Once Okay Twice

It is high time we do something on Once Okay Twice. The band has been putting out EPs like no one's business, playing literally every venue you've heard of in DC (even some you probably have not heard of), opening for acts as varied as Ziggy Marley and 311 and Junior League and in general being very, very busy spreading their indie poprollicking sound around. Tonight they're headlining Rock'n'Roll Hotel (for those into reality gossip, Wicked Liquid, the band of one of the Real World DC housemates, is opening) and they've been kind enough to share some of their songs with us. Kick off your Thursday noon right:


Smooth Eclipse Of The Soul

This song dates back pretty far but has evolved since the band's beginnings back in 2005. At the heart of the song are some jazz chords and some mild syncopation with the drums and bass. Nick, Dan, and I tracked the guitar, bass and drums live with Don Z at Inner Ear. We recorded a demo version of this in my attic that had Erika's violin parts. Lyrically, Ian is swish-money on this song with his soaring melody and inner-planetary themes about moon shoes and his nemesis: gravity. He (along with myself and Eka) are big fans of Tears for Fears and you can hear that in the keyboard and synth parts. Tyler-- one of the best technical guitarists I've worked with-- thickened up my OG scratch guitar tracks and brought some pitch-perfect harmonies to the second pre-verse.

I Have An Illness

This song started with Nick's the bass line and then came together almost instantly. The driving nature and simple layout gives it a Joy Division quality, which the less mainstream crowd relates too. Erika's violin work alternates between plucking and playing with the bow. Ian's lyrics are easy to understand on the surface but have a deeper meaning. Rarely does he sing anything that isn't a metaphor for something else. Whether it's positive or negative, it's inspirational. Our producer Ed Churchman remixed this song using just our vocals, the guitar line and his own elements.


Michael Night

Nick has a little looping pedal that he uses to layer little parts at home. He came to practice with the first riff idea completed. We just added some atmospheric guitars and that outro that borders on 90's alternative rock. The keys and synths shine on this song and that component has been increasingly important as we moved forward with our sound-- especially during the lineup changes we've endured over the last 4 years. This song was originally dubbed "Sans Kito" after this kid named Kito who impersonated Ian at a bar and got thrown out. We got phone calls the next day that Ian was banned from the club. They probably should ban him anyway just to keep safe.

Want More:
Befriend the band on myspace here: http://www.myspace.com/onceokaytwice and make sure you check them out live tonight @ RNR Hotel - Brightest Young Things

The hometowns of the members of Once Okay Twice span the United States as well as Singapore, but the band was born in the District of Columbia.

Once Okay Twice began as a two-piece basement band with Craig Smith on guitar and a friend who later left the band. From there, Erika Seberhagen was brought in on violin and Ian Thomas played the bass and sang until Nick Hardt took over bass duties. When the drummer quit for creative differences, Dan Goldberg filled the spot. Smith moved to Los Angeles, so Tyler Elliott came in as a guitar ringer, and when Smith is in town they both take the stage.

When asked to describe the Once Okay Twice’s music in one word, members of the band give a variety of answers from “svelte” to “democratic” to “ours.” It isn’t surprising that they all have different responses, since they have quite different musical tastes, ranging from Karen Carpenter to the Spinners, Tears for Fears, Hall and Oates, the Bee Gees, and more. But all of their musical interests come together nicely to create an indie-rock band with a hint of soul.

On “The District” (available for play on MySpace), the band sings about the city’s dynamic and mixes one of President Obama’s speeches into the chorus. The violin gives off a melancholy feeling until it’s set behind Obama’s words, then the melody becomes uplifting and more assertive and the song fades out with chants of “Yes, we can!”

Thomas says the band has enough songs to fill two albums but will probably release two or three EPs. The name for the first is still being decided, and the band doesn’t have any plans to release a full-length just yet.

“If we ever get signed to a label,” Thomas says, “that’s when you can expect the full-length album.”
- Washingtonian

To know them, is to love them. The sweethearts of the DC music scene, Once Okay Twice formed in 2006 and have earned much critical acclaim and local success while working their way around town. They continue to successfully evolve as a band—due in part to necessity—which has been one of the main reasons they have been able to maintain such a strong fan base. Indeed, in some respects they have outgrown their earlier, self-proclaimed “DC party band” label and now take on comparisons to bands such as Kings of Leon and Bloc Party with their inspired blend of rock, pop, and chamber. Capturing their trademark exuberance and unfailing optimism, their songs such as “Welcome” and “Indie Soul” offer listeners dance worthy beats, flying chord combinations, and lyrics that encourage you to sing along as if they were your own songs. Add to that the band members’ refreshing and often unconventional styles with an intent love of life, and there you have Once Okay Twice.

During the last year, the members of the band have had to balance real world pressures with their dedication to Once Okay Twice. Recently, the band replaced three of its original members, which ultimately helped spur the band to redefine itself. Founding guitarist, Craig Smith move to LA for his job and was later replaced by the talented Tyler Elliott. When possible, Craig flies back for shows and together he and Tyler become the dynamic guitar duo on stage. The band also had to go without their drummer Daniel Goldberg, who is now pursuing a degree in medicine, which opened the door for them to find Nic Iraci. Learning the band’s material in record time, Nic has proven to be a strong and welcome addition to the band. Finally, this past May the band’s violinist and sole female, Erika Seberhagen performed her last show with the band after deciding that it was time to pursue some of her other goals in life. The band is still looking for the right replacement to fill Erika’s shoes. These changes left the lead vocalist and keyboard player, Ian Thomas, and bass player Nicholas Hardt to carry the torch.

For some bands these fundamental changes would equal disaster, but for Once Okay Twice it just meant new opportunities were around the corner. Embracing the change, which was in some sense inevitable, they have planned an ambitious summer. With performances slated at Mirrors in NE this Friday, the VIP stage at Nissan Pavilion (opening for 311 and Ziggy Marley) on June 28, and the State Theatre on July 30, they have no intention of missing a single beat. This summer the band also plans to release its second EP with six to seven tracks. The release will feature both Craig and Tyler on guitars, providing a well-rounded sound for the band. While the band couldn’t choose a favorite new song, they did note that one in particular, “Cigarette Song” has been a fan favorite at recent shows. According to Ian, “It is pretty different from any of our other songs because it is our only song that is sort of romantic. It’s pretty smooth and mellow, but it is also definitely very sexy, and who doesn’t love sexy?! We’d be extremely happy if we could verify that at least one child was conceived to ‘Cigarette Song’ down the road.”

We at DoS are long time fans of Once Okay Twice, in particular because they always find time to support local charities and other non-profit groups through their music. This past May they performed at DoS’ benefit show at the Rock and Roll Hotel for the Children’s Inn at NIH. Most recently, they were slated to perform at a summer camp for children who have various diseases related to Muscular Dystrophy. However, the H1N1 outbreak forced the cancellation of performance. While this was disappointing for the campers, it was also unfortunate for the band since this is one of their favorite shows to perform each year. The band has promised to help make it up to the kids as soon as possible. If there was any doubt that these young musicians are deserving of their successes, the fact that they use their music for good and not evil should help convince you.

Be on the lookout for more good things to come from Once Okay Twice, including the release of their new EP later this summer. Get to know Once Okay Twice even better, visit: www.myspace.com/onceokaytwice. - District of Sound