New Crash Position

Sometimes when you hear a song that just sticks in your mind no matter what, you know it's destined to be a hit. Then you find out it was written and performed by a local band that hasn't even released its first CD.

That makes it a discovery.

The song is "Needle in the Red," and the band is New Crash Position. NCP already has a local fan base that is spreading rapidly.

"People seem to be noticing us," said lead vocalist Jawn McElroy.

None of the musicians are new to the game. McElroy was playing in E3 when he met drummer G.J. Gosman of Neurotica five years ago. Bassist Rapheal was playing in Head First, and guitarist Chris Cantwell was in the Chase Theory. They formed NCP in October.

"We all played together in shows at one time or another, so we knew each other," McElroy said.

NCP has a tight, energetic rock sound with a lot of melody. With a bit of Nickelback in Cantwell's punky guitar riffs and strains of early Metallica in Raphael's bass lines, they are a band for today's musical culture. McElroy's vocals are intense and hypnotic, while Gosman's drumming wraps the sound up tight.

"Each one has its own identity," McElroy said. "We don't want to write the same song twice. Chris or myself comes up with a guitar riff, and from there, it's a group effort. Raphael puts in something, then Geej (Gosman) tightens it up, and I write the lyrics."

"If we're not comfortable with something, we change it," Cantwell added.

"Sometimes, it seems like bands want their whole album to match," McElroy said. "We like each song to be different, to have its own sound. Why wait for several projects to create something unique?"

McElroy describes the band's material as "interesting, yet maintaining a simple line with a strong melody."

NCP is taking its high-energy, melodic material into Polysound studio to record its first album with producer Wes Price. It should be done within a month, but won't be released until August, Raphael said.

Not only are NCP fans anxiously awaiting the release of the CD, but "we have some record labels interested in us, too, so we are looking forward to getting the album out," Gosman said.

"We are really excited about playing our next show, too, because there is someone quite important coming from California to see us play."
- BY SONIE LASKER - CORRESPONDENT Hearald Tribune