Marathon(pa)

Marathon has cycled through several lives in its short existence, transitioning from a bedroom pop project into a progressive indie rock band with ever-expanding layers of texture. If the Pennsylvania-based band’s latest single is any indication, they haven’t stopped evolving yet. “Chrome Waves” is the title track of Marathon’s forthcoming full-length, and it finds the band more focused and less prone to self-indulgence.

Frontman Zach Wagner has stripped down his song structures and built outward from there, layering ambient textures that don’t detract from the simple pleasures of the pop melody at the center of it all. His new approach on Chrome Waves involves sampling and a heavier dependence on synths, both of which are apparent in the album’s lead single.

The lyrics of “Chrome Waves” seem to reference Wagner’s personal struggle with anxiety, which almost crippled the band at one point. “I was having massive panic attacks on a daily basis where I couldn’t breathe and my heart would beat so intensely I was sure I was going to have a heart attack,” the songwriter explains. “I wasn’t musically inspired in the least and so I really didn’t have any way to cope without music. I decided to abandon whatever ideas I had surrounding what I thought Marathon was supposed to sound like and took a different approach to the music I was making, both in writing and production.”

Chrome Waves is the result of that approach. Listen in to the title track below. - Consquence of Sound.

Sometimes it takes great personal pain to beautiful music. Such is the case with Marathon. For Zach Wagner, frontman of the Lebanon, PA outfit, that pain was his struggle with anxiety. He tells Consequence of Sound that he had to start writing something new in order to wrestle with debilitating panic attacks…

I wasn’t musically inspired in the least and so I really didn’t have any way to cope without music. I decided to abandon whatever ideas I had surrounding what I thought Marathon was supposed to sound like and took a different approach to the music I was making, both in writing and production.

Our first taste of Wagner and co.’s new sound is “Chrome Waves,” an intricate piece of dream-pop made all the more stunning by the story behind it. Listen below. - All Things Go

Marathon has cycled through several lives in its short existence, transitioning from a bedroom pop project into a progressive indie rock band with ever-expanding layers of texture. If the Pennsylvania-based band’s latest single is any indication, they haven’t stopped evolving yet. “Chrome Waves” is the title track of Marathon’s forthcoming full-length, and it finds the band more focused and less prone to self-indulgence.

Frontman Zach Wagner has stripped down his song structures and built outward from there, layering ambient textures that don’t detract from the simple pleasures of the pop melody at the center of it all. His new approach on Chrome Waves involves sampling and a heavier dependence on synths, both of which are apparent in the album’s lead single.

The lyrics of “Chrome Waves” seem to reference Wagner’s personal struggle with anxiety, which almost crippled the band at one point. “I was having massive panic attacks on a daily basis where I couldn’t breathe and my heart would beat so intensely I was sure I was going to have a heart attack,” the songwriter explains. “I wasn’t musically inspired in the least and so I really didn’t have any way to cope without music. I decided to abandon whatever ideas I had surrounding what I thought Marathon was supposed to sound like and took a different approach to the music I was making, both in writing and production.”

Chrome Waves is the result of that approach. Listen in to the title track below. - Consequence of Sound

Climb on in. Take a load off. We’re going for a ride and Marathon is driving. Kick your shoes off if you want. You wont need them up there. - The Burning Ear

Chrome Waves by Marathon.
Lebanon, PA-based indie alternative / dream-pop band Marathon have released a brand new track called “Chrome Waves,” which is just heavy enough on the synth to suck you in and get you grooving along.

Look for “Chrome Waves” to appear on Marathon’s upcoming release by the same name. - Indie Minded

It’s indeed a liquid surge of brilliant hued, billowing tides on Marathon’s Chrome Waves. The overwhelmingly beautiful blend of ambient rock and dream pop is layer upon layer of intoxicating, bittersweet bliss. The Pennsylvania based band utilizes rich M83 like synths and Beach House like gauziness on the drifting song, the first single from an upcoming full length. Marathon eventually leads us into a hypnotic world of kaleidoscopic, off kilter dissonance that pulls us under those waves even deeper. There’s no doubt Chrome Waves is one of the most breathtaking songs I’ve listened to this year so far. - I HEART MOOSIQ

Pennsylvania's Marathon, with the title track of their upcoming LP. - Electric Sound of Joy

Hailing from the city I once called home, Marathon is one of the most exciting indie rock
bands releasing a project this summer. Marathon's new, self-titled release is a gem of a
project that reminds me of my recent calm ride down the Florida coastline. Anyone with
an affinity for indie rock music would definitely feel an instant connection to the band's
sound. If I were a booking agent, I would give Marathon a listen because these guys need
to be out on the road touring.

