Grandville
Los Angeles, California, United States
Music
Press
“Grandville reminds us that, as cynical as we may be, we can still tremble at the thought of a sensuous romantic kiss.” - 2006
“When most bands ate hating life, and being over dramatic, Grandville does it all right by making music fun again while singing lyrics that people can relate with.”
- DEcember 15, 2006
"…this band has potential of making it big for sure -- songs like “Throwaway", "While You Were Sleeping" and "Follow" should be released on a major label!” - December 12, 2006
“There’s this general lament among music fans that the popularity with portable mp3 players is driven in part by the discernible lack of artists capable of writing an album’s worth of fixating fare. So when a band like Grandville comes along, you need to shut up and listen.” - February 7, 2007
“Their melodic nature is the band’s biggest strength…the bands sound is layered, but not complex. The different layers are perfectly constructed and they are hand claps and production elements throughout.” - December 20, 2006
“At last, here’s a band who seemingly couldn’t care less about trend or genre, just writing, playing and performing GREAT songs, and believe me, this record is packed with great songs…. That, in a nutshell, is Grandville, the latest contender for album of the year. Hell, it’s a contender for the album of any year…” - December 15, 2006
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Grandville is the dream project of songwriters Robb Vallier, Todd McCool and George Nakonechny . On the bands self-titled debut, the quartet delivers a high energy, straightforward rock n roll album. Grandville is driven by Valliers fervent vocals, the fret board wizardry of lead guitarist McCool and the powerhouse rhythms supplied by bass man Nakonechny and drummer Eldenius (Jackson Brown, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch). The ten tracks on the bands self-titled album, Grandville, are an intoxicating blend of brains and brawn, an engaging brew marked by vibrant melodies, chiming guitars, inventive rhythms and lyrics that cut straight to the heart of the wild, wondrous human condition. We dont try to be anything we arent, Vallier explains. Were all smart, energetic guys who like to get people excited and maybe give em something to think about as well. The lyrics are deep, but the music is fun: a combination of intelligence and energy.
Grandville was recorded at Valliers Rumpus Room studio, live, with minimal overdubs. Vallier has worked with many top artists and his studio expertise gives every song on the record a subtle, individual character. Im a big Todd Rundgren fan and appreciate production that can take a song to the next level without overwhelming it, Vallier says. We like to create different textures, but dont fill up every space just cause its there. The songs always start with Todd [McCool] and me singing and playing our acoustics. If it doesn't work that way, it wont work no matter how much fancy stuff you put on top of it.
The album kicks off with Follow, a rocker with a bright buoyant melody, beautiful harmonies from Vallier and McCool, icy shimmering guitar work and a drum pattern full of dramatic stops and starts. We cut that one after wed been working on the album a while, doing all kinds of intricate stuff, McCool explains. It got written and recorded in about four hours, very spontaneous. It sounds like a monster snowball rolling down a hill. Deliver is a pop tune with an R&B/Gospel feel thats highlighted by the sanctified piano work of Kenneth Crouch (Eric Clapton, Kelly Clarkson, Dr. Dre), brother of Gospel superstar Andrea Crouch. Valliers vocals here are full of yearning and confusion, driving home the songs message of lost love. Its about sitting alone by the phone, waiting for the call that never comes, Vallier says. Its another one that was written and recorded in a couple of hours. Disaster Fiend is a psychedelic blues that tips its hat to The Beatles, with a groove adapted from Tomorrow Never Knows. The crunchy guitars and Vallier and McCools battling harmonies give the tune a dark, treacherous aura. The song explores a turbulent, dysfunctional relationship, with a seductive arrangement that pulls you deeper into the chaos with every listen. Other standout tracks include Ghost (Inside My Head) which lives up to its title with its odd instrumentation: spooky, moaning old school Mellotron and vibes that chime like a graveyard church bell. While You Were Sleeping harks back to the glam rock of the 70s with a simple guitar riff that keeps building and building and the relentless drumming of Eric Eldenius. Lovers And Madmen is a dynamic, driving ballad with a percussion track that features woodblocks, trashcans, stomping feet and the drumming of special guest, Abe Laborial Jr. (Paul McCartney). Its a real meat and potatoes kind of album, Nakonechny says modestly. There are a few mini-Moogs and Mellotrons, but its still earthy. We didnt think about making a song for radio. We let it came from our souls and didnt question ourselves. We did what felt right. Its the best record Ive ever worked on.
Grandville has only been playing together for 13 months, but theyve already developed into an exciting live unit that can play as a full rock band or in smaller acoustic settings. Theyve been knockin em dead at hometown Hollywood venues like, The El Rey, Viper Room, The Roxy, Key Club, as well as the House of Blues in Las Vegas. They have thousands of MySpace fans and also headlined the I Can't Believe They're Not Signed showcase put on by Sean Healy, the man who helped The Strokes and Tea Leaf Green climb the ladder of success.
Grandville is already getting played by Carolyn Fox on KHZ 1580 AM in Los Angeles; KCCQ, Des Moines, Iowa; WKHZ 1590 AM Ocean City-Salisbury, Maryland and KMXU 105.1 FM Southern Utah. Songs from the album have been placed in the Olsen Twins movie Passport To Paris, Michael Ogasawaras Cause & Defect, Kurt Voelkers Park, Beverly Hills 90210 Season Two Box Set and Westwood Ones best-unsigned bands compilation.
Grandville came together in LA, but band members come from all over North America. Vallier is from Ames, Iowa and has been playing guitar as long as he can remember. By the time I was 13, I was playing fairs, shows, festivals and dances; I got my chops down young. Vallier went
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