording studio lately. The band is from Fairfield County, but plays most of its shows around Columbus, although it has also played out-of-state gigs.

“There’s a lot of good bands in ­Columbus that write original music and aren’t cover acts,” guitarist Keith Kemmerer said. “It’s been fun just meeting all of those. I think the scene has grown. There’s just more quality musicians it seems like.”

Besides Kemmerer, a Bremen native, Go Analog is Eric Croft on vocals, Michael Osbourne on bass and Matt Fisher on drums. Osbourne and Croft are from Sugar Grove.

“Everybody in the band has played in different bands probably since they were 14, 15 years old,” Croft said. “It’s been really lucky that we all found each other.”

The LC gig came after the band submitted its music to replace the band that was originally scheduled to open for Barenaked Ladies. The band played in front of about 4,000 people, Kemmerer said.

“It was an amazing show,” he said. “When we got done with the show they (Barenaked Ladies) were waiting in our dressing room to talk to us. It was awesome. I guess during the last five or six songs they were standing on the side of the stage watching us.”

The band had played a club the previous night to about 50 people before playing for the big LC crowd, Kemmerer said.

“That’s how this music, rock ’n’ roll game goes,” he said. “That’s how it goes sometimes.”

Croft said he and his band mates want to develop some momentum from the Lancaster Festival show to take into the future.

“Really, all we can do is write music and play and hope to get the right break at the right time,” Kemmerer said. “And it seems to be happening in the last few months. It’s really been taking off. We’ve been really busy.”

For more information on GO Analog, visit their website at www.goanalog.bandcamp.com.

jbarron@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron - Jeff Barron (Lancaster Gazette)

Go Analog is an alternative (indie) rock outfit based out of Columbus, Ohio. The band, who was recently announced as a performer at this year's Bunbury Music Festival, is currently working on an untitled second EP, which will be released in August. Matt Fisher, the band's drummer, who I’ve always referred to as an Alex Turner lookalike (Arctic Monkeys), answered questions about his favorite things in our hometown and spilled details from their soon to be released album.

CincyMusic.com: So you're originally from Cincinnati, how excited are you guys to play Bunbury in your own town?
Matt Fisher: I am the only member from Cincinnati, but everyone else is from around Lancaster, Ohio. My old band, The Ordnance, used to perform with Go Analog back at Ohio University. I joined Go Analog about a year and a half ago [as] my other groups had ended or were going to do so shortly. That being said, I am insanely excited to perform in my hometown. This festival is such a great event for the city, and I'm proud we get to be a part of it.

CM: How did you find out you were going to perform at Bunbury?
MF: One of the bookers for PromoWest Productions in Columbus was kind enough to offer us a spot on the bill. I found out first and decided to toy with the guys a little before telling them. Just kept leading on that I had some big news, but wouldn't tell them what it was.

CM: Can you tell me anything about the new EP?
MF: We recorded the new EP at Relay Recording in Columbus, Ohio with Jon Fintel. We will be finishing up vocals this week.

CM: When is the release date?
MF: The EP will most likely be released this August, depending on mixing and printing CDs etc.

CM: What can we expect from this EP versus the self-titled posted on Bandcamp?
MF: The songwriting on the new EP is a lot heavier and more soulful. We still always keep a foot in the rock and pop world, but these tracks are really delving into something we've never touched on before. It's pretty exciting.

CM: Can you give details about the release show? Will the album be available for purchase at the show?
MF: The EP release show will be July 25th at Spacebar in Columbus. We're still firming up support, so we can't announce anything about that yet. Physical copies will be available at the show, but we will most likely have digital versions available online before that.

CM: Where else are you playing shows?
MF: May 16th at Spacebar w/ Cans on Strings (Chicago) & Cosmo’s Elephants (Columbus). We have a few other dates in August that we are waiting to announce as well around Ohio. We always are adding new dates, so the best way to stay up to date is on our Facebook page!

CM: Are there any acts you're super pumped to see this year at Bunbury?
MF: So many, it's a great bill, but I know I'm personally excited to see Tame Impala, Brand New, and Catfish & the Bottlemen...oh and definitely Snoop Dogg.

CM: What are your favorite things to do in Cincinnati?
MF: Skyline Chili, and a Reds game. I really enjoy stopping by Mad Tree Brewery as well, it's [a] great place and [has] great beer.

Columbus' own Go Analog will perform on Friday, June 5th at Cincinnati's Bunbury Music Festival. Check out the band's Bandcamp to listen and buy their self-titled EP. My favorite track is "Faded Smile".

Go enter to win a pair of 3-day passes to Bunbury Music Festival HERE! - Briana Henry (CincyMusic.com)

Matt sat in on The Sounds of Bustowns, Bunbury Day 3 wrap up to talk about the festival and new stuff from Go Analog. - The Sounds of Bustown

Go Analog sits down with the gentleman at The Sounds of Bustown Podcast - The Sounds of Bustown