Releasing to iTunes in June 2014, Marathon (the album) offers 11 songs of great
songwriting, vocals, and musicianship. The band consists of Zach Wagner (guitar & vox),
Erich Wagner (guitar, vox, and percussion), Robert Battle (bass), Paul Winter
(keyboard), and Rick Kreiser (drums); each a skilled musician in his own right. Songs like
"Ghosts of Ours", "Chapel", "Mountaineering", "Sea of Leaves", and "Of Bloom" (in that
particular order) each gave me a reason to sing the album's praises as one of the
coolest projects being released this summer.

Of the 11 songs on Marathon's album, Ghosts of Ours stood out the most. This particular
song gave me that feeling I felt when I heard "Satellite" by Guster, except Ghosts of Ours
is more electric guitar driven as opposed to Guster's acoustic driver. This is a great radio
record, that should have a music video put to it. What makes this track stand out so much
to me is the fact that everything gels so perfectly together. The melodies are superbly
crafted for the lead vocalists tone and range, while the music is exceptionally produced
and masterfully played; everything just works. Overall, Marathon (the album) is a great
body of musical work that should be respected and enjoyed by true alternative rock fans.
Marathon (the band) definitely has all the right pieces to become one of today's hottest
indie/alternative rock bands; great vocals backed by highly skilled and talented
musicians. I'd love to see these guys live. Go to their website and check out all the great
stuff they have available for visitors to browse. - I Am Entertainment Magazine (Shaine Freeman)

Then it came time for the last band but definitely not the least band, Marathon—a five member band from Lebanon, PA who create a nice indie sound. Sorry, sometimes I’m terrible at classifying music I just know what my ears like and if it sounds good to me—and Marathon’s music sounded good to me. This was my first time experiencing Marathon’s music and I liked it and I wished that more people had stayed until the end of the show to hear their music too. Oh well, I guess it’s hard to expect a large crowd that late on a school night. Hehe. You should really keep an ear out for Marathon and check this band out if you ever get a chance.

Needless to say, you should check out these band: A Victim Of Good Times, The Liberty Project, and Marathon because I think you’ll like their music. After all, when it comes to music—too much is not enough. - One Fan at a Time

Is your band starting to outgrow your hometown? Does your city have a small music scene, perhaps one that your genre of music doesn't fit into? Marathon, from tiny Lebanon, PA, feels your pain. The band has worked incredibly hard to take their progressive and experimental brand of indie rock to new cities around the country. Each time they break into a new scene, they make sure to leave a lasting impression. Because of Lebanon's limited potential, they've found that using Sonicbids has been the key to getting on big stages like CMJ and PrideFest. They've also leveraged their web presence to help get their name out there and seize new opportunities. Read on to learn how your band can do the same!

What are the challenges of being musicians in a small city like your hometown of Lebanon, PA?

The narrow scope of people we can reach here, while important because it includes our hometown fans, is the challenge in itself. Obviously, any band wants the world to know about their music – both what's produced in the studio and what's performed – to spread and create a strong network of supporters. However, the group of people to whom we have immediate access is simply not enough to make a career, which means we have to push those natural boundaries outward in order to appear on the radars of the few people who can act as a link to the next stepping stone in our journey. So, the con is that it's immediately an uphill battle from the start.
Are there benefits of being a small-town band as well?

The benefit of having a smaller city to call home is that it's easier to become a "household name," because there aren't as many bands here as there are in cultural hubs such as New York City, Portland, Los Angeles, etc. That kind of presence can be leveraged in remarkable ways. For example, we entered a contest hosted by TouchTunes, a digital jukebox company, to be their "Breakout Band" for 2014. Out of a few hundred initial bands, we were able to rally enough support to make it to the top 10 finalists, which afforded us a couple of lasting benefits as a result. It's having the sense of community during times like that where coming from a smaller-sized hometown has its pros.

[3 Ways to Become Your Hometown's Favorite Band]
Even though your hometown has a limited music scene, do you feel like it influences your music at all?

Honestly, we deviate from what's mostly popular in the area. There are a lot of hard rock and metal listeners, as well as people who gravitate more towards rap and pop genres. But that's not to say that indie and alternative rock are totally out of people's interests. So, maybe it's fair to say we go against the grain a little bit and stick out in our own way. Much of our inspiration comes from bigger bands from other places, as well as what's on the cusp of the indie scene.
Without access to a large pool of venues nearby, how much does the internet play a role in getting your music out to new fans?

