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ON the Scene went to Headliner's last friday to check out two bands I had yet to see live.
I was impressed with the tight deliveries of I Nine and Madison Fair. Neither band sounded like anthing in my cd colletction, but I have since added both.
I Nine features cellist Bryan Gibson and I was expecting a more baroque sound, but the music was lound a raucous.Nice. Gibson's PLaying reminded me of the cellis in Exhaust, a God Speed You Black Emperor side Project.
The strength of Carmon Kiegan's voice is a plus for this band, which pulled off covers of Pearl Jam, 10,000 Maniacs and Guns N' Roses seamlessly.
If record Companies are pursing Columbia's scene for radio ready-bands ( I mean this as a compliment) then Madison Fair is it.
The four guys wrtie pop songs that are sticky sweet, with a verse chorus-verse structure that i nothing new. But Madison Fair exude energy in its recording, and the live set is dynamic. Madison Fair should already be in heavy rotation on modern rock radio.
I nine and Madison Fair exemplify some of the best qualities of the good bands in town because it's obvious they practice. A lot. - Otis R. Taylor, JR/Staff Writer/The State
I recently got into a debate with a friend of mine about what topic leads to the most heartfelt type of song. He believed the greatest depth came from social issues (commentaries on politics, etc.), and I said the greatest, most deeply felt music comes from the pain caused by heartache. Obviously, no one can ever truly be proven right or wrong on this—but Madison Fair’s debut album, The Longest Day, does a lot to help my side of the debate.
The Longest Day opens most appropriately; a static-y hum weakly buzzes through the silence, soon evolving into a washed out musical beat. It only lasts a few moments until it slips into the first song, “More Than You Know,” but in those few seconds it lays a fantastic groundwork for what to expect throughout the entire record.
The first thing that came to my mind when I heard it was something old. Like a black and white film, a silent movie; a cracking picture, but still a story well-worth being told. It reminded me that, no matter how much things change in the world, some things remain timeless. The theme that I believe is most important in any artistic medium; be it art, literature, or music, is the theme of love. The breaking of our hearts is the one thing every living person can connect on.
The guys of Madison Fair, led by singer-songwriter Justin Register, have put together a fantastic album here. It touches on both the good side of love, and the often touched upon topic of heartache. I’ve never run across album art that has so adequately described what will be found inside. You see, slightly out of center on the cover of The Longest Day, you can make out a young man with his head in his hands. Something any person who has ridden a relationship all the way to the ground, and watched it crash and burn, can tell you is the universal sign of essentially coming to your wits end. It’s about coming to that moment when you realize something you whole-heartedly believe in, and whole-heartedly want to work out, never will be put back together. It’s about the moment you realize that you’re not going to give up, but that you’re going to continue on in vain. Knowing full-well you’re going to lose, but continuing on anyways. Because it’s all you think you can do.
Stylistically, The Longest Day vaguely resembles the sound of Mad Season-era Matchbox Twenty, but there’s definitely more here. The song structures, albeit simple, just seem timeless. Most music in this genre just comes off as self-pitying, and trite—but Madison Fair make it work. Highlights include the album opening “More Than You Know,” the simple yet heartfelt “Got to Be,” and the simple plea of a song “Stay.” All in all, this is a great little record. I highly recommend you give it a spin.
Reviewed by
Trent Moore
April 7th2005
soundthesirens.com - sound the sirens
01.23.05
Madison Fair: ...The Longest Day
With a twinge of Matchbox 20, Madison Fair makes a brilliant debut with their first release. In "More Than You Know", a yearning is expressed in the lyrics, "I guess it always falls this way/Screamin out with nothing to say/I don't know why it always seems/I'm hangin up on your machine/I need you more than you'd believe..." The lyrics are thoughtful and edgy, yet the alternative rock sound keeps their tunes nonchalantly cool. This is a group, much like Red Letter Print or Graham Colton Band, that deserves the chance to shine and I'm hoping they get it.
Favorite Tracks: Stay, Underneath
Rating: 5 stars - discoveringartists.com
Discography
...the longest day
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Bio
The songs of Madison Fair are not content with just being heard. Their melodies want to take up permanent residence in your head. The rhythms want to be felt in your chest. The words want to resonate in your heart. The songs of Madison Fair are bigger than your stereo.
If you listen close you can hear the influence of people like Tom Petty and the Cars. Or perhaps you’ll hear similarities between Madison Fair and contemporaries like Matchbox 20 or John Mayer. In any case, as you hear Justin Register’s warm tenor lilt and soar over a wash of bright guitars and pulsing rhythms, you’ll know that Madison Fair has a magic all it’s own.
The journey begins in June of 2002 when Register found himself heading for the studio with a renewed commitment to the two pillars of good music- songwriting and melody. His friend Eric McCoy agreed to do the recording for what was supposed to be a solo acoustic project. But at the point they should have been done, all they could hear were the songs begging for more room.
So Eric began applying his formidable skills as a guitarist to Justin’s music. He was joined by Chris Carroll (drums) and Jason Mauer (bass) who gave the songs a rhythmic life that are now one of the hallmarks of the Madison Fair sound. After they finished recording a three song demo, Mauer bowed out to take up other duties and bass ingénue Preston Hayden stepped in without missing a beat.
Since then, these four have been making believers out of the curious all over the southeast playing with bands such as Crossfade, Luna Halo, Stretch Armstrong, I Nine, Bain Mattox, Angie Aparo and Need to Breathe. They released a full length record in 2005, “…the longest day” to rave reviews and shortly after signed a production deal with JT Meskiel (Document Room studio owner, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sparta, Puddle of Mudd ) who flew them out to Los Angeles to record the follow up to that in 2006, “kid gloves EP”. Between an unyielding string of passionate, moving songs and a high impact live show creating a steady industry buzz these kids are up for taking over the world one ipod at a time.
Imagine music that takes those small everyday moments and opens them up to show us the mystery that hides just under the surface. Love. Sorrow. Expectation. Joy. These are the songs of Madison Fair. Songs that are big enough to invite you inside them. Songs that are bigger than your stereo.
Step inside these songs. Make yourself at home.
Welcome to Madison Fair.
Venues we have played :
Headliners (Columbia SC)
Newbrookland Tavern (West Columbia SC)
Cumberlands (Charleston SC)
Amos' Southend (Charlotte NC)
Soapbox (Wilmington NC)
Dr.Drunk Oasis (Greenville SC)
Tremont Music Hall (Charlotte NC)
Fatty J's (Fredriclsburg VA)
The Money (Rockhill SC)
Eddies Attic (Decatur GA)
Wall Street Plaza (Orlando FL)
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