Psychic Hearts
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Psychic Hearts

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The best kept secret in music

Press


"The Police/Delicious 7" Release"

"After a pensive five-month break from the public eye, Athens’ Psychic Hearts returns with a two-song 7” that brings Orwellian fear and paranoia to a fine point.

Psychic Hearts are not a punk band, but the 7” format is a punk icon - as are the jittery, powerful and nihilistic rhythms welling inside “Police.” Guitarist-vocalist Matthew Rain bluntly offers, “The police, the ministers and their wives will all look away in shame but I’ll take the blame…” The systems of control are baring their teeth, and as the constrictive rhythms fashioned by drummer Carr Chadwick, and bassist-keyboardist Nico Cashin tighten, anxiety becomes the singular propelling emotion.

On the flip-side, “Delicious” exchanges urgency for recognition of meaningless phrases that are sinister in their ambiguity. Sharp, angular progressions come together with spontaneity that marches with a sense of conceptual fascism. Comparisons to Wire and Gang of Four are apparent, but whereas these predecessors wielded manic grooves to break free from oppression, Psychic Hearts is hell-bent on facing the tormentors head-on. The shiny happy people of a Utopian Athens music scene share their streets with a volatile new neighbor."- Chad Radford
- Flagpole


"Live Review: 7"


"It was an early night for live music at Lenny's - "early" meaning ending just before 12:30AM to make way for the weekly Trashed Dance Party. After Austin, Texas five-piece Crawling With Kings and a cancellation by local Mantissa, Psychic Hearts ruled the day's end. With a fluorescent fetish's setup that is reminiscent of Atlanta's I Almost Saw God in the Metro or Dropsonic, Psychic Hearts quickly became the illuminating centerpiece of the six-inch-high stage.

Compared to the sound on their first EP, this Athens trio has become more synth heavy, which is a great thing. Their rumbling synthesizers and raging keys set them apart from the rest of the riff-raff that seems to think using anything apart from a guitar or drum is something special. Their quick and energetic percussion prohibited anyone from cracking a yawn and could have quite possibly provoked flashbacks among war vets. The guitar's contrast to the canvas created by the other segments was sheer Pollack splatters over Warhol, modern pop speckled with modern expressionism, the new wave sound with splashes of grunge. Sultry vocals teetered on the edge of monotony with spikes of excitement and angst.

At the merch table sat the birthday boy of the evening - a white 7" by the name of Police/Delicious, the offspring of Psychic Hearts and the Athens-based label White Like A Raygun. The group is on the cutting edge of the 7" renaissance by including the tracks on a CD with purchase of the vinyl, making their music accessible to all. While the recorded tracks are of high quality, you don't get the full effect until you see Psychic Hearts live. Their live set is a toe-tappin', butt-wiggling, shoulder-grooving, and head-shaking celebration that will undoubtedly have your ears ringing until the next day's brunch. "

-Review and photo by Alex Adan - Southeast Performer Magazine


"For This Young Local Band, Every Minute Is Golden"

"The Athens music scene is littered with the stories of bands that initially flew high on talent and hype and then fizzled into obscurity with hardly anyone noticing. Indeed, it's been said many times that success right out of the box can be more damaging and threatening to a band's life-expectancy than the more common endurance test most bands have to struggle through in order to find any recognition. None of which is to say that listeners should feel sorry for acts that seem to have found themselves in the catbird seat within a few months of forming; far from it. Neither is it to say that such bands need necessarily be viewed with a jaundiced eye and a suspicious ear. What it does mean, however, is that early success can lull bandmembers into a sense of complacency.

This complacency tends to exhibit itself in common ways: bandmembers spend more time hanging out at the bar than they do in the rehearsal hall, the band writes fewer and fewer songs until virtually every show is a carbon copy of the previous one and the band, in general, becomes less and less compelling within a relatively short period and winds up on the Athens scrap heap along with the hundreds of other formerly-recognizable footnotes.

Yeah, that sounds harsh, but I've seen it happen time and time again. The whole point of the above is to describe an all-too-common situation that I hope current Athens favorites and up-and-comers Psychic Hearts will consciously avoid. So far all signs point to their staying power.