The internet is important, but it's not the end-all answer to exposure. It makes it much easier to promote new content, especially via sites like Facebook and YouTube, which are already customizable, so you can showcase your music and art to new people in an instant. There's a balance to be had between keeping a good online presence and also physically getting out there. We've had success in networking online and finding opportunities, but actually going out to other shows to see other bands play and the simple act of being sociable are also a great means to getting that grassroots foundation together.
Which online resources have been most helpful for you in terms of music promotion?

As far as online resources go, there are so many blogs and online magazines out there that are open to submissions and feature bands anywhere from a day-to-day basis to monthly features. We've been fortunate to have had exposure with both of those extremes, many of which have been through Sonicbids. Being featured on a website doesn't make your band famous immediately, but the value is in the fact that you want your name to become recognizable and relevant to what's going on in whatever genre you play. By being on those blogs and magazines, you're naturally paired up with the other names out there that are similar to you and, in all likelihood, probably have a fanbase that would be interested in your band as well.

[5 Strategies to Get Your Music Featured on Blogs]
What are some specific things that have worked for you in reaching new fans online?

A lot of what it takes to reach new people and appeal to their interests is just providing good content. As people see that you're actively producing material and being a part of different events, the word about you gets out. The media feed that people see on a day-to-day basis can be overwhelming and cluttered, so when we pitch something we want people to care about, we try to do it in a concise way. Visuals (if possible) are almost always a must. Simply having a good photo or compelling video to attach to a short, clear message will attract more attention than something that's just text and can be ignored rather easily.

Look at today's established bands and see what they do. It's then just a matter of applying that set of ideas to your content and seeing what works. Going back to what I mentioned earlier about getting out there physically – that's also a good way to secure people that will readily share your stuff online, and reach the network they have access to without having to pay for advertising.

[3 Easy Social Media Tweaks That Have a Big Impact on Fan Engagement]
Which Sonicbids gigs have helped you the most in expanding your music out of your hometown and into new audiences?

Mostly it's been through gigging – being able to apply for cool festivals and popular shows is always worth the brief time it takes to actually do the application. PrideFest in Pittsburgh is a good example of a great gig we landed through Sonicbids. It's a hugely popular event every year in Pittsburgh, and from what we've heard, it's the only event for which the city actually shuts down some of the streets due to the overwhelming turnout. Naturally, at events like that as well as CMJ (another opportunity afforded by Sonicbids) you meet a lot of new people – fans, musicians, bloggers, industry folk, etc. You see that extra bit of connectivity turn into growth that's sometimes reflected in your social media, or by the people who later contact you simply because you have the added credentials to your band's name.
Tell us a little more about your experience performing at CMJ 2014. What was it like having the opportunity to play such a large festival?

The whole experience in retrospect feels like a blur. It was also quite different from what we had expected, but in good ways. We were excited to be able to say that we were a part of it, because it was a festival in which we had wanted to perform for a long time. Being new to the festival, as well as NYC, of course meant that we weren't going to be opening for a big-name act, but we still had a lot of fun during our time there. We did make a few important connections at the time of our performance, which is truly where we made our impression and later received a positive write-up in the forums of AbsolutePunk.net.

[How to Connect With Influencers When You Have Zero Music Industry Connections]
What's your best advice for other small-town indie bands who aspire to break out and reach bigger music communities?

Our approach has been to reach out of the local and surrounding areas when we can, but mostly sticking to a regional circuit when it comes to playing out. The reason we do this is because it's hard to generate a big following in an area you aren't from before you get to a level where your name is being pushed around organically all over the place. So, when starting out, the only leverage or asset that your band can offer is how good your local draw is. It's unlikely that you'd find yourself in a place where there are no other artists on your level. Those other artists are the people you want to keep close, because working together with those artists will help you reach a point locally where your name is familiar to a large amount of people. That seems to be the thing that talent buyers, A&R scouts, and other well-connected people look for when they see a young band. So if you're looking to go the more mainstream route, you want to cultivate your area as much possible to show that you have what it takes to build a following.

Also, it helps to have an outside opinion on what you do and how it comes across to people. We've been through short periods of time where it felt like we weren't sure how to approach the "next step," and just getting a handful of opinions from people who had seen us actually helped refine our own ideas about what we wanted the band to be. It's good to be original, but if people can't make heads or tails of what you're doing, you can't expect them to attach themselves to it. You see bands become successful because they have a strong sense of identity and their following is made up of people who are receptive to what they're about. - Sonicbids

Indie-rock band, Marathon, is willing the go the distance. The five-piece based out of Lebanon, PA mixes the ambient stylings of Coldplay and Cursive while exploring the progressive feel of Circa Survive. Check out their story below!

