Signals from Satellites

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/content/review-photos-antiwarpt-festival-packs-sizzling-crowds-bands-downtown-st-petersburg - Tamp Bay Times

Live on Studio 10 Tampa (CBS) - Studio 10

Tampa three-piece Signals From Satellites has been creating subtly textured, angular rock for the last two and half years.

Guitarist/singer Rodney Smith and bassist Ric Tutio moved to Tampa about three years ago and starting looking for like-minded people to start a band. Eventually, they found each other.

A few months in, Phil Harrington, another transplant to the area, replaced their original drummer and they’ve been off and running ever since.

The members are all in their 30s, but as Tutio said: “The 30s are the new 20s, so we’re all in our 20s.” Their age helps explain Signals From Satellites’ sound, which draws from a collection of influences that hail from what could be called the golden age of indie-rock, the late 80s through the 90s. They don’t sound like a transplant from that era, but more like a logical extension of it, creating a dynamic and dramatic sound.

“We listen to bands like Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Firehose, that kind of stuff.” Smith said. “We also take a lot from the whole 'post-rock’ movement, or whatever you want to call it — Explosions In The Sky, Mono and even Tortoise.”

Together, the trio of instruments provides a system of democratic checks and balances for one another. Tension-filled guitar chords are held in place by melodic, flowing bass lines. The drums play off the bass and guitar, driving the songs and creating their own counter-rhythms. On top of all that, Smith’s vocals help to provide a sense fraught emotion to each track.

To fully grasp what Signals From Satellites is about, they need to be experienced live. As each song builds and swells towards its crucial release point, watching three people feeding off each other in the moment is far more rewarding than casually listening to their music around the house.

“The songs are far more effective live,” Smith said. “There’s just something about doing the songs live as opposed to having them on a record, where you can exaggerate the dynamics. Its just more effective.”

Signals From Satellites performs with Florida Night Heat at 9 p.m. Friday at Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, 5119 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. $5. (813) 234-1000.


-- Gabriel Loewenberg, tbt* - Tampa Bay Times

http://blogs.tampabay.com/tbt/2009/10/artist-of-the-day-signals-from-satellites.html

Tampa's Signals From Satellites -- singer-guitarist Rodney Smith, bassist Ric Tutlo and drummer Phil Harrington -- play a hazy, melodic brand of indie-alt-rock, a la Sonic Youth or Minus The Bear.

They've been playing around town for two years, and this month, they released their first EP, Dotted Lines. You can check them out Friday during a free show with King of Spain and the Interventionists at the Hub in downtown Tampa. - TBT

The third band threw a wrench in the works of a Punk show - but, in a most excellent way. Signals From Satellites (Tampa, FL) is a 3-piece Indie band with a sound that would be right at home with any Dischord Records band. There was clearly some of Fugazi’s dissonance in the band’s sound, although it wasn’t limited to that single influence. I also heard some progressions that brought me back to The Replacements, and an intertwining vocal/musical style that sounded a bit like Robert Nanna/Hey Mercedes with less distortion. The band line-up is Rodney on guitar/vocals, Ric on bass and Phil on drums. Ric’s bass work was skillful and shifting, while Phil’s steady backbone drumming kept Rodney’s simple, yet intricate guitar work grounded. This band also displayed an up-tempo Shoegaze style; plus, some 70s Bowie influence was apparent. Other comparable bands include The Promise Ring and Death Cab For Cutie. One tune that stood out used a 6/8 time signature, and the closing song had a very strong nod in the direction of Fugazi’s “Turnover”. Signals From Satellites is an excellent band that played a brilliant set - part of their forte was an amazing use of dynamics on both ends of the scale. They know how to catch your attention, but they’re also very subtle in their proficient delivery; nothing was too moderate, or too over the top. It was exemplary. As my friend J.R. would say: a very discerning band. - Examiner.com