After forming in the spring of 2004, Psychic Hearts (Matthew Rain on guitar and vocals, Nicole Cashin on bass and keyboards and Carr Chadwick on drums) found themselves playing to packed houses almost immediately. Although it's fair to say that their first couple of performances were populated mostly by friends or acquaintances, as soon as word spread about this exciting young group, their shows become more and more crowded with eager music fans anxious to hear what more than one person had described as one of the most exciting new Athens bands in a long time.

While Cashin (who has developed both her keyboard and bass skills within the last year) and Chadwick (who began playing drums in the ninth grade and spent his high school years in Oxford, MS, blues-rock band Transit) were both new additions to the Athens music scene, Rain had previously enjoyed lots of stage time with his band Yugami. As is often the case, Yugami split for reasons of, basically, being a dead end road. As Rain says, "I broke up Yugami because I was sure it wasn't going anywhere."

Musically, Psychic Hearts are invigorating. The band is driving without being pummeling, and the songs are purposeful. Each song is a composition as opposed to being a mish-mash of chords that sorta-kinda sound okay together, which is a trap many bands fall into. While some have compared the overall sound of the band to such ‘90s superstars as Smashing Pumpkins, I hear a sound far earlier than that. When forced to make a comparison, I tend to fall in the direction of Joy Division (which is not a comparison I make lightly), Lords of The New Church and perhaps an overdriven Bauhaus. Although the band lays claim to inspiration ranging from The Cars and David Bowie to Black Sabbath and Lou Reed, it becomes frustrating - and ultimately impossible - to pin a badge on Psychic Hearts.

Ultimately, what can reassure listeners and fans of the band's prospective longevity is the fact that their success seems to have taken them completely by surprise. Not that they doubt the potency of their music, but that they are truly humbled by their experience rather than becoming arrogant about it. The band is also on the right track by not being afraid to give away their recordings. So far, the Hearts has given away over 500 copies of their Andy Baker-recorded EP, which they released at their show opening for a freshly re-born Macha, and has made the whole thing available for download on their website. Baker's reputation in Athens and elsewhere is one of unquestioned integrity and his talented hands produced a wonderful document of the band so far. Says Rain, "You really can't say enough nice things about Andy. It's so great to work with him because he's so focused and professional, but he's always relaxed and cool about everything."

So far, the band's focus has been singular and forceful. When asked about their goals, the bandmembers give as much credit to their audience as anything else. Rain, especially, articulates this sentiment: "I'd have to say that the energy at the shows and the awesome response from people all across the board has helped us to stay on track. It's a lot easier to work hard when you know that there are people sincerely interested in what you're making. I just hope that we can continue to find a larger audience without conforming to mediocrity."

Cashin gives a healthy amount of credit to the internal workings of the group, saying, "We want people to hear our m - Flagpole Magazine


"Psychic Hearts for forgetful minds"

"...
Last night, I was persuaded (read: endlessly reminded by Dave) to go see Psychic Hearts. The newly formed Athens band has been generating a substantial amount of buzz... enough so that the buzz is now finding it's way into Atlanta ears. *KISS* Atlanta will be posting a full blown profile and interview with the band on Thursday of next week. I'll shut up now and get on with a brief review of the show.

Venue: Drunken Unicorn
Bands (in order): The Blue Hour, Psychic Hearts, The Blame, and The Close

The Psychic Hearts proved to be worthy of their buzz. Their live performance was a nice step up from the more restrained nature of their CD. . .On stage they were a good reminder of what dancepunk really is. No house music with a splash of guitars here... just straight up 3 piece punk influenced goodness with a drummer who knows how to beat out a disco high-hat. Bass lines were reminiscent of Joy Division (think Disorder), but the crunchy, near metal guitar tones were enough to distance themselves from cliche sounds of contemporary dance rock.

...I'm quite impressed with what I've heard and seen so far. We look forward to seeing them develop in the coming months." - *kiss* atlanta (www.kissatlanta.com)


"Psychic Hearts Come to Town"

"It’s easy to see that the band puts in hours and hours of practice – the songs are explosively tight...