Members:
Zach Wagner – Lead Vocals // Lead Guitar
Erich Wagner – Backup Vocals // Rhythm Guitar // Percussion
Rob Battle – Bass
Paul Winter – Keyboard
Ricky Kreiser – Drums

How did you form?
It is partially a family band – Erich, myself (Paul), and Zach are related (Erich and Zach being brothers). Rob is from the same area, went to school with us, and now lives with Erich. Ricky comes from a neighboring city – Lancaster, and we discovered him through mutual musical friends. The current lineup has been together for roughly a year, coming together in the summer of 2013. However, we’ve all been playing music since we were teenagers, and have collaborated musically since then as well to either jam or to work on different projects. So there is a familiarity to the group that allows for its cohesion and our ability to work together naturally. Zach is truly the locus of the music, being that he is the chief songwriter and possesses an amazing amount of musical talent beyond his main instruments. It is simply what he was born to do.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?
There are two things that are competing for the main highlight from two different facades of our career – one is the release of our debut album, in particular its reception thus far, and the other is a number of performances that stuck with us, which culminated in Pittsburgh’s PrideFest earlier this summer. In regards to the album, the amount of praise it has received has been inspiring. You don’t exactly know what you’re going to get back when you put something out, and when people – whether it be people we know, fans, other musicians, or writers – want to tell you that they love what you are doing, that’s telling us something on a bigger scale. I also mentioned PrideFest, which stands out on its own because of how huge of a festival it was (and because of its nature), but it also felt like an amazing way to wrap up some of our initial touring. Honestly, we’ve fell in love with a number of venues, some of which, surprisingly, were more intimate locations, which is the exact opposite of what we experienced at PrideFest. There’s a different kind of excitement to be had both for the fans and us when we are playing on the floor at a sold-out show in a small venue, versus the excitement of playing on a gigantic stage in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh. Those are the kinds of things that we look forward to experiencing, and, overall, it has been an incredible start to our career.

Why should people listen to you? What makes you different?
I think the easiest way to describe what we do is as a fresh take on things. We certainly share similar vibes with other alternative artists, and people pick up on that. Yet it’s never the same response. A lot of people have made comparisons but we rarely hear the same comparison twice. That’s a good thing – it means we’ve found a place of our own without having to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. What we do is familiar enough to people that they can pick up on the overall ‘genre’ of our music and get into the songs. At the same time, there are aspects of our music that are totally our own. A good example of this is the drums in ‘Roomful of Clocks’. - Highlight Magazine (Nick Yacovazzi)

September 23, 2014 By: Nightclub & Bar

TouchTunes Breakout Band 2014 Competition Releases Top 10 FinalistsTouchTunes Breakout Band 2014 competition is in full swing. The contest started with 208 bands aspirin g to be the next big thing and is now down to 10 finalists. The contest puts a modern twist on the battle of the bands, using TouchTunes’ social jukebox mobile app and its network of location-based jukeboxes to bring the music to the people in a social, fun setting.

TouchTunes Breakout Band 2014 Top Ten:

All The Locals (Decatur, Georgia)
Clark Manson (Covington, Ohio)
Maggie Szabo (Los Angeles, California)
Mike Sanchez (North Palm Beach, Florida)
The Upset Victory (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Asha Sing (Plantation, Florida)
Gas Station Disco (Cressona, Pennsylvania)
Marathon (Palmyra, Pennsylvania)
Post Coma Network (Columbus, Ohio)
The Young Rapscallions (Woodland Hills, California) - Nightclub.com

This next album has more of an indie rock vibe compared to my other reviews. I found out about this band during the week as I was looking for some new material to write about. I stumbled across the band Marathon, and instantly felt a connection. Residing in Pennsylvania, Marathon consists of Zach and Erich Wagner on guitars and vocals, Ricky Kreiser on drums, Paul Winter on keys, and Robert Battle on the bass guitar. The sound they create is very expansive, showing their musical knowledge despite their youth. I can easily describe the genre of music as indie rock, but much of the album also falls into different musical genres, from ambient rock, to alternative rock, to progressive rock. Reminding me of bands like Slow Runner and Lydia, I enjoyed listening to them as I played their self-titled album “Marathon” multiple times a day.

From the beginning, the listener is hooked on the snare-driven drumbeats and effect-heavy keyboard in the song “Off White.” Kreiser, Battler, and Winter do an excellent job at their respective instruments to help set the mood and vibe for the entire album. With such great production, these members do their part in providing a high-quality product. I love the snare hits and clacking of drumsticks that are used in the songs “Roomful of Clocks” and “Chapel.“ The album also closes with synth and keys as it does in the beginning, which gives a feeling of completion when the album ends.

The guitar work that both Wagners provide is brilliant, using a mix of simple chord progressions with effect-driven melodies and dominant guitar solos. Songs like “Of Bloom” and “Symbaline“ show the lead guitar at its finest, with memorable solos that I can’t help but rewind and replay. The ambient nature of this album makes it harder for the listener to predict how album will progress, and when the next strum of a distorted guitar will begin. In addition to the ambient feeling, the songs on “Marathon” also flow into each other, leaving the listener with a proggy experience as well. The atmosphere of this album leaves the listener more focused than on any other album.

The vocals are very subtle and clean throughout the album, almost as if the listener is dreaming instead of hearing. The dreamlike affect that Wagner’s vocals has on his audience lasts through the entire album, but is best displayed in the song “Mountaineering.” With the use of dual vocals, the Wagners create the most memorable vocal moment on the album. This trance that is created by the band makes the album appear much shorter than it is, but in fact clocks in at 47 minutes. The album closes with “Ghosts of Ours,” as Wagner’s voice is reminiscent of Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree with his breathy, lower tone during the verse. The songwriting is excellent, mixing creative and thought-provoking lyrics with everyday situations. I believe their best song on the album is “Shine,” with its combined power of guitar, drums, bass, keys, vocals and lyrics that leave me with goosebumps. My favorite lyric comes from this song’s second verse:

"Well I watched the debt collect on the pavement, as dead as leaves / And waited for the day to come back again / And I wore the pouring rain on my shoulders for seven years / To carry the weight around on my chest”

I highly recommend this album to those who love indie rock, alternative rock, ambient rock, and even progressive rock. I also recommend this album to those who like the bands Silversun Pickups, Lydia, Slow Runner, and maybe even some of Coldplay’s harder songs. This is the perfect album to listen to in the dark with the moonlight shining in the room. It’s an easy listening experience, and its dreamlike tendencies are perfect for the moments before you drift to sleep. The techniques used through the album are very catchy, and generate many unforgettable moments. Please support Marathon by checking out their Bandcamp page and checking out their self-titled album “Marathon.”

Keno Approved. - Kenny Norton

One of the greatest joys of going through our submissions box has to be discovering new musicians. It's a shame that some of the greatest talents receive so little shine from various media outlets. That is why it bothers us that a Pennsylvania rock band known as Marathon is not being covered by every single music blog, website, and television network. Seriously don't just take our word for it because after one listen of their album, you'll agree too.

If you love authentic rock fused with some of the most rich and ambient sounds you'll ever find, then these boys will blow you away. Marathon understands how to be both true to the genre of while still being innovative at the same time. Even their guitar work should please most rock purists, but we believe that it is their desire to push boundaries is what makes them more interesting.

Their primary vocalists, Zach and Erich do an amazing job of keeping your attention through the use of fluctuating tones and pitches. Their voices are super likable and the cool vocal effects that they use on a few song sections truly emphasize that likability.

Simply put, Marathon is the future and you better take notice! - Zambah

I often find myself wondering how I got to be as fortunate as I have with the path I've chosen with this blog. I think back to just a few years ago, before indie music became such a huge part of my being, and wonder how many indie artists I missed out on. One thing that I was never cognizant of was how manipulated I was being by the mainstream. I was one of the flock, following along and listening to what I was being given to listen to. Little did I know that there was a whole other world of music out there left undiscovered. I was never aware that there was such a diverse group of artists all over the world putting out music that I never knew I liked. Until now.

Tonight, I give to you, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA's very own, Marathon.

I'm going to be the first to admit that when this band first came onto my radar, I had no idea what I was in for. I don't ever recall having purposely listened to a ambient indie rock/dream pop band before. I'm sure that at some juncture, there have been artists with some semblance of this sound in the repertoire. But would I have ever picked them out of the crowd? Something tells me I was destined to wait for something really special to come along. That something special, I believe, is Marathon.