Simply put, the Psychic Hearts are all about energy, and their stage presence is amazing for a young three-piece band. Songs typically clock in at just over three minutes, and always leave the listener begging for more.

...This confidence is more than justified by their live shows. Fans of more popular indie acts such as Franz Ferdinand and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs will find refuge in the catchy but tasteful hooks the Psychic Hearts throw into the audience."
- The Daily Mississippian


"Music Midtown: Local"

"Plain and simple, The Psychic Hearts (pictured, top right) are a great band. It would be easy to go off about their delightful, dark post-punk scores that could easily have come from Joy Division, Autolux or Bauhaus, their frenetic performances or their skillful songwriting, but it all boils down to the fact that The Psychic Hearts are a great band." - The Emory Wheel


"Psychic Hearts are "Next Big Thing""

"        On Saturday night, check out what’s going on at the Soul Bar so that, five years from now, when you mention that you caught this show, people in the vicinity might perk up and begin to value your music views. The instant cred you’ll earn is because you had the foresight to see Athens’ Psychic Hearts just before everyone else started to jump on board, before the band caught a break from a big label looking for the next big thing to come out of the musically rich college town (they really are it).

It would be harshly un-postmodern of me to prescribe what you will get out of Psychic Hearts’ music on your first listen. It’s your call – you may hear the residue of dance-punk, the essence of shoegazer  or the reverberation of the early Manchester scene.


Whichever of these (or others) you can distinguish through the murk, buy their CD and listen to those songs again and again; you probably won’t hear a Psychic Hearts song twice. At the moment you’ll detect Yo La Tengo’s subtle shadow cast over some tracks; listen again, and My Bloody Valentine’s blanketed loudness may ring more clearly. In any event, if you’re a fan of quality songwriting with an innovative delivery system (I’m talking to you human race!), see this show. You shan’t regret it. And by the way the female bassist’s name is Nico and the band probably drew its name from Thurston Moore’s best solo album. How cool is that?"
- Metro Spirit: Augusta's Independent Voice


"15 Good Reasons to Visit AthFest"

By Andy Stokes

"Psychic Hearts — Both shoegazer and noisy art-rock have seen their best days pass, but both Kevin Shields and Thurston Moore would be proud of their effect on this trio, which carries the torch of both the cloudy, dreamlike shoegazer sound and the fuzz-laden din of Sonic Youth’s best years. 40 Watt, Friday at 1 a.m.*" - MetroSpirit


"Athfest Review"

"With the Psychic Hearts, post-punk meets Smashing Pumpkins. The trio put on a tight performance for Friday night's AthFest show at the 40 Watt, and gave the light stagehand a work out. Immersed in white smoke, the Hearts kicked off their set with a song that really found the erotic in Smashing Pumpkins, as vocalist Matthew Rain nicks the pauses of Billy Corgan's singing style. Nico Cashin's bass was heavy and emphatic, and Carr Chadwick's drumming sharp and intense...(the band showcased)several new songs that maintained the fact that Psychic Hearts are a very sexy band."
- Flagpole


"Spotlight On: Psychic Hearts"

July 8, 2005
By Chad Radford

Emerging as one of Athens' brightest young acts this year, Psychic Hearts replaces the city's traditional rural indie-rock sound with gloomy pop melodies. Sharing more in common with Joy Division and Gang of Four than peers/predecessors Elf Power or Neutral Milk Hotel, the group's fiery presence is a beacon of change illuminating Athens' musical landscape. This sense of change is the group's strongest ally according to guitarist/vocalist Matthew Rain. "One of the great things about Athens is the variety here," Rain says. "The local scene is always changing because the population is always changing, so people are always looking to embrace a new sound."

Since spring 2004, Rain, drummer Carr Chadwick, and bass/keyboardist Nicole Cashin have been honing a sound the group calls "heavy new-wave, disco shoe-gaze." The group released a self-titled EP last August and talks of a full-length album surround the band. For Psychic Hearts, taking time to craft a recording that can stand on its own merits and outlive the hype machine is a matter of essential importance.