Zach Wager, vocals/guitar; Erich Wagner, guitar/vocals/percussion; Robert Battle, bass; Paul Winter, keyboard and Ricky Kreiser, drums, are the players responsible for pushing the envelop of musicianship that is Marathon. Once you press play, you're instantly hooked. There are times when other artists allow themselves to be overshadowed by the production of their music. This is never the case here. The artist and the production value compliment each other flawlessly. There's a cohesiveness from start to finish that allows you to immerse yourself in the artistry and get lost in the music.

Head over to the band's official website now to download their self-titled debut album. Although they're offering it for free, remember, it wasn't free for them to record it. Give back to the band. - MY Indie Music Blog (Carlos Gnipp)

Certain songs and artists have a distinct capability of taking us to other places and times. Whether it’s their geographic origin near my hometown, or their soft ambient flavored rock stylings, Lebanon, Pennsylvania Indie Rock group, Marathon, hits that special spot for me. An incredibly new group, there’s something whimsically charming about the simplicity of it all. As someone who routinely craves hooks, thrashing guitars, or belting vocals, I’m quite taken that I enjoy their tunes despite the lack of all of these things. Give a listen and check them out on Facebook and Twitter to see what you think.

[Official Bio] “Somewhere in the spectrum of experimental indie-rock, there lies Marathon: a style-blending, genre-bending outfit from Central Pennsylvania dedicated to creating music which pushes the envelope. During the indefinite hiatus of their previous progressive/alternative project, chief songwriter Zach Wagner (guitar, vocals) spent a year focusing on songwriting, production, and recording demos in his makeshift bedroom studio. With renewed focus and positive reaction to his demos, Zach decided to develop his solitary project into a full-scale band, adding members Erich Wagner (guitar, vocals, percussion), Robert Battle (bass), Paul Winter (keyboard), and Ricky Krieser (drums).

Technically proficient, Marathon boasts stellar guitar work both in layering and in lead, with drumming that is both unobtrusive and interesting—even unorthodox at times. Dual vocalists Zach and Erich Wagner strike a unique balance between a warm, whisper-like voice and a yearning, more tonal singing that often soars achingly over the landscape below—a landscape which is multilevel-ed with effects and programming, yet neither cluttered nor distracting. Atmospheric and ambient, yet poignant and raw at just the right moments, Marathon develops a vastness of sound without pretension and with unparalleled maturity for such a young band.” - Label Recruit

Running marathons is rewarding. Movie marathons are relaxing. The marathon of life is exciting. The bandMarathon, is all of the above. This Pennsylvania-based group is delightfully chill, and will take the edge off the roughest of days. Their intricate melodies and hypnotic lyrics, blend a soft indie sound with a harder, prog-rock edge. After a chance discovery on twitter (which lead us to their album, availible for FREE here), we reached out to the rockers, who opened up about bending genres, the Philly scene, and more…



How did you guys come up with your name?

I was listening to a band called Kayo Dot who have a song called Marathon. We wanted to have a simple one-word name that could stick. So I chose Marathon and it’s been a successful choice.

Your music combines multiple different genres – you seem to cover everything from rock ‘n’ roll to electronic. Did you set out to be genre-benders, or did it just come naturally?

For the most part, it comes naturally. We’re open to experimentation in order to allow the music to take on a life of its own. So there’s some intention of not being too controlling buried within our practicing, which is followed by further refinement. Once something fits within the song it becomes a matter of polishing the sound and exposing it for it’s strengths rather than trying to morph it into something genre-specific. Part of our inclination to do so is due to the fact that we listen to all kinds of music and love a lot of the newer indie rock bands that blend genres together. I like to discover unpredictable aspects in the music I hear. So, I try and apply that to my own writing.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

We’re influenced by bands that don’t sound a whole lot like us. Personally, I love bands like Radiohead,Animal Collective, and other bands that have clearly worked to find their own sound that is very separate from anyone else’s. We strive to do the same through our own creative process so what we make are songs that are distinctly ‘Marathon’. There’s so much great music out right now so it’s important to offer something that feels new. If you try and replicate another band, it’s too easy to just become a mediocre version of the band that did it first. So the bands that have achieved an original sound pose both inspiration and a challenge to us – to do the same without being the same.

What is your favorite track off your album?

I think the band favorite is probably Roomful of Clocks in combination with Bath. For us, that combo really stands out both live and on the album. I also really like Off White and Ghosts of Ours.

How do you think that being based in PA has shaped your musical style?

I don’t know that our sound is specific to PA but I think it has an east coast vibe. There’s the moderate climate dynamic. Writing songs in the summer has a very different outcome than writing in the winter during a blizzard.

What has been your favorite place to perform?

We’ve played a lot of cool places but I normally like the smaller venues, even smaller places that aren’t actually music venues. It’s easier to figure out a crowd reaction when they’re right there on the floor with you. As cliche as it is to say, we prefer the more intimate shows.

What’s next for Marathon?

Our current album is being remastered and we’ll be working on an EP as well as a full-length. I’ll be filming our second music video along with some other promotional stuff. We will be booking tons of shows locally and we’ll tour around as far as our 1988 junker van will take us!


- Molly Boekenheide - Joonbug

Marathon is a five piece indie rock band from Lebanon PA, the lineup features Zach Wagner (guitar, vocals) Erich Wagner (guitar, vocals, percussion), Ricky Kreiser (drums), Robert Battle (bass), and Paul Winter (keyboard/synth). You can grab their self-titled album and pay what you like via their website now.

Their music pushes the genre’s envelope in a number of directions, uniquely pulling off an indie rock sound that is also progressive and experimental at times. Marathon’s debut self-titled album was released in September of 2013, being completely a DIY project – from composing all the way to mixing and mastering. The band chief, Zach Wagner, handles most of the composing and mixing, while also being the lead guitarist and singer. - IndieMinded

“Indie dream-pop lovers, allow us to introduce you to your new favorite band: meet Marathon, a five-piece from Lebanon, PA that’s catching ears with their genre-bending tunes. The best part about Marathon? They just released their debut self-titled LP here for exactly $0! And really, who can say no to that?!

“Marathon” kicks off with the hurried yet relaxed “Off White,” drawing clear influence from bands like The Neighbourhood and Maudlin Strangers. Next up is the riff-tastic “Of Bloom,” which highlights Marathon’s musicianship that very few can successfully demonstrate. “Shine” and “Sea Of Leaves” take a step back from the heavy guitars, before fading into the masterful “Roomful Of Clocks.” “Roomful Of Clocks” is incredible, with dual frontmen Zach and Erich Wagner’s voices dreamily floating above fantastically layered instrumentals. “Bath” and “Symboline” are delicious contradictions to one another, with “Bath” being slighly spanish-sounding and “Symbaline” channeling the lovechild of Muse and Coldplay. “Mountaineering” reminds listeners of a more complex Moon Taxi, the multi-dimensional track once again highlighting Marathon’s vocals, with the frontmen crooning, “Don’t you feel the cold breeze? / Sleeping like you’re dead in this heat…”. “Chapel” is next, starting off with a sharp piano that continues throughout, distracting a bit from the vocals, which is definitely different from Marathon’s previous tracks, and fades into the transition track, “Hall.” The album wraps up with “Ghosts Of Ours,” which showcases a rougher vocal distortion blended with punk-esque guitars interestingly paired together with complex drums that are just faded enough to keep the beat. Overall, a stellar debut from a hugely talented band. Watch out for these guys this year, they’re going places!” - JamSpreader

From their expansive acoustic epic “Mountaineering” to the cascading fusion intimacy of “Chapel,” Marathon(pa) summons everything from Stone Roses and The Verve‘s Richard Ashcroft’s breathless swagger to Stanley Clarke’s Animal Logic project with Stewart Copeland and Deborah Holland to form one of the most exciting releases we have heard in 2014.

In selecting the band as our Indie Artist of the Month for October, we naturally wanted an excuse to learn more about whence their dynamic, enthralling and enigmatic sound springs, particularly because it is a month often tinged with melancholy and strange dreams and things bumping around at twilight.

MusicZeitgeist: Who is Marathon(pa)?

Marathon(pa): We’re partially a family band – Erich and Zach are brothers, and I (Paul) am their cousin. Andy and Rob have been friends with each other and us for years. We’ve all jammed together as well as connected over music we like, so that has made our friendship and musicianship tighter. We’re lucky in that fact that we have a long history as a group of friends, as it makes working together so natural.

MZ: How do these incredible arrangements come together?

Marathon(pa): Our band began with Zach, who writes all of the music. Honestly, it started as his own solo project, but over time it matured into a full-scale band. One of the best parts of being in this band, in particular as a group of friends, is that the line between who we are outside of playing music and who we are in the band is blurred. We don’t have to pretend in one scenario or the other, we are just ‘Marathon’.

A general way of describing our music is calling it Indie or Alternative Rock. While those are broad descriptions, we’ve been compared to a lot of other artists, including Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Circa Survive, Cursive, and quite a few others.