"People ask, 'Why don't you do a full-length now?'" says Rain. "To be honest, this is all new to us and we don't know who to trust or what's realistic. We're still a young band in a fragile place and we need to take time to make the strongest, most creative effort we can. There are so many great bands out there that if you don't do something significant, you're going to disappear."

Psychic Hearts play Lenny's, with the Hiss and Shock Cinema, Fri., July 8, 9 p.m. $8. 307 Memorial Drive. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. - Creative Loafing, Atlanta


Discography

Police Single (2006)
*Going for ADDS April 18*
Produced by Doug Easley at Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford, MS
1. Police
2. Delicious

Hands EP (2005)
3-Song, Self-titled EP produced by Andy Baker. Includes the tracks:
1. Hands
2. Golden
3. Pavement

Heard on: KDLD, WNNX, WUOG, WRAS,WUMS, WKZQ, WREK, WXYC and more!
Myspace tunes get an average of 100 spins DAILY!

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

" Psychic Hearts is a pure rock machine and a righteous good time featuring one part talent, one part show, and one part enthusiasm…Any band can academically proclaim themselves the best thing on the block, but Psychic Hearts proves it...they are as visually captivating as they are sonically pleasing.” -Flagpole Magazine

Bang.

Without warning, Psychic Hearts erupted onto the Athens scene in 2004. Their invigorating live show shook the town from its collective slumber. It seemed that with every performance the band injected a new sense of urgency and vitality into the tight-knit music community. Within a matter of months it was clear that this young threesome possessed unrivaled potential.

Local press and radio responded enthusiastically to Psychic Hearts' debut "Hands" EP. The band was featured on the cover of Athens' Flagpole Magazine and could be heard spinning on influential Atlanta radio station WNNX, among others.

The industry's receptiveness was encouraging and motivating. But no matter what praise or accolades they received, Psychic Hearts never settled. Each successive performance showcased some new sign of growth, whether through song craft or showmanship. Nico Cashin slowly transformed from hard rocking bassist to sultry synth queen. Drummer Carr Chadwick's thunderous style went from impressive to extraordinary, and singer/guitarist Matthew Rain came into his own as a formidable front-man.

Psychic Hearts made their festival debut in the summer of 2005, performing on the prestigious “Locals Only” stage of Music Midtown in Atlanta. That year over 400 local artists submitted applications, and Psychic Hearts were one of only 14 acts selected. They had the honor of sharing the bill with such internationally acclaimed acts as The Pixies, The White Stripes, and Interpol among others.

Weeks later they were asked to play at an exclusive after-party for the Atlantis Music Conference. They were also handpicked by One Little Indian Records (Sigur Ros, Bjork) to perform at their CMJ Music Festival showcase at Tonic in New York.

As 2005 came to a close, Psychic Hearts teamed up with Athens upstart label White Like a Raygun and prepared to head back to the studio. This time they traveled to Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford, MS to record with renowned producer Doug Easley (Sonic Youth, White Stripes, Iggy Pop).

The band was thrilled by Easley's masterful techniques and advice. The single (and accompanying b-side, "Delicious") were recorded using all live tracks-- no protools tinkering involved.

Easley was likewise eager to praise the band, saying he was "impressed with their focus" and willingness to experiment.

Psychic Hearts are currently touring in support of their 7-inch release. Look for their first full-length record sometime this Fall. In the meantime, Georgia residents can catch Psychic Hearts' feature on Comcast Bands on Deman with Jay Harren!

Additional Info--

Performed With:
Be Your Own Pet, Man Man, Glass Candy, Rainer Maria, I Am The World Trade Center, Now Its Overhead, Starflyer 59, ex-Girl(from Japan)

Festivals:
AthFest 2004-05 (Athens, GA)
Atlantis 2005 (Atlanta,GA)
CMJ 2005 (New York, NY)
Music Midtown 2005 (Atlanta)

Key Venues:
40 Watt (Athens)
Lit Lounge(NYC)
Hi-Tone (Memphis)
The Earl (Atlanta)
Tonic (NYC)
SoulBar (Augusta)
Vinyl (Atlanta)
TheNick (B'ham)