MZ: Your songs are deeply ambitious and gorgeously executed. I even hear Shudder to Think, Slowdive, At The Drive-In – all sorts of comparisons – but really it legitimately feels like something all its own.

Perhaps your roots, geography will give us a stronger clue as to the nature of the sound?

Marathon(pa): We’re from Lebanon, PA. Though some of us have lived in Philadelphia as well, Lebanon is our hometown and is where Marathon began. We came together the summer of 2013 as a serious band, however we’ve all been playing music since we were young, and since then have collaborated on other projects. Some of the first times we actually bonded were over albums we liked or just to jam.

There are a lot of threads from our personal lives that have intertwined over the years. So, the official formation date is in 2013. It just feels to us like it’s been longer than that.

Marathon_self_titled_cover_Art_2013

MZ: So what’s next? What does a terrific indie artist like you do these days to take over the world?

Marathon(pa): We’re in TouchTunes’ Breakout Band competition as one of the top 10 finalists out of several hundred competing for the number one spot, so that’s exciting, and the winner will be announced at the end of this month. We have two festivals that we’re looking forward to playing as well, one of which is Electric City Music Conference in Scranton on the 12th, and the other is CMJ in Manhattan on the 23rd.

CMJ is of course a big deal for us, especially since it’ll be our first time performing at it. Music-wise, we’re working on new songs right now for our next album, which we want to have ready to release in early 2015.

Listen now to “Chapel” by Marathon(pa) and other artists we have featured at the MusicZeitgeist.com’s free Indie Music Jukebox. - Ighuaran - MusicZeitgeist.com

N/A - Radio interview. Recorded Live.

Playback link:
http://www.spreaker.com/user/4524520/interview-with-marathon

Featured Songs:
'Ghosts of Ours'
'Mountaineering'

Length: 40:54 - Dr. Bones (Brian Bulger)

N/A - Recorded Interview.

Playback Link:
http://www.iaemagazine.com/podcast/the-miews/2014/07/episode19.html

Featured Songs:
'Ghosts of Ours'

Length: 15:08 - The Miews (Shaine Freeman)

The end of CMJ seems like the perfect excuse to bring back the Bored On Sunday column and discuss the best bands we've all discovered at music festivals. Despite most festivals having incredible lineups, with hundreds (if not thousands) of artists playing, there are always a few performances that stand out. They're often not the most popular shows, the most attended, or the most talked about, but they are what stand out to you and me... and what make the festival experience so memorable.

I spent the entire week roaming the streets of NYC, partying with fellow AP.net writers, and seeing band after band after band. I couldn't make a list of every artist I saw this past week, as is the case at every festival (or is it just my old age?), but as always, there were a few that stood out. More often than not, I actually end up falling in love with smaller, often unknown, that I usually don't know about beforehand. This year's CMJ was no different. On Thursday night, I found myself at the Alphabet Lounge and came across Marathon, a five piece indie-rock band from Pennsylvania. It took only a few minutes of them playing for me to start wondering why the venue wasn't packed. I was truly blown away. There was no other artist I'd seen this week that could hold a candle to their performance. Marathon seemed to combine what I always loved most about the AP.net and "indie" music. I was in love. I am in love. And I can't stop gushing about them, because everyone needs to hear their music. - AbsolutePunk (Lueda Alia)

Marathon has cycled through several lives in its short existence, transitioning from a bedroom pop project into a progressive indie rock band with ever-expanding layers of texture. If the Pennsylvania-based band’s latest single is any indication, they haven’t stopped evolving yet. “Chrome Waves” is the title track of Marathon’s forthcoming full-length, and it finds the band more focused and less prone to self-indulgence.

Frontman Zach Wagner has stripped down his song structures and built outward from there, layering ambient textures that don’t detract from the simple pleasures of the pop melody at the center of it all. His new approach on Chrome Waves involves sampling and a heavier dependence on synths, both of which are apparent in the album’s lead single.

The lyrics of “Chrome Waves” seem to reference Wagner’s personal struggle with anxiety, which almost crippled the band at one point. “I was having massive panic attacks on a daily basis where I couldn’t breathe and my heart would beat so intensely I was sure I was going to have a heart attack,” the songwriter explains. “I wasn’t musically inspired in the least and so I really didn’t have any way to cope without music. I decided to abandon whatever ideas I had surrounding what I thought Marathon was supposed to sound like and took a different approach to the music I was making, both in writing and production.”

Chrome Waves is the result of that approach. Listen in to the title track below. - Consequence Of